How-To

Twitter Lists: How to Create, Pin and Use Lists on X

Updated 10 min read
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Twitter Lists, now X Lists, are custom timelines that show posts only from the accounts you put on them. You can make your own, public or private, follow other people’s, and pin favourites beside your For You and Following timelines. You don’t need to follow someone to add them, and every List is public unless you make it private.

Two things to know: X documents only one way off someone else’s List, blocking its creator, and it doesn’t say whether you’re notified when someone adds you. Other Twitter-era features and their X names are indexed in our Twitter-to-X guide.

Table of Contents

What is a Twitter List?

A List is a custom timeline of posts from only the accounts on it. In X’s words, “Viewing a List timeline will show you a stream of posts from only the accounts on that List.” You can create Lists, follow Lists other people have made, and pin favourites so they sit next to your For You and Following timelines. Checked against X Help Center: How to use X ListsArchived copy, 17 September 2026 View the archived copy

How to create a list on Twitter (X)

Open Lists, tap the new List icon, add a name and short description, choose public or private, then add people. Names can run to 25 characters and can’t begin with a number. Every List is public by default, so anyone can follow it, unless you switch on Private (Keep private on Android). X’s steps for each device:

In the X app on iPhone:

  1. In the top menu, tap your profile icon.
  2. Tap Lists.
  3. Tap the new List icon.
  4. Select a name for your List, and a short description of the List. List names cannot exceed 25 characters, nor can they begin with a number. The default setting for your List is public (anyone can follow the List). To make the List only accessible to you, drag the slider next to Private to on.
  5. Tap Done.

In the X app on Android:

  1. In the top menu, you will either see a navigation menu icon or your profile icon. Tap whichever icon you have, then select Lists.
  2. Tap the new List icon.
  3. Select a name for your List, and a short description of the List. List names cannot exceed 25 characters, nor can they begin with a number. The default setting for your List is public (anyone can follow the List). To make the List only accessible to you, tap the checkbox next to Keep private.
  4. Tap Save.

On x.com (computer):

  1. Click on Lists in the navigation bar.
  2. Click the Create new List icon at the top.
  3. Choose a name for your List, and a short description of the List. List names cannot exceed 25 characters, nor can they begin with a number. Then select if you want the List to be private (only accessible to you) or public (anyone can follow the List).
  4. Click Next.
  5. You can then search for people and add people to your List.
  6. Click Done.

Checked against X Help Center: How to use X Lists.Archived copy, 17 September 2026 View the archived copy.

How many Lists can you have? X’s Help Center doesn’t say. Neither its Lists page nor its limits page gives a number for Lists per account or accounts per List. Checked against X Help Center: About X limits (lists X's account limits; none for Lists)Not documented by X View the archived copy

Add or remove people from a List

Use the more icon on the account’s profile, then tick or untick your Lists. On x.com the option is called Add or remove from Lists; on Android, Add to List. You don’t need to follow an account to add it. X’s steps:

In the X app on iPhone:

  1. In the top menu, tap your profile icon.
  2. Tap Lists.
  3. Tap the List you want to edit.
  4. Tap Members.
  5. Tap the more icon on an account's profile.
  6. Tap the accounts you would like to add or uncheck the accounts you'd like to remove the List.

In the X app on Android:

  1. Tap the more icon on an account's profile.
  2. Select Add to List. (You don't need to be following an account to add them to your List.)
  3. A pop-up will appear displaying your created lists. Tap the checkbox next to the Lists you would like to add the account to, or uncheck the Lists you'd like to remove the account from.

On x.com (computer):

  1. Click the more icon on an account's profile.
  2. Select Add or remove from Lists. (You don't need to be following an account to add them to your List.)
  3. A pop-up will appear displaying your created Lists. Click the checkbox next to the Lists you would like to add the account to, or uncheck the Lists you'd like to remove the account from.

Checked against X Help Center: How to use X Lists.Archived copy, 17 September 2026 View the archived copy.

Add people by hand, not in bulk. X’s Automation rules forbid bulk adding users to Lists, along with bulk or aggressive automated following and unfollowing. Checked against X Help Center: Automation rulesArchived copy, 1 October 2026 View the archived copy

Public vs private Lists

A public List can be followed by anyone; a private List is only accessible to you. New Lists start public unless you switch on Private while creating them. Either way, your downloadable X archive includes Lists you’ve created, follow or are a member of. Checked against X Help Center: How to download your X archiveArchived copy, 1 October 2026 View the archived copy

Follow and pin Lists to your timeline

Follow a List from its creator’s profile, then pin it so it appears to the right of your For You and Following timelines. To follow, open the profile, tap the more icon, choose View Lists, pick a List and tap Follow; you don’t have to follow its members. To pin, open Lists and tap the pin icon next to the List. Checked against X Help Center: How to use X ListsArchived copy, 17 September 2026 View the archived copy

Unpinning takes a List off your timeline without deleting it, and X’s iPhone and Android apps may suggest Lists through a “Discover new Lists” prompt in your Home timeline. Checked against X Help Center: How to use X ListsArchived copy, 17 September 2026 View the archived copy

Pinned Lists give you focused timelines without a subscription; X’s Lists page names none. X Pro, which shows timelines as side-by-side columns, is listed under “Only for Premium+ Tier”. Checked against X Help Center: About X Premium Our X Pro guide covers the paid option.

Added to a list on X? What you can do

See the Lists you’re on under Lists, then More, then Lists you’re on (on Android, from your profile’s three-dot menu). To get off one, block its creator: that’s the only route X documents. X doesn’t say whether you’re notified when someone adds you. X’s steps:

In the X app on iPhone:

  1. In the top menu, tap your profile icon.
  2. Tap Lists.
  3. Tap More icon.
  4. Tap Lists you're on.
  5. Tap on the List you want to remove yourself from.
  6. Tap on the more icon next to the share button.
  7. Tap Block next to the profile handle (@HANDLE).

In the X app on Android:

  1. Go to your profile.
  2. Tap 3 dots.
  3. Select Lists you're on.
  4. Click on List.
  5. Block @username.

On x.com (computer):

  1. Click the Lists tab from the Navigation menu.
  2. Click the More icon next to the new List icon.
  3. Click on Lists you're on.
  4. Click on the List you want to remove yourself from.
  5. Click on the More icon next to the share button.
  6. Click Block next to the profile handle (@HANDLE).

Checked against X Help Center: How to use X Lists.Archived copy, 17 September 2026 View the archived copy.

Ways to use Twitter Lists

Use Lists to read one slice of X at a time without changing who you follow. Four common setups:

  • Topics: one List per subject you track closely, from a niche industry to a hobby.
  • Clients: a private List of the accounts you manage, so their posts sit in one place.
  • Industry voices: a public List others can follow, which makes your picks useful to them too.
  • Events: speakers and organisers at a conference, so you can follow the conversation as it happens.

When you’re ready to post yourself, our tweet ideas and best time to post on X help, and our X marketing strategy covers the bigger plan. Comparing Lists with X Communities? Our Communities page explains where those stand.

Schedule text posts to your X account with Outfeed AI

FAQ

Do people know when you add them to a list on X?

X does not say. Its Help Center does not document whether someone is notified when you add them to a List, public or private. X does let people view the Lists they are a member of, under Lists, then More, then Lists you’re on.

How do I remove myself from someone’s list on X?

Block the List’s creator. X’s Help Center says that to remove yourself from a List you will need to block the creator of that List, and it documents no other way. Find the List under Lists, then More, then Lists you’re on, open it and block the creator from there.

Can you make a private list on X?

Yes. When you create a List, turn on Private (on Android, tick Keep private). A private List is only accessible to you. Lists are public by default, which means anyone can follow them.

How many Lists can you have on X?

X’s Help Center does not say. Its latest archived Lists and limits pages, checked on 3 October 2026, give no number for Lists per account or for accounts per List. What X does set is the name: up to 25 characters, and it cannot begin with a number.

Can I pin a list to my home timeline?

Yes. Open Lists and tap the pin icon next to a List you created or follow; X says it then appears to the right of your For You and Following timelines. Unpinning removes it from your timeline without deleting the List.

x twitter x lists timeline