Want to control who sees your tweets and Twitter activity? Making your Twitter account private is the way to go.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll provide expert-level instructions for how to make your Twitter account private in just 7 easy steps. You‘ll learn what a private Twitter account means, how privacy settings work on Twitter, and tips to keep your account and tweets locked down tight.
Whether accessing Twitter on desktop or mobile, you‘ll be able to privatize your profile and start tweeting to your exclusive inner circle. Let‘s get started!
Overview: What Does a Private Twitter Account Mean?
When your Twitter account is set to private, any tweets you post are hidden from the public. Only your approved followers can view and interact with your tweets.
Benefits of a private Twitter account include:
- Tweets only visible to approved followers
- Others can‘t search tweets or see tweet history
- Added control over who follows you
- Direct messages limited to followers only
However, some downsides exist too:
- Tweets can‘t be retweeted by followers
- Limits potential to grow audience
- Previously public tweets may still appear in search engines
Now that you know the pros and cons, let‘s dive into the step-by-step process for making your tweets private.
Method 1: Make Twitter Account Private on Desktop
If accessing Twitter on a desktop or laptop, follow these instructions:
Step 1: Log Into Twitter Account
First, pull up Twitter on your preferred internet browser and log into your account by clicking your profile icon.
Once logged in, you‘ll be taken to your Twitter homepage feed.
Step 2: Access Twitter Settings
On the left sidebar, click the "More" icon (3 dot icon) to open settings.
Then click Settings and privacy from the dropdown menu.
This will open your full Twitter account settings.
Step 3: Go to Privacy Settings
From the menu on the left, choose Privacy and safety.
This section controls all account privacy related options.
Step 4: Click Audience and Tagging
Next, click Audience and tagging from the menu.
These settings allow you to limit tweet visibility.
Step 5: Enable Protect Tweets
Under the Tweet privacy section, check the box next to Protect your Tweets.
This immediately makes your Twitter account private.
Step 6: Disable Photo Tagging (Optional)
While optional, I also recommend disabling photo tagging by unchecking the box under Photo tagging.
This prevents others from tagging you in photos without consent.
Step 7: Save Changes
Finally, click Save changes at the bottom to apply your new privacy settings.
And that‘s it! All existing and new tweets will now only be visible to your approved followers list.
Method 2: Switch to a Private Account on Mobile
You can also easily make your Twitter account private using the Twitter mobile app on your phone or tablet.
Step 1: Open Profile
Open the Twitter app and tap your profile icon in the top left corner to go to your profile.
Step 2: Go to Settings
Then tap the gear Settings and privacy icon from the menu.
Step 3: Choose Privacy and Safety
Next select Privacy and safety.
Step 4: Tap Audience and Tagging
Now choose Audience and tagging.
This is where account privacy controls live.
Step 5: Enable Protect Tweets
Slide the toggle for Protect your Tweets to the ON position to immediately privatize your account.
Step 6: Save Changes
Finally, tap Save changes at the top to apply settings.
You‘re all set! Your Twitter account is now completely private on mobile.
Expert Recommendations for Keeping Tweets Private
In addition to adjusting platform privacy controls, follow these expert tips for keeping your tweets locked down:
- Carefully vet followers – Manually approve each follow request to confirm they are known contacts. Avoid accepting strangers.
- Revoke 3rd party app access – Don‘t allow any external tools or apps to access your Twitter account and data.
- Use DM wisely – Direct messages still have privacy risks like screenshots. Avoid oversharing sensitive info.
- Delete old tweets – Consider purging any previously public tweets that you don‘t want circulating.
- Check search results – Google past screennames and keywords to check your tweet history hasn‘t been indexed.
- Monitor notifications – Review notifications regularly for any unusual tagging or account activity.
Twitter Account Privacy FAQs
Can I make some tweets public while keeping others private?
No, Twitter‘s privacy settings are all or nothing. You can‘t mix public and private tweets on the same account.
What happens if I switch my account back to public in the future?
Flipping the privacy toggle back to public means all future AND past tweets will become visible to everyone. Tweets don‘t remain private.
I made my account private but still see old tweets on Google – why?
If your account was ever public in the past, tweets may have already been indexed by search engines. Twitter can‘t retroactively make those private.
Can people still find my private profile?
Yes, your account name, bio, followers, and who you follow will remain public. Only your tweets and direct messaging become inaccessible.
How do I stop anyone from direct messaging me?
In audience and tagging settings, disable allowing message requests from everyone. This limits DMs to only mutual followers.
Take Control of Your Twitter Privacy
As you can see, restricting tweet and account visibility is easy using Twitter‘s built-in privacy tools.
Now get out there and start tweeting more selectively! Just be thoughtful about what content you share – even private accounts have some risks.
Did you find this guide helpful? Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m happy to provide Twitter privacy advice or tackle your unique situation.
