Meta has officially launched their Twitter rival, Threads, and the app already has more than 70 million signups in less than 48 hours. If you need help joining Threads, we have prepared a guide to help you learn how to install and sign up for Threads on your Android and iOS devices. The app has similar functionality to Twitter, based on a scrolling feed primarily focusing on text-based messages.
Post by @androidgreekView on Threads
However, the app still does not support most features like Direct Messages, for which the company suggests using Instagram DM. Also, this is pre-baked, as the app was not scheduled to launch yet but launched earlier because of the opportunity that Twitter created. The Twitter limitation on using Twitter prompted users to seek alternatives, and Threads has been better than others in the market with excellent infrastructure.
Currently, Threads does not have a web-based app, which means you can exclusively use the app on mobile. The app is available for Android and iOS platforms, and it uses an Instagram account linked to Threads. Today, in this article, we will share how to start with Threads, an Instagram app.
How to Download and Install Threads, an Instagram App
- Start by opening the Google Play Store or Apple App Store based on your device.
- Next, search for Threads, an Instagram app, and then tap on the app from the results.
- After that, install the app on your device.
- Once installed, you can continue with login or sign up with Instagram to start using Threads.
How to Sign Up for Threads or Log In to Threads
To use Threads, users are required to have an Instagram account.
- After installing Threads on your device, launch the Threads app.
- Next, it will ask you to sign in with your Instagram account, or you can log in with another Instagram account to switch accounts.
- After that, it will ask you to set up your Threads account. You can manually enter your bio, link, and profile picture or import them from Instagram.
- You can’t change your username. To change your username, you have to make adjustments on the Instagram app, which will reflect on your Threads account.
- After confirming your Threads username, bio, link, and profile picture, click the “Continue” button.
- It will then ask you to choose your account privacy option. You can choose a public profile, which allows anyone to interact with your Instagram account, or a private profile, which only allows your contacts or followers to interact with your account.
- Next, click on the “Continue” button, which will show recommendations of accounts you may want to follow, including those you follow on Instagram.
- After choosing, click the “Forward” button in the upper-right corner.
- That’s it! Tap on the “Join Threads” button.
So this is how you can join Threads and start engaging with other conversations. You should know that you can only deactivate your Threads account individually, but you can’t delete your Threads account unless you delete your Instagram account.
How to Use Threads
At the bottom of the navigation, you can find all the important interactions: Home, Search, New Thread, Activity, and Profile.
- Home: Here is your chronological feed where you can find all the posts from users you follow or recommend by Instagram.
- Post: You can like, comment, report, and share your desired posts. The company is working on a feed where you can only check the posts from the users you follow.
- Search: As of now, you can only search for profiles.
- New Thread: To create a post, click on the “Post” button; from there, you can post by typing up to 500 words. You can include links, photos up to 10, and videos up to 5 minutes. Don’t use hashtags, as they are not supported yet, but you can mention the Threads account by using “@”.
- Activity: On the activity page, you can check notifications for users you follow, replies to your posts, followers, mentions, and activity from verified users.
- Profile: Lastly, you have the option for a profile, where you can see your follower count and posts that you have posted. You can see your images, bio, and link on the profile, but you can also edit them by clicking on “Edit Profile” or share them by clicking on “Share Profile”.
Thread Settings
As for the settings in a thread, there are a few things that you need to know that you can adjust for a better experience. You can access thread settings by clicking on the triple-horizontal icon in the upper-right corner.
- Notifications: From there, you can adjust the notification alert to manage notifications for threads, replies, and following followers.
- Privacy: From this setting, you can make your private account public or your public account private. At the bottom, you also have two settings, one for blocking profiles and the other for hiding likes.
- Account: To deactivate or set up 2FA and a password, which also applies to Instagram, do it cautiously.
Make changes to these settings based on your preferences.
Edit Your Thread Profile
To change the profile information, head to the profile on your threads. There you can find the Edit profile option. From there, you can update your bio, add links, remove or add a profile picture, or even import from Instagram.
You can’t change or tweak your username on Threads. Change your username on your Instagram account, which will reflect on your Thread Profile.
Set a Limit on Threads
If you want to take a break, you can set a reminder to take a break every 10 to 30 minutes, which can be found in Thread’s settings.
- Open Threads, head over to the profile and open settings from there.
- Next, go to the account and tap on Take a break.
- After that, set a time range for taking a break.
- That’s it!
Delete Your Thread Account
You cannot delete your Thread account without deleting your Instagram account, but you can deactivate your Thread account.
- Open Threads, and then go to your profile in the bottom-right corner.
- Afterwards, go to Settings by clicking on the triple-horizontal line icon in the upper-right corner.
- Now, go to the account and then hit Deactivate Profile.
- Tap on Deactivate Thread profile and confirm your actions.
- That’s it!
If you want to delete your account, you must delete your Instagram account.
What is Thread and Instagram App?
The company has reportedly been working on a Twitter alternative amid all the changes Twitter has made since Elon Musk’s takeover in January 2023. After the opportunity where Twitter has temporarily restricted users from checking Twitter posts for free users, it’s 600 posts per day, which isn’t enough.
The company will leverage its Instagram’s massive username of 1.3 billion active users last year. Twitter has 259 million daily active users, and Mastodon has 13 million total accounts. Thread and Instagram have minor distinctions as you can post 500 characters, including links, photos up to 10, and videos up to 5 minutes on Threads, while on Twitter, it’s less.
