How To Get Verified on X (Twitter) in 6 Steps

Social media verification marks tell audiences which accounts are original. Verification lends credibility to brands and public figures on X (formerly Twitter), which grows their presence on the platform.

While anyone with an X Premium (formerly Twitter Blue) subscription can get verified, users must meet specific requirements to qualify. Keep reading to learn how to get verified on Twitter and the benefits of doing so.

What’s a Verified X (Twitter) Account?

A verified account on X is a profile that meets the platform’s eligibility and authenticity requirements. You can identify these accounts by the official checkmark logo on their profiles. 

Before you learn how to get verified on X, you need to understand the different verification categories on the platform. X offers several badges based on your account type and authorization. Below are the available options.

Blue Check

Historically, Twitter reserved the blue checkmark for active, notable, and authentic accounts. These accounts had to meet specific requirements and pass an independent review before receiving the coveted blue check. 

The guidelines for how to get a blue check on Twitter changed after Elon Musk bought the platform in 2022. Musk removed the active, notable, and authentic criteria, replacing them with a subscription model. Since April 1, 2023, the blue check means an account has an active X Premium subscription and meets minimum eligibility requirements.

Gold Check and Square Profile Picture

A gold checkmark indicates an account belongs to an official business, organization, or nonprofit. Verified organizations also receive a square profile picture, which they can use to identify their brand or key officers. 

Gray Check

X uses gray checkmarks for verified accounts belonging to government agencies or officials. Individuals and organizations eligible for gray checks include:

• State and local governments
• Embassies
• Consulates
• Heads of state
• Cabinet members
• Congressional and parliamentary leaders

Affiliation Badges

If an account is part of an organization on X, it will display an affiliation badge. Depending on the account type, these labels include an image from the parent organization’s profile photo and can have gold, gray, or blue checkmarks. 

Automated Account Labels

Automated accounts on X perform programmed actions using the Twitter API. Also known as “bots,” these accounts can do tasks like following, liking, and publishing content. X requires automated accounts to display labels identifying them as bots. These labels also contain information about the individual or organization managing the account.

Benefits of Verifying Your X (Twitter) Account

X (Twitter) verification helps with everything from improved brand awareness to more effective content marketing. Here are a few reasons to get a badge. 

Show You’re Real and Trustworthy

Public figures such as celebrities, political leaders, and journalists are frequent targets for impersonation. Verification helps well-known people and brands prove they’re real, building trust with their followers and customers. Being verified can also help fight misinformation and make it easier for the platform to handle impersonation cases.

Get More Attention and Visibility

X’s social media algorithm favors posts and replies from verified accounts, ranking them higher on recommendation lists and search results. This increased visibility leads to increased attention, engagement rates, and growth.

Collaborate With More Creators and Brands

Many businesses and brands will only collaborate with creators if they know they’re legitimate. A blue check gives your account more credibility, increasing the odds that you’ll secure a partnership.

Access Special Features

Aside from a verification badge, X Premium also offers subscribers exclusive features. Perks available only to Premium and Premium+ tiers include:

• Creator revenue sharing
• Creator subscriptions
• Premium gifting
• Fewer ads
• Limit replies to verified accounts only
• Access to Media Studio, X Pro, and Articles
• Increased Twitter video length limit

Verification Eligibility Requirements for X (Twitter)

Accounts must have an active X Premium or Premium+ subscription to receive a blue checkmark. Additionally, you must meet these criteria: 

• Complete profile — You must have a display name and profile photo. 
• Active account — Your account must be at least 90 days old and active in the past 30 days. 
• Confirmed phone number — You need to verify your phone number. 
• Authentic and honest behavior — You must have no recent changes to your display name, profile photo, or username. Additionally, your profile can’t show any signs of misleading, manipulation, or spam promotion.

6 Steps To Get Verified on X (Twitter)

While the move to a subscription model made getting verified on X more expensive, it also made the process easier. Here’s how to verify your account.

1. Subscribe to X Premium

First, subscribe to X Premium or X Premium+. There are a couple of differences: 

• X Premium — Prices start at $8 per month, and accounts with over 2,500 verified subscribers get X Premium for free.
• X Premium+ — This costs $40 per month. To get Premium+ for free, an account must have over 5,000 verified subscribers.
  

2. Complete Your Profile

Next, you must complete your profile. For your account to get verified, you’ll need at least a display name and profile photo. Other elements to create include a concise bio, cover image, and links to your website or other social media channels. 

3. Confirm Your Phone Number

You must have a verified phone number to link your account. X will send an SMS to your phone to confirm your identity. 

4. Maintain Account Activity

Only active accounts can get verified, so you must use your account recently to qualify. At a minimum, you’ll need to post content or reply to other users’ messages at least once within the past 30 days to meet the activity threshold. 

5. Avoid Recent Changes

Avoid updating your profile photo, display name, or username too soon before subscribing. These changes can delay how long it takes to get verified on Twitter. 

6. Follow X’s Guidelines

Finally, follow X’s rules about acceptable behavior to avoid getting your account shadow banned. Guidelines state you can’t:

• Manipulate X or artificially impact how content is discovered
• Post spam, artificially impact traffic, or engage in scam tactics
• Share inauthentic, misleading, or malicious media
• Create or operate unauthorized automated accounts or impersonate others

4 Top Tips To Increase Your Chances of Getting Verified on X (Twitter)

While getting verified sounds easy, even small mistakes can delay the process. Follow these best practices to improve your X verification odds and make your account official as soon as possible.

1. Make Your Content Public

Although private accounts can get verified on X, it’s easier if you make your content public. Public posts can get higher engagement rates than private posts, leading to increased follower growth. To make your posts public, navigate to the Settings and Privacy menu and disable the “Protect your posts” feature.

2. Add Links to Verified Accounts in Your Bio

Include links to any verified organizations or groups you’re a member of in your bio. For example, you can share the handle of a company you founded or professional communities you belong to. Adding links to affiliated accounts improves your credibility, strengthening your case for verification.

3. Highlight Your Achievements

Reserve space in your bio to spotlight your key accomplishments. Share achievements that align with your brand and enhance your credibility, like awards, certifications, and published works. You can also share personal details, such as whether you regularly volunteer or belong to notable organizations. This information helps establish your online persona and makes it easier for X to verify your credentials.

4. Position Your Account as Relevant to the Public Interest

X’s verification system prioritizes accounts where people can share, learn, and engage with one another. Examples that fit the public interest criteria include:

• Journalists reporting on world events
• Creators reviewing products and services
• Outdoor enthusiasts sharing survival and gardening tips
• Activists commenting on political affairs
• Chefs demonstrating cooking techniques and recipes

Elevate Your Twitter Presence With Captions

Getting verified is essential if you want to be a content creator on Twitter. Verification establishes your credibility, improves your visibility, and makes collaborations easier. After verifying your account, use your new checkmark to attract followers. 

Captions can help you produce high-quality X content to grow your audience faster. With our Twitter Video Tool, you can create captivating content tailor-made for X without a learning curve. Write subtitles, create AI avatars, and trim unwanted footage in seconds. 

Whether you need to create videos from scratch or customize your content for the X platform, Captions has everything you need.