How to Get Verified on X (Twitter) in 2026

Want to know how to get verified on X? The process is much different from the old Twitter verification system.

Today, the blue checkmark is primarily connected to an active X Premium or Premium+ subscription. Your account must also meet X’s eligibility requirements, including having a display name and profile photo, a confirmed phone number, recent activity, and no recent misleading, spam, or platform-manipulation activity.

You do not need to be a celebrity or have a large follower count to qualify for the subscription-based blue checkmark.

What Does the Blue Check on X Mean?

The blue checkmark means an account has an active X Premium or Premium+ subscription and meets X’s eligibility requirements.

It no longer has the same meaning as Twitter’s old verification system.

Under the previous system, Twitter used the blue check to identify active, notable, and authentic accounts of public interest. X discontinued that verification model and now uses the blue check primarily as a Premium subscription indicator.

The blue check also does not automatically mean that X has verified the person’s identity. ID verification is a separate Premium feature that users can choose to complete.

Can Anyone Get Verified on X?

For individual accounts, you can become eligible for the blue check by subscribing to X Premium or Premium+ and meeting X’s account requirements.

You do not need to be famous, a journalist, a celebrity, or a public figure.

X’s current eligibility criteria include:

• A display name
• A profile photo
• A confirmed phone number
• Activity within the previous 30 days
• No recent changes to your display name, profile photo, or username
• No signs of misleading or deceptive behavior
• No signs of platform manipulation or spam

X reviews the account before applying the blue check.

Do You Need Followers to Get Verified on X?

No minimum follower count is listed in X’s current blue-check eligibility requirements.

The old verification system focused heavily on notability and public interest. The current Premium-based system does not require you to prove that you are a celebrity or have a particular number of followers.

X Verification Requirements

Before subscribing, make sure your account is ready for review.

1. Complete Your Profile

Your account needs a display name and profile photo.

A partially completed profile can prevent the account from meeting the blue-check requirements.

2. Confirm Your Phone Number

X requires Premium subscribers to confirm their phone number.

This is part of the account-security requirements for Premium and blue-check eligibility.

3. Stay Active

X currently requires the account to have been active within the previous 30 days to subscribe to Premium.

If you have not used your account recently, use it normally before trying to get the checkmark.

4. Avoid Recent Profile Changes

Recent changes to your:

• Display name
• Profile photo
• Username

can trigger another review.

If you are preparing an account for verification, it is better to complete your profile first and avoid unnecessary changes while X is reviewing it.

5. Keep the Account in Good Standing

X checks for signs of misleading behavior, platform manipulation, and spam.

Paying for Premium does not override X’s rules. An account can still lose its checkmark or face enforcement action if it violates X’s policies.

How to Get Verified on X Step by Step

Once your account meets the basic requirements, the process is straightforward.

Step 1: Open X Premium

Log in to your account on X and open the Premium section.

On the web, X says you can select Premium from the navigation menu on x.com. On iOS and Android, Premium is available through the profile menu.

Step 2: Choose Premium or Premium+

The blue check is available with the Premium and Premium+ tiers.

The Basic plan does not include the blue check.

For most people who simply want the blue check and additional Premium features, the standard Premium tier is the lower-cost option.

Step 3: Confirm Your Phone Number

If your phone number has not already been confirmed, X will ask you to complete the confirmation process during Premium signup.

Step 4: Complete the Subscription

Select your plan, enter your payment details, and complete the subscription.

X Premium is available on web, iOS, and Android, although pricing can vary by platform and region.

Step 5: Wait for the Account Review

Your Premium features become available according to your plan, but the blue check is different.

X reviews your account before adding the checkmark. The company says this review can sometimes take several business days.

There is therefore no reliable promise that every account will receive the blue check within a few hours or exactly one to three days.

Step 6: Check Your Profile

Once X approves the account, the blue check appears next to your name.

If it does not appear immediately, give the review process time rather than repeatedly changing your profile.

How Much Does X Verification Cost?

The blue check requires X Premium or Premium+.

X’s current web pricing starts at:

Plan	Starting Web Price	Blue Check
Basic	$3/month	No
Premium	$8/month	Yes
Premium+	$40/month	Yes

X also offers annual pricing, with Premium starting at $84/year and Premium+ at $395/year on the web. Local pricing, taxes, and platform-specific prices can differ.

The $16/month Premium+ price often mentioned in older articles is outdated.

Which X Premium Plan Should You Choose?

If your main goal is simply to get a blue check on X, Premium is generally the relevant tier.

Premium includes the checkmark along with features such as reduced ads, larger reply prioritization, ID verification, Media Studio, and other Premium features. Premium+ adds additional benefits such as an ad-free experience across most areas of X, higher Grok access, Articles, Radar Search, and larger reply prioritization.

You do not need Premium+ just to obtain the blue check.

Can You Get a Blue Check on X for Free?

Not through the normal individual verification process.

X currently says you must subscribe to Premium or Premium+, or receive a blue check through an eligible affiliation with a Verified Organization.

The old free application system for notable public figures is no longer available.

X also currently says it does not offer free Premium trials.

So if you see a website claiming it can sell you a free X verification or guarantee a blue check without Premium, be cautious.

How Long Does X Verification Take?

There is no fixed verification time guaranteed by X.

After you subscribe to Premium or Premium+, X automatically reviews the account for blue-check eligibility. X says the review can sometimes take several business days.

If your checkmark has not appeared immediately, that does not necessarily mean your account was rejected.

Avoid changing your:

• Username
• Display name
• Profile photo

while waiting, because these changes can trigger another review.

Why Isn’t My X Blue Check Showing?

There are several possible reasons.

Your Account Is Still Under Review

The most common explanation for a new Premium subscriber is simply that X has not finished reviewing the account.

X says the process can take several business days.

Your Profile Is Not Eligible

Check that you have:

• A display name
• A profile photo
• A confirmed phone number
• Recent account activity
• No recent profile changes
• No misleading or spam-related activity

These are part of X’s current eligibility criteria.

You Changed Your Profile

Changing your username, display name, or profile photo after getting Premium can temporarily remove the checkmark while X reviews the account again.

Your Account Violates X Rules

X can remove a blue checkmark when an account violates its rules or engages in platform manipulation or other prohibited activity.

What Happens If You Change Your Username or Profile Photo?

This is an important detail that many older Twitter verification guides miss.

After subscribing to Premium, changing your:

• Profile photo
• Display name
• @username

can temporarily remove the blue checkmark.

X will review the account again to confirm that it still meets the eligibility requirements. During this review period, X may prevent further changes to these profile elements.

If you are trying to build a professional X presence, it makes sense to finish your profile before subscribing.

Does X Verification Improve Your Visibility?

The blue check can provide some platform benefits, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed ranking boost.

X says verified accounts receive some preference in replies, although it also says it continues testing how Premium subscribers are prioritized relative to other ranking factors.

That is very different from claiming that every verified account automatically receives more impressions.

If you are trying to grow an account, verification should be only one part of the strategy. Your content, audience, engagement, and overall X SEO still matter.

For example, optimizing your profile and posts around relevant search terms can help make your account easier to understand and discover.

Verification vs. X SEO

A blue check does not replace a strong content strategy.

If you are using X to build a brand, attract customers, or grow an audience, pay attention to:

• Profile optimization
• Relevant keywords
• Useful posts
• Consistent publishing
• Genuine engagement
• Strong content topics
• Search visibility

Your verification status is only one part of your overall presence.

Blue, Gold and Gray Checkmarks on X

X uses different checkmarks for different types of accounts.

Checkmark	Meaning
Blue	Active X Premium or Premium+ account that meets eligibility requirements
Gold	Official organization through X Premium Business
Gray	Governmental or multilateral organization through X Premium Organizations

The blue check can appear on either an individual or organization account. Gold and gray checks are designed for specific organization categories.

Gold Checkmark for Businesses

Businesses can use X Premium Business rather than the standard individual Premium subscription.

X currently offers Business tiers including Basic and Full Access, with features such as a gold checkmark, affiliations, VIP support, and other business tools.

This is more appropriate for an established company that wants its organization account clearly distinguished from individual accounts.

Gray Checkmark for Government Accounts

The gray checkmark is associated with government and multilateral organization accounts through X’s organization verification system.

It is not the normal route for an individual creator or business.

How to Keep Your X Verification

Getting the checkmark is not the end of the process.

To retain it:

• Keep your Premium subscription active.
• Follow X’s rules.
• Avoid spam and platform manipulation.
• Avoid unnecessary profile changes.
• Keep your account information consistent.

X can remove the checkmark if an account violates its rules. Profile changes can also temporarily remove it while the account is reviewed again.

If you cancel Premium, the blue check does not necessarily disappear at the exact moment you cancel. X says it can remain until the end of the paid subscription term, unless it is removed earlier for another reason.

Is X Verification Worth Paying For?

That depends on why you use X.

Premium may make sense if you:

• Use X regularly for business or personal branding
• Want access to Premium features
• Want the blue check as part of your profile
• Want larger reply prioritization
• Want reduced or fewer ads
• Want access to Premium-only tools
• Plan to use creator features available to eligible Premium accounts

It may not be worth paying for if the only thing you want is the appearance of a badge and you rarely use X.

The blue check can support your overall presence, but it does not automatically make an account authoritative or successful.

For performance tracking, metrics such as tweet impressions and engagement are more useful than simply having a checkmark.

A Better X Growth Strategy After Verification

Once your account is verified, focus on what you publish rather than treating the badge as the main growth tool.

A practical approach is:

1. Optimize your profile around your niche.
2. Create useful posts around topics your audience searches for.
3. Use relevant keywords naturally.
4. Reply to relevant conversations.
5. Track impressions and engagement.
6. Study which topics generate the strongest response.
7. Improve your content based on those results.

This is where X Analytics becomes more useful because it gives you data about how your content is performing instead of relying on the blue check alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Takeaway

The process to get verified on X is much simpler than the old Twitter verification system, but it is no longer a free application based on fame or notability.

For an individual account, the current route is:

Subscribe to X Premium or Premium+ → complete your profile → confirm your phone number → meet X’s eligibility requirements → wait for the account review → receive the blue check if approved.

The biggest mistake is assuming that paying for Premium automatically guarantees the badge. X still reviews accounts, and profile changes, misleading behavior, spam, or platform manipulation can affect eligibility.

The blue check can be useful, but it should support a broader X strategy rather than replace one. Build a complete profile, publish useful content, track your tweet impressions, and use your account consistently if you want the verification to contribute to a stronger presence on X.