How to host an X Space

A Space is a live audio room on X. You talk, invited speakers talk, and anyone can listen. For a lot of communities, Spaces have taken over the job that weekly text chats used to do: they give people a set time to show up and a reason to come back. They also bring their own problems, from awkward silences to a speaker who won't give up the mic.

This guide covers the setup and the hosting habits that make a Space worth staying for. X changes Spaces features regularly, so check the X help center page on hosting before a big session.

Before you start

Who can host

Anyone using the X app on iOS or Android can start a Space. Accounts with protected posts can't host. If you normally keep your account protected, either host from a public account or make yours public for the session.

Your setup

A quiet room and a headset with a microphone make a bigger difference than any app setting. Phone speakers and a TV in the background are the most common reason a Space sounds amateurish. Ask your speakers to use headphones too, which avoids echo.

Your plan

Write a short run of show: welcome, introductions of speakers, three to five topics or questions, open-mic time for listener requests, and a close. The chat planner on our home page builds a timed outline you can adapt for audio, and converts the start time for ET, PT, UK, Central Europe and India.

Scheduling

In the app, start a Space from the compose button and choose to schedule it instead of going live. X's help center says you can schedule one Space at a time, up to 14 days ahead. Give it a clear title, because that's what shows in timelines and in the reminder. "Newsletter growth with a guest who went from 30 to 3,000" works better than "Weekly Space #12."

Scheduling creates a link you can share in your announcement and pin to your profile, and people can set a reminder from it. You can still start unscheduled Spaces in the meantime.

Turn on recording when you set it up if you want one. Recordings become available to listeners after the Space ends, and you can delete a recording later. Tell people at the start that the session is being recorded.

Roles: host, co-hosts, speakers, listeners

X's help center allows up to 11 people with speaking rights at once, including the host. In practice, four or five active speakers is about the most a listener can follow. Use the other slots for rotating listener questions.

Choose co-hosts before the session and tell them what they're responsible for. A common split: the host leads the conversation, one co-host manages speaker requests and keeps time, and another watches the replies to the Space's post for questions from people who can't or won't speak.

Running the session

Open with a welcome, then wait a little

Listeners trickle in during the first few minutes. Introduce the topic and speakers once at the start and again briefly after five minutes for latecomers.

Introduce speakers properly

A one-line introduction for each speaker helps listeners know who's talking, which is harder in audio than in text.

Keep turns short

Ask speakers to make one point and pass back. If someone runs long, a polite "Let me jump in there so we can hear from a few more people" is fine. Hosts and co-hosts can mute speakers when needed.

Take requests in batches

Rather than bringing listeners up constantly, have an open-mic section where your co-host brings up three or four people, each with one question.

Summarize every so often

"So far we've heard two very different approaches..." helps people who just joined and keeps the conversation on track.

Pin useful posts

You can pin posts to the Space so listeners can see links and resources being discussed. Use it for the guest's profile, a link mentioned during the conversation, or your next session's announcement.

End on time

Thank speakers by name, say when the next Space is, and mention whether a recording will be available.

Handling problems

If a speaker becomes disruptive, mute them or move them back to listener. If someone is abusive, remove them from the Space and report them through X's tools. Don't debate it on mic. For larger or more public sessions, consider limiting who can request to speak and having a co-host who does nothing but moderation.

After the Space

Share the recording link if you made one, with a few timestamps for the best moments. A written recap reaches people who won't listen to an hour of audio; our recap guide covers how to quote speakers fairly. Ask your co-hosts what went well and what didn't while it's fresh.

Spaces and text chats together

Spaces and hashtag chats suit different moments. A Space is better for a guest, a story, or a topic that needs nuance. A text chat lets many people contribute at once and leaves a searchable record. Plenty of hosts alternate: a monthly Space with a guest and a weekly text chat in between, both promoted from the same pinned schedule. What a Twitter chat was compares the formats in more detail.

Common questions

How many speakers can an X Space have?

X's help center allows up to two co-hosts and up to 11 people with speaking rights at once, counting the host. Everyone else listens and can request to speak. X adjusts these numbers from time to time, so check the help center before a big session.

Can I host a Space from a protected account?

No. X does not let accounts with protected posts create Spaces. Host from a public account, or make your account public for the session.

How far ahead can I schedule a Space?

Up to 14 days ahead, according to X's help center. You can have one scheduled Space at a time and still start an unscheduled one whenever you like.