Threads questions answered

Answers to reader and writer questions about Substack Threads

Update: The Threads pilot has concluded and launched under a new name, Substack Chat.

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We recently launched a pilot for Substack Threads, a new feature that helps writers host richer conversations with their subscribers.

We’re using this pilot to learn more about writer and reader experiences with community-building on Substack, and we’re listening closely to feedback along the way. Here are some answers to common questions you might have.

How can I join a writer’s Thread?

Subscribers to a Substack with threads enabled will see Threads in a new bottom tab in the Substack iOS app. 

If you aren’t seeing the Threads tab pictured below, make sure your app is updated, then force quit and restart your app.

You can view the list of Substacks in the pilot here and learn more about how to participate in a Thread here.

How can I add Threads to my publication?

Threads is currently in a private pilot with a small handful of participating Substacks. We hope to expand Threads to more writers soon—click here to join the waitlist. 

Who can see a publication’s Thread?

Only your subscribers can see your thread. For each post, you can choose whether you want all subscribers or only paid subscribers to be able to view and reply.

Can I access Threads from the web or Android?

For the initial pilot, Threads can only be viewed and composed in the iOS app. We aim to make it available for web and Android as soon as possible.

How does this differ from the existing discussion thread feature?

We see this as an evolution of discussion threads that will enable more lightweight, casual interaction (especially for multimedia posts and writing on-the-go) in a dedicated community space.

For now, discussion threads created from the web will still be sent as emails, and posts you publish to your Thread in the app will only be viewable there.

Will new posts in my Thread be sent as emails?

Posts in Threads are not sent as emails. Instead, readers will be push notified about new threads if they have notifications enabled in the app. 

How can I adjust my notifications for Threads?

You can adjust your app notification settings by tapping the profile tab and the settings gear in the top right corner. You can also turn on or off notifications for a specific thread by long-pressing it.

Will writers keep the email addresses for Thread participants?

Only your subscribers can see your Thread, and you will always own your subscribers’ email addresses and be able to export them at any time. When a new person subscribes from the Substack iOS app or the Substack website, you’ll get their email address.

What media formats can writers post to their Thread?

Writers can post text (no character limit!), images, and links to start with. Eventually, we hope to add polls, voice memos, and more—we’d love to hear what appeals to you.

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Update: The Threads pilot has concluded and launched under a new name, Substack Chat.