Updated: October 7, 2022

If you're seeing "Edited" tweets on your timeline, it's because Twitter is finally testing an edit button.

Despite being one of the most heavily requested features on Twitter, the test release is pretty limited, and has left many users with more questions than answers. To help you better understand this new feature, I’ll answer the most frequently asked questions about edited tweets and what to expect going forward.

Table of Contents:

• Why Don't I Have Access to the Edit Tweet Button?
• Can I Edit a Tweet without Twitter Blue?
• How Does the Twitter Edit Button Work?
• What Do Edited Tweets Look Like?

Let’s get started!

Why Don't I Have Access to the Edit Tweet Button?

On September 1, 2022 Twitter announced that they were rolling out an Edit Tweet button. According to their blog, this feature would be tested first by the internal Twitter team then rolled out to Twitter Blue subscribers.

If you're a Twitter Blue user wondering where your edit button is, you're not alone. A key detail seems to have gotten lost in all the hubbub about the much anticipated feature: Not all Twitter Blue subscribers would get access right away.

Which country? While Twitter itself hasn't commented on that, Chris Messina (the inventor of the hashtag, not the actor) has confirmed that the initial test was limited to Twitter Blue users in New Zealand.

New in @TwitterBlue Labs: the #EditButton! #NewTwitter #EditTweets pic.twitter.com/GiQNvJgGwB

— Chris Messina (@chrismessina) September 8, 2022

Limited to New Zealand, I believe.

— Chris Messina (@chrismessina) September 8, 2022

Unfortunately, changing your country settings in the Twitter app to "New Zealand" didn't unlock this feature for users in other countries (yes, I tried it).

Twitter Edit Button Update (October 7, 2022)

While an official date for the edit button release to all Twitter Blue users was not announced by Twitter, as of writing this update it now appears to be available to at least some Twitter Blue users outside of New Zealand.

Check the Twitter Blue tab on your app to see if you've been included in this next round of early access users.

Can I Edit a Tweet without Twitter Blue?

At the time of writing this, you cannot edit a Tweet unless you have a Twitter Blue subscription and are part of the initial test group.

However, it's important to note that Edited Tweets is currently part of the "Labs" perk in Twitter Blue. This is where Twitter Blue users can test new features as part of an early release before they're released to the general public. That means it's likely that an Edit button is coming to all users in the foreseeable future.

In the meantime, you can subscribe to Twitter Blue to gain early access to the edit feature when it's rolled out to users outside of New Zealand (or if you're a New Zealander, right away!).

How Much Does a Twitter Blue Subscription Cost?

A Twitter Blue subscription currently costs $4.99/month.

Where/How to Sign Up for Twitter Blue

If you're on a mobile device (iOS or Android):

1. Open your Twitter app
2. Swipe right across the screen or press your profile image in the top left corner
3. Locate and select the Twitter Blue button, the icon with the Twitter logo inside a blue "B"
4. Hit the button that says: "Subscribe for $4.99/mo"

If you're on a desktop:

1. Open Twitter in your browser
2. Click on the More button located towards the bottom of the panel on the left side of the screen
3. Locate and select Twitter Blue indicated by an icon depicting the Twitter logo within a "B"
4. Hit the button indicating: "Subscribe for $4.99/mo"

What Else Comes with Twitter Blue?

Features that currently come with Twitter Blue consist of:

• Ad-Free Articles
• Bookmark Folder
• Custom App Icons
• Themes
• Custom Navigation
• Top Articles
• Reader
• Undo Tweet

Labs gives Twitter Blue subscribers early access to Twitter's newest features before they're available to the general public. If you have access to the Edit Tweet feature, you'll see it listed here.

How Does the Twitter Edit Button Work?

Before you decide if access to the Edit Tweet feature is worth the $4.99/month subscription fee, you might be wondering "What does it even do?" Twitter has pushed back against the idea of an edit button for a long time because it has the potential to facilitate the spread of misinformation on the platform.

In an effort to combat that, the edit feature that's currently being tested has some key features and limitations in place. Here's what we know so far about how the new Edit Tweet button works:

How Long is the Edit Window?

Currently, eligible Tweets can be edited a few times in the 30 minutes following their publication. Since we're still very much in the testing phase for this new feature, that window may change in the coming months.

How Many Times Can I Edit a Tweet?

Users can only edit a Tweet five times within the previously mentioned 30 minute time frame. Again, this may change in future iterations of the feature.

What Does a Tweet Look Like After It's Been Edited?

Edited Tweets will show a small pencil icon and the text "Last edited" with a timestamp of the most recent edit so it's clear to readers that the original Tweet has been modified.

Tapping the label will allow viewers to see the Tweet's Edit History, which includes previous versions of the Tweet.

For more creator tips and tutorials, check out our Resource Library and subscribe to our YouTube channel! In the meantime, bookmark or read through some of our other Twitter resources:

• What Is Twitter Circle? Everything You Need to Know
• How to Downvote on Twitter and Why You Should
• Can You Turn Off Twitter Spaces?
• Everything You Need to Know About Twitter Super Follows