How to Host an X Space: Setup, Roles, Recording & Moderation

To host an X Space, open the X app on iOS or Android, long-press the compose button and choose Spaces (or start from the Spaces tab), give your Space a name, decide whether to record it, and tap to start or schedule. You can bring up to 13 people on the mic at once, including yourself and up to 2 co-hosts, and there’s no cap on listeners.

That’s the mechanics. What makes a Space worth attending is the preparation around it: a clear name, the right people on stage, a plan for the first ten minutes and a host who keeps the room under control. This guide covers every step, the limits that apply, and a run-of-show template you can reuse.

X Spaces at a glance

All of these come from X’s help center:

Setting	Rule
Where you can start a Space	X app on iOS or Android only
Who can listen	Anyone, including non-followers and web users; all Spaces are public
Speakers at once	Up to 13 (host + up to 2 co-hosts + speakers)
Listener limit	None
Scheduling	Up to 30 days ahead, max 10 scheduled Spaces
Recording	Optional; hosts toggle Record Space and a REC label shows
Clipping	On by default
Protected accounts	Can join and speak, but can’t create a Space

How to start a Space

1. Open the X app on your phone. Starting a Space isn’t possible on the web.
2. Long-press the compose (+) button and tap Spaces, or open the Spaces tab.
3. Name your Space. More on this below; it’s the single most important decision.
4. Decide on recording. Toggle Record Space on if you want a replay.
5. Start now or schedule. Start immediately, or pick a date and time for later.
6. Allow microphone access when your phone asks.
7. Invite people. Share the Space by DM, in a post or with a link.

If your account is protected, you’ll need to make it public before you can create a Space.

How to name your Space

The name is what people see before they decide to tap in. Treat it like a headline:

• Say what listeners get. “Pricing your first freelance project: live Q&A” beats “Chill chat”.
• Name the guest if they’re a draw. A known speaker is often the main reason people join.
• Keep it scannable. Put the topic first; the clever part can come second.
• Avoid clickbait. People who feel tricked leave in the first minute and don’t come back next week.

Scheduling a Space

Scheduling turns a Space into an event. X lets you schedule up to 30 days ahead, with a maximum of 10 scheduled Spaces at once. A few practical rules:

• Schedule recurring shows in batches. If you host weekly, set up the next four sessions at once so each has its own link to share.
• Share the scheduled Space as a post. Pin it to your profile until it starts.
• Pick a time your listeners are awake. Your analytics show when your posts get the most impressions; our guide to the best time to post on X walks through how to read them.

Roles: host, co-hosts, speakers and listeners

Role	How many	What they do
Host	1	Starts the Space, approves speakers, runs moderation
Co-hosts	Up to 2	Help manage the room and the speaker queue
Speakers	The rest of the 13 mic slots	Talk when invited on stage
Listeners	Unlimited	Listen and can request to speak

Listeners request to speak and the host approves. That approval step is your main quality control: you decide who gets a mic and when.

Pick co-hosts deliberately. A good co-host watches the request queue, keeps time and steps in when a speaker rambles. Choose someone you trust, and agree before the Space who handles what.

Inviting people

X offers three ways to bring people in: a DM, a post or a link. Use all three:

• DM your speakers well in advance with the name, time and what you’d like them to cover.
• Post the Space when you schedule it, again an hour before and once more when it goes live.
• Share the link anywhere your audience already is, including your newsletter or a Community you belong to. Some Community admins and moderators can also host Community Spaces directly; see our X Communities guide.

For a deeper promotion playbook, read how to get more listeners on X Spaces.

Recording and clips

Recording. If you toggle Record Space, a REC label is shown so everyone knows. Recording is worth turning on for almost any planned Space: it gives people who missed it a replay and gives you raw material for posts. After the Space ends, you’ll also see how many people attended, which is your best simple benchmark for the next one.

Clipping. Clipping is on by default, and clips can appear publicly on profiles after the Space ends. That’s good news for reach, because a sharp 30-second moment can travel further than the whole conversation. It also means you should brief speakers: anything said on stage may be clipped and shared.

Anonymous listening. X has an anonymous listening option, which is off by default. Don’t assume you’ll see every listener’s name in the room.

Moderating a Space

Because all Spaces are public, anyone can walk in. Good moderation is mostly preparation:

• Control the mic. Approve speaker requests only when there’s a slot for a real contribution, not simply because someone asked.
• Brief speakers on the rules. Time limits, no pitching, stay on topic. Say the rules out loud at the start too.
• Use your co-hosts. One person watches the request queue while the host keeps the conversation moving.
• Move people back to listener if they go off-topic or talk over others, and remove or block anyone who’s abusive. Your options sit in the person’s profile card inside the Space.
• Report serious abuse through X’s reporting tools after dealing with it in the room.
• Stay calm on the mic. A host who argues with a disruptive speaker gives them what they came for. Remove them and move on.

A run-of-show template

Copy this for a 60-minute Space and adjust the timings:

Time	Segment	Host notes
0:00–0:03	Soft open	Music or small talk while early listeners arrive; confirm recording is on
0:03–0:08	Welcome and rules	Topic, speakers, how to request the mic, clipping is on
0:08–0:25	Main discussion, part 1	Two or three prepared questions for speakers
0:25–0:28	Room reset	Recap for newcomers, ask listeners to share the Space
0:28–0:45	Main discussion, part 2	Go deeper on the strongest thread from part 1
0:45–0:55	Listener Q&A	Bring two to four listeners up, one question each
0:55–1:00	Wrap-up	Key points, thank speakers, announce the next Space

The room reset is the most overlooked part. Listeners arrive throughout a Space, and a quick recap stops newcomers from leaving because they can’t follow what’s going on.

After the Space

• Check attendance. Note the number X shows after the Space ends and compare it session to session.
• Share the recording with a post that says what listeners will get from the replay.
• Post your best clips over the next few days, each with a line about when the next Space happens.
• Turn the conversation into a post. A short summary of the best answers reaches people who don’t listen to audio at all. If you want a follow-up discussion, a quick poll on X asking what to cover next works well.
• Thank your speakers publicly. It makes them more likely to share the replay and come back.

If you find your shows need visuals, the same planning carries over to video: see how to go live on X.

Key takeaways

• Spaces can only be started from the X app on iOS or Android; web users can listen but not host.
• Up to 13 people can speak (host, up to 2 co-hosts and speakers), with no listener limit.
• Schedule up to 30 days ahead, with no more than 10 scheduled Spaces at a time.
• Turn on recording, remember clipping is on by default, and brief speakers accordingly.
• A clear name, a planned first ten minutes and regular room resets make the biggest difference to how long people stay.