Reply to Verified-Only & Prioritized Replies — Tutorial

Step-by-step guide to restricting replies to verified users only and understanding prioritized reply benefits on X/Twitter.

Works on: Browser Console
Difficulty: Beginner
Time: 1-2 minutes
Requirements: Logged into x.com, X Premium subscription (for setting restrictions)

Prerequisites

• Logged into x.com in your browser
• Browser DevTools console (F12 or Cmd+Option+J on Mac)
• X Premium subscription (required to set reply restrictions)

Quick Start

1. Open the compose dialog on x.com (click the post button or press N)
2. Open DevTools Console (F12, then click the Console tab)
3. Paste the script to set reply restrictions
4. The script will click the reply restriction menu and select your preference
5. Compose and send your post -- the restriction applies to that post

Configuration

const CONFIG = {
  mode: 'set',                    // 'set' = set restriction, 'check' = check status only
  restriction: 'verified',        // 'everyone', 'verified', 'following', 'mentioned'
  autoCompose: false,             // Open compose dialog if not already open
  delayBetweenActions: 1500,      // ms between UI interactions
};

Reply Restriction Options

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Check Your Verification Status

Before setting reply restrictions, verify that you have Premium:

(() => {
  console.log('🔒 VERIFIED-ONLY REPLIES - XActions by nichxbt\n');

  const verifiedIcons = document.querySelectorAll('[data-testid="icon-verified"]');
  const profileLink = document.querySelector('a[data-testid="AppTabBar_Profile_Link"]');

  if (verifiedIcons.length > 0) {
    console.log('✅ Verified badge detected — you can use reply restrictions.');
  } else {
    console.log('⚠️ No verified badge detected.');
    console.log('💡 Reply restrictions require X Premium. Subscribe at: x.com/i/premium_sign_up');
  }

  if (profileLink) {
    console.log(`👤 Your profile: https://x.com${profileLink.getAttribute('href')}`);
  }
})();

Step 2: Set Reply Restriction on a New Post

Open the compose dialog first (click the post button), then run:

(async () => {
  const CONFIG = {
    restriction: 'verified',  // Change to: 'everyone', 'following', or 'mentioned'
  };

  const sleep = (ms) => new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, ms));

  console.log('🔒 SETTING REPLY RESTRICTION - XActions by nichxbt');

  const RESTRICTION_LABELS = {
    everyone: 'Everyone',
    verified: 'Verified accounts',
    following: 'Accounts you follow',
    mentioned: 'Only people you mention',
  };

  console.log(`🔒 Target restriction: "${RESTRICTION_LABELS[CONFIG.restriction]}"`);

  // Check that compose dialog is open
  const textarea = document.querySelector('[data-testid="tweetTextarea_0"]');
  if (!textarea) {
    console.log('⚠️ Compose dialog not open. Opening...');
    const composeBtn = document.querySelector('a[href="/compose/post"]')
      || document.querySelector('a[aria-label="Post"]');

    if (composeBtn) {
      composeBtn.click();
      await sleep(1500);
    } else {
      console.error('❌ Could not open compose dialog. Click the post button manually first.');
      return;
    }
  }

  await sleep(1000);

  // Find and click the reply restriction button
  const replyRestrictionBtn = document.querySelector('[data-testid="replyRestriction"]')
    || document.querySelector('[aria-label="Reply restrictions"]')
    || document.querySelector('button[aria-haspopup="menu"]');

  if (!replyRestrictionBtn) {
    console.error('❌ Reply restriction button not found.');
    console.log('💡 Make sure the compose dialog is open and you have Premium.');
    return;
  }

  replyRestrictionBtn.click();
  console.log('✅ Opened reply restriction menu.');
  await sleep(1500);

  // Select the desired option
  const menuItems = document.querySelectorAll('[role="menuitem"], [role="option"]');
  let found = false;

  for (const item of menuItems) {
    const text = item.textContent.toLowerCase();
    if (text.includes(CONFIG.restriction.toLowerCase()) ||
        text.includes(RESTRICTION_LABELS[CONFIG.restriction].toLowerCase())) {
      item.click();
      found = true;
      console.log(`✅ Selected: "${RESTRICTION_LABELS[CONFIG.restriction]}"`);
      break;
    }
  }

  if (!found) {
    console.log('⚠️ Could not find the desired restriction option.');
    console.log('📋 Available options:');
    menuItems.forEach((item, i) => {
      console.log(`   ${i + 1}. ${item.textContent.trim()}`);
    });
  }

  console.log('\n✅ Reply restriction set! Compose your post and send it.');
  console.log('💡 This setting applies per-post. Set it before posting each time.');
})();

Expected Console Output

🔒 SETTING REPLY RESTRICTION - XActions by nichxbt
🔒 Target restriction: "Verified accounts"
✅ Opened reply restriction menu.
✅ Selected: "Verified accounts"

✅ Reply restriction set! Compose your post and send it.
💡 This setting applies per-post. Set it before posting each time.

Step 3: Check Current Restriction on a Post

(() => {
  const restrictionEl = document.querySelector('[data-testid="replyRestriction"]');
  if (restrictionEl) {
    const text = restrictionEl.textContent.trim() || restrictionEl.getAttribute('aria-label') || 'Unknown';
    console.log(`📋 Current reply restriction: ${text}`);
  } else {
    console.log('ℹ️ No active reply restriction element found.');
    console.log('💡 Open the compose dialog to see restriction options.');
  }
})();

Understanding Prioritized Replies

Prioritized replies are a benefit of X Premium. When you reply to popular tweets, your reply is more likely to appear near the top of the conversation.

The boost is automatic -- there is no setting to toggle. Simply having Premium gives your replies higher visibility.

Tips & Tricks

1. Per-post setting -- Reply restrictions are set per post, not globally. You need to configure them before each post.

2. Combine with verified-only for announcements -- When making important announcements, set replies to verified-only to filter out spam and get quality responses.

3. "Mentioned" for private threads -- Use the mentioned restriction to create semi-private conversations visible to everyone but only replyable by tagged users.

4. Restriction persists in compose -- Once you set a restriction in the compose dialog, it may carry over to your next post in the same session. Double-check before posting.

5. Existing replies unaffected -- Changing reply restrictions on a draft does not affect already-posted content. The restriction only applies to the post when it is published.

Troubleshooting

Related Scripts