Your First Steps

Congratulations on creating your Nostria account! Let's get you started with the essentials to make the most of your decentralized social experience.

Step 1: Secure Your Keys (If You Haven't Already)

Before doing anything else:

  1. Save your private key in a secure location
  2. Test your backup by logging out and back in
  3. Verify it works before proceeding

See Creating Your Account for detailed instructions.

Step 2: Complete Your Profile

Make your profile stand out:

Add a Profile Picture

  1. Click your profile icon
  2. Select "Edit Profile"
  3. Click the avatar area
  4. Upload a photo (JPG, PNG, max 5MB)
  5. Crop if desired
  6. Save

Write Your Bio

  1. In Edit Profile, find the bio field
  2. Write 2-3 sentences about yourself
  3. Include interests, profession, or fun facts
  4. Use emojis to add personality 😊

Add Other Details

  • Display Name: Your preferred name (can be anything)
  • Banner: Large header image for your profile
  • Website: Your blog, portfolio, or other links
  • Lightning Address: For receiving tips (optional)
  • NIP-05 Identifier: Verification badge (optional, see below)

Learn more about profile customization →

Step 3: Find People to Follow

An empty feed is boring! Build your network:

Explore the Global Feed

  1. Click "Global" or "Explore"
  2. Browse recent posts from everyone
  3. Find interesting people
  4. Click "Follow" on users you like
  1. Click the search icon
  2. Search for:
    • Topics you're interested in (#photography, #bitcoin, etc.)
    • Names of people you know
    • Companies or projects
  3. Follow accounts that interest you

Check Recommendations

  1. Go to "Discover" or "Suggestions"
  2. Nostria suggests popular or relevant users
  3. Follow a few to get started

Import from Other Platforms

If you're coming from other Nostr clients:

  1. Go to Settings → Import/Export
  2. Import your follow list
  3. Your social graph transfers over!

Tip: Start by following 10-20 people to build your feed.

Step 4: Make Your First Post

Time to share something!

Create a Simple Text Post

  1. Click "Create Post" or the + button
  2. Type your message (anything you want!)
  3. Click "Post"

Post Ideas for Beginners

  • 👋 "Hello Nostr! Just joined Nostria and excited to be here!"
  • 💡 Share an interesting thought or observation
  • 📸 Post a photo with a caption
  • ❓ Ask a question to start a conversation
  • 🔄 Repost something interesting you found

Learn more about creating posts →

Step 5: Engage with Others

Social media is about being social:

Like Posts

  • Click the ❤️ or 👍 icon on posts you enjoy
  • Quick way to show appreciation

Reply to Posts

  • Click the reply icon
  • Share your thoughts
  • Start conversations

Repost Content

  • Share others' posts to your followers
  • Add a comment if you like
  • Give credit to creators

Use Mentions

  • Type @ followed by a name
  • Tag people in posts
  • Bring them into conversations

Learn more about interactions →

Step 6: Customize Your Experience

Make Nostria work for you:

Notification Settings

  1. Go to Settings → Notifications
  2. Choose what you want to be notified about:
    • New followers
    • Mentions
    • Replies
    • Reposts
    • Direct messages
  3. Save your preferences

Privacy Settings

  1. Go to Settings → Privacy
  2. Configure:
    • Who can message you
    • Who can tag you
    • Content filtering
    • Blocked users

Appearance

  1. Go to Settings → Appearance
  2. Choose:
    • Light or dark mode
    • Theme colors
    • Font size
    • Layout preferences

Learn more about privacy and security →

Step 7: Explore Communities

Find your tribe:

  1. Click "Communities" or "Groups"
  2. Browse available communities
  3. Join ones that match your interests
  4. Participate in discussions
  5. Create your own community if you want!

Learn more about communities →

Step 8: Try Direct Messaging

Connect privately with others:

  1. Click "Messages" or the envelope icon
  2. Start a new conversation
  3. Search for a user
  4. Send your message
  5. Have a private chat!

Learn more about messaging →

Your First Day Checklist

✅ Secure your private key in multiple locations ✅ Complete your profile with photo and bio ✅ Follow 10-20 interesting people ✅ Make your first post ✅ Like and reply to a few posts ✅ Join at least one community ✅ Send a direct message ✅ Customize your settings

Tips for New Users

Do's ✅

  • Be authentic: Share what genuinely interests you
  • Engage regularly: Comment, like, and participate
  • Be respectful: Treat others as you'd like to be treated
  • Ask questions: The community is helpful!
  • Explore features: Try everything Nostria offers
  • Back up your key: Seriously, do it again to be sure

Don'ts ❌

  • Don't spam: Quality over quantity
  • Don't share your private key: Never, with anyone
  • Don't expect overnight success: Building a following takes time
  • Don't feed trolls: Use block/mute features
  • Don't forget to have fun: It's social media, enjoy it!

Understanding Your Feed

Home Feed

  • Posts from people you follow
  • Chronological order (usually)
  • Your main timeline

Global Feed

  • Posts from everyone on the network
  • Great for discovery
  • Can be chaotic but interesting

Notifications

  • Activity related to you
  • Check regularly to stay engaged
  • Respond to build connections

Building Your Network

Start small and grow organically:

Week 1

  • Follow 20-30 people
  • Post 2-3 times
  • Engage with 5-10 posts daily

Week 2

  • Explore communities
  • Try different post types
  • Interact more consistently

Month 1

  • Develop your voice
  • Find your niche
  • Build genuine connections

Common First-Day Questions

Q: Why is my feed empty? A: Follow more people! Your feed shows posts from people you follow.

Q: Can I delete posts? A: Yes, though they may remain on some relays due to decentralization.

Q: How do I get more followers? A: Post quality content, engage with others, be active, and give it time.

Q: What should I post about? A: Anything! Your interests, thoughts, questions, photos, links, etc.

Q: Is Nostria like Twitter/X? A: Similar, but decentralized, privacy-focused, and you own your data.

Next Steps

Ready to dive deeper?

Getting Help

Need assistance?

Welcome to Nostria! You're now part of the decentralized social media revolution. Enjoy your journey! 🚀