Choose whether new Community posts and comments start as Anonymous User or with your Username from Settings. This article covers the Default Profile screen, how it differs from Edit Profile, and where to override the default while composing—not the full create-post walkthrough.
What your default profile controls
- Default Profile sets the starting Anonymous toggle for new posts and comments—not visibility on posts you already published.
- Anonymous means feeds show Anonymous User with a generic avatar on content you create with that setting.
- Username means feeds show the username and photo from your community profile—the same identity previewed at the top of Default Profile.
- You can flip the Anonymous toggle on an individual post or comment without changing this default—see Creating posts.
Open Default Profile
01
Settings
From Home, tap the gear icon in the date header. See opening Settings from Home if this path is new.
02
Community
On the Settings list, tap Community. The row subtitle reads Profile · Notifications · Guidelines.
03
Default Profile
Under Profile, tap Default Profile. The row detail shows your current default—Anonymous, Username, or Not Set.
04
Default Profile
The navigation title reads Default Profile. Changes here apply to new Community content, not daily tracking on Home.
Set default visibility
01
Default visibility
Use the segmented control labeled Default visibility below the profile preview.
02
Anonymous
Select Anonymous so new compose sheets and comment bars start with the Anonymous toggle on—posts show as Anonymous User in feeds.
03
Username
Select Username so new content starts with your display name and photo visible—the segment label reads Username, not a separate Save button.
04
Footer
The footer explains that this is your default for new content and that you can override it per post or comment while creating or editing.
Preview your Username identity
01
Profile preview
When Username is selected, a row at the top shows your avatar and username—the same AuthorProfile row used in the Create Post sheet header.
02
Anonymous
When Anonymous is selected, the preview row shows the generic avatar without your username—matching how Anonymous User appears when you post anonymously.
03
Not Set
If you have not chosen a default yet, the Community hub row may read Not Set until you pick Anonymous or Username on Default Profile.
Update username and photo
01
Edit Profile
Default Profile does not edit your photo or username. Open Settings → Profile & Account → Edit Profile instead.
02
Username
Enter at least two characters for your display name. This username appears in Community when you post with Username visibility.
03
Profile photo
Tap the photo row to pick or remove an image. Saving updates your account and syncs your community thumbnail for Username posts.
04
Save
Tap Save on Edit Profile. Return to Default Profile to confirm Username mode still matches how you want to appear.
Override on one post or comment
01
Anonymous
In the Create Post sheet header, use the Anonymous toggle beside your avatar. It starts from your Default Profile choice—you can turn it on or off before you tap Post.
02
My Posts
On My Posts, the same toggle appears in the inline composer footer when the editor is expanded.
03
Comments
In a comment bar, the Anonymous toggle follows the same default until you change it for that reply.
Draft validation, photos, discard alerts, and crisis gates live in Creating posts—this article stops at how Settings default and per-item toggles interact.
What happens next
- Creating posts — full compose sheet, Anonymous toggle behavior, and publish gates.
- Editing your profile — change username, photo, birthdate, and health info outside Community.
- Community rules — policy overview and acceptance before you post.
- Community tab overview — Explore, Saved, and My Posts feeds where your name or Anonymous User label appears.
🔒Your Default Profile choice is stored with your account on device. When you post with Username visibility, your display name and thumbnail sync to the CloudKit Public Database so other members can read them on posts and comments. Anonymous User hides your username on that content—it does not make posts private to Red Tent systems or guarantee identity separation for moderation.