[Software] How to use Line

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It’s easy to love Line

 

 

You might not have heard of Line before, but the instant messaging app is incredibly po[CENSORED]r in Asia and well worth a look.

 

Line originally started life as a response to the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami so people could communicate during the disaster. Since then, it’s become Japan’s largest social network. 

The app has continued to grow its base of over 700 million users, and although Line is still largely overshadowed by WhatsApp in the west, its cast of cute characters and animated stickers have helped the company stand out from the competition. 

There’s even a flagship Line store in the heart of New York’s Times Square where you can buy merchandise.

 

How to install and sign up for Line

To get started, download and install Line for iPhone or Android and launch the app. There’s a desktop app for Windows 10 and macOS too. 

You’ll be presented with a log in or sign up screen if you’re a new user. Tap on ‘sign up’ and enter your region and phone number when prompted. You’ll then be asked to verify your phone number and accept the Terms of Service.

Once you’ve accepted, you’ll receive a verification code via SMS which you’ll need to enter within 30 minutes. When that’s done, you can create a new user profile, enter a display name and upload a profile picture, if you like. 

You can also allow the Line app to auto-add your friends using your existing contacts and choose whether you want to allow other users to add you.

Like its competitors, Line can do more than just text chat. You can make free calls and video chat with multiple people, and there’s the option to create groups or just message one-on-one.

 

Building your profile 

 

 

Tap on the ‘More’ button at the bottom of the screen, then select the settings cog located in the top-right hand corner. Select ‘Edit profile’ to update your display name, change your profile picture and cover image, set a status message and more. You’ll also see your ‘ID’ here, which is how friends can find you on Line.

 

Sending media and stickers

 

 

 

Line lets you play games and share amazing animated stickers from all sorts of series and franchises, which is perhaps its biggest selling point. 

While other instant messaging apps have tried to imitate Line’s idea, few do it quite as well. There’s an abundance of static and animated stickers to purchase from all sorts of franchises and artists can even make their own. From Baby Yoda to Dragon Ball Z, there’s a good chance you’ll find something to help you express yourself in a fun way. 

Line also predicts what stickers you might use depending on what you type, making embellishing a conversation simple and easy.