Using Hatch
Profiles and avatarsBeta
Your profile helps other hatchers know who they are working with. Keep it simple: a name, a face (or a friendly portrait) and the goal you are growing toward.
On this page
Your profile
Your profile can include:
- a display name (2 to 50 characters) and a username,
- a photo or an illustrated portrait,
- a short bio (up to 500 characters),
- your goal, your timeline and where you are starting from, and
- up to four badges you choose to pin.
Select your name at the bottom left of the sidebar to see your quick profile, then Edit profile to change it. The gear next to it opens Account settings.
Usernames
Usernames are optional. If you choose one, it must:
- be 3 to 24 characters, in lowercase,
- start with a letter, and
- use only letters, numbers, dots and underscores.
Some names, such as "admin", "hatch" and "support", are reserved. If you skip it, or your choice is taken, you get a friendly anonymous handle like hatchers#1234, which you can change later.
Portraits and photos
Every hatcher starts with a default portrait. Pick one of 12 illustrated portraits in Hatch purple, or choose Upload a photo (JPG, PNG or WebP, up to 12 MB). You can drag and drop a photo, too. To go back to an illustration, choose Use default portrait.
Away messages
Let people know what you are up to with a short away message (up to 80 characters), such as "Head down for a bit", "Open to company" or "Taking a breather". Choose when it clears: after 1 hour, 4 hours, at the end of today or when you change it. It shows under your name.
Badges and keepsakesBeta
Your collection holds badges and keepsakes you can earn along the way. Pin up to four badges to your profile, and add keepsakes to your shelf. Some badges are not tracked yet and say so; they will unlock in a later update.
Account settings
Account settings has four sections:
| Section | What's in it |
|---|---|
| Profile | Photo, name, username, goal, timeline, level and bio. |
| Account | Your email and sign-in and security options. |
| Preferences | Theme, notifications, message excerpts, discovery visibility, reduced motion and blocked hatchers. |
| Your plan | Your current plan: Free. Starter and Pro are shown as Coming soon and cannot be bought. |
Theme and accessibility
Select the accessibility button (the person icon at the top) to adjust Hatch on this device:
- Theme: System, Light or Dark.
- Reduce motion to calm animations. Hatch also follows your device's reduced-motion setting.
- Underline links to make them easier to spot.
On a computer you can also drag the edge of the sidebar to make it wider or narrower, or use the arrow keys on it. Double-click the edge to reset it.
Last updated 12 Nov 2026