# Nostr: How do I create a Nostr identity?

Choose a trustworthy Nostr client or signer and use its account-creation flow to generate a keypair.

2026-08-10
::
Switchboard Tech Services


![Nostr: How do I create a Nostr identity?](https://switchboardtechservices.com/static/images/defaults/guides.webp)

## Short answer

Choose a trustworthy Nostr client or signer and use its account-creation flow to generate a keypair. Save the private key or recovery material securely before posting. The public key becomes the durable identity others follow; your display name and profile details can change. You do not need a NIP-05 address or paid relay to create the basic keypair.

## Sources

[NIP-01: Basic protocol](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/01.md), [NIP-19: Human-readable encodings](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/19.md), [NIP-05: Internet identifiers](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/05.md).

- Categories:
  [Nostr](https://switchboardtechservices.com/guides/categories/nostr/)
- Tags:
  [#getting-started](https://switchboardtechservices.com/guides/tags/getting-started/), [#Nostr](https://switchboardtechservices.com/guides/tags/nostr/), [#Decentralized Social](https://switchboardtechservices.com/guides/tags/decentralized-social/), [#Open Protocols](https://switchboardtechservices.com/guides/tags/open-protocols/)

[Guides RSS](https://switchboardtechservices.com/feeds/guides.xml "Subscribe using an RSS reader")

---

Canonical URL: https://switchboardtechservices.com/guides/nostr-how-do-i-create-a-nostr-identity/

Language: en-us

Content type: guide

Author: Switchboard Tech Services

Published: 2026-08-11T00:43:48+00:00

Description: A practical answer to How do I create a Nostr identity?