# How to use textarea instead of text input for user fields?

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-use-textarea-instead-of-text-input-for-user-fields/29965
**Category:** Feature
**Created:** [June 13, 2015, 9:05am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-use-textarea-instead-of-text-input-for-user-fields/29965 "2015-06-13T09:05:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Akuta](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/akuta/32/116284_2.png) [@Akuta](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Akuta)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2015, 9:05am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-use-textarea-instead-of-text-input-for-user-fields/29965/1 "2015-06-13T09:05:17Z")

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I’m trying to setup a restricted forum where users have to be activated. I’d like for users to have to submit a lot of information so admins can verify it, but I don’t see a textarea option to allow these applicants to enter much information.

Any built-in solution to what I’m getting at?

Hope that’s clear.

Thanks.

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### Author: ![codinghorror](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/codinghorror/32/110067_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2015, 9:58am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-use-textarea-instead-of-text-input-for-user-fields/29965/2 "2015-06-13T09:58:46Z")

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No such option exists.

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### Author: ![banana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/65b543/32.png) [@banana](https://meta.discourse.org/u/banana)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2020, 1:26am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-use-textarea-instead-of-text-input-for-user-fields/29965/3 "2020-05-01T01:26:52Z")

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This is old, but +1 would love to have this feature. Longer bios are pretty important for my community!

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### Author: ![codinghorror](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/codinghorror/32/110067_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2020, 1:38am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-use-textarea-instead-of-text-input-for-user-fields/29965/4 "2020-05-01T01:38:12Z")

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The spirit of this request is more about user fields which can be requested at signup, a feature that already exists…

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### Author: ![banana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/65b543/32.png) [@banana](https://meta.discourse.org/u/banana)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2020, 2:22am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-use-textarea-instead-of-text-input-for-user-fields/29965/5 "2020-05-04T02:22:08Z")

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Ah I see. I misread the use case. Will create a separate post.