Content Writer at SocialBee
Ever feel like social media platforms don’t let you make things your own? With Bluesky, that’s no longer the case. From feed preferences to privacy settings and design tweaks, Bluesky lets you shape the experience to fit you.
This guide breaks down the key settings so you can get the most out of the platform, from managing account security to personalizing your appearance and taking full control of your social media journey.
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Short Summary
Here are just some of the things you can do in Bluesky’s settings to make the platform work better for you:
Customize your feed by following curated or custom feeds, pinning your favorites, reordering them, or unfollowing ones you no longer want.
Tweak thread and reply settings to decide how conversations show up: expanded, collapsed, or original post only.
Set your language preferences by picking the app interface language, translation language, and content languages you’d like to see in your feed.
Add alt text to images and enable a setting to require it before posting, making your content more accessible.
Turn on larger alt text badges so it’s easier to tell when an image includes descriptions.
Control autoplay and media visibility. Choose whether videos and GIFs play automatically and how external media appears.
Show or hide trending topics based on your preference for a more curated or quieter feed.
Use reply controls to manage who can respond to your posts: everyone, followers, or no one.
Secure your account with Two-Factor Authentication and privacy tools.
Label content manually to help flag sensitive posts for others in the community.
Clean up your timeline by hiding posts you no longer want to see.
Send private messages to connect directly with other users.
Watch or listen to media (videos, audio clips, etc.) right within the app, no switching tabs required.
What is Bluesky?
Bluesky is a social media platform designed to give users more freedom, flexibility, and control. Instead of locking you into one company’s rules, Bluesky is built on the AT Protocol – an open, decentralized network that lets you move your data, customize your experience, and even choose your own content moderation tools. Think of it as Twitter, but with more transparency and user control baked in.
As of 2025, Bluesky boasts over 28 million active users. Led by CEO Jay Graber, the company focuses on expanding its features and delivering greater user autonomy in the social media space.
Bluesky features to keep an eye on
TL;DR: Bluesky allows you to personalize your profile by using a custom domain as your username, making your handle unique. You can create feeds tailored to specific topics, filter and organize content, and manage posts with options to hide or report them.
Interaction features include tagging Bluesky users, using hashtags, and sending private messages. Additionally, you can organize the accounts you follow into lists to create feeds organized and focused on specific interests.
Bluesky’s best features include:
- Custom domains
- Custom feeds
- Labeling
- Moderation filters
- Review and report
- Hide post
- Mentions
- Hashtags
- In-app media player
- Direct messaging
- Notifications
- Starter packs
- Reply controls
- Emoji picker
- Lists
1. Custom domains
Custom domains on Bluesky let you connect your profile to a domain name you own, like yourname.com or yourbusiness.org. This is a way to verify your account and let people know it’s your official profile.
To set it up, go to Bluesky Settings on the web app or mobile app, find the Account Settings section, and look for the domain setup option. You’ll need to own a domain first (something you can register through various third-party apps or services).
Want a step-by-step guide? Check out this article on setting up a custom domain on Bluesky for more details.
Once connected, your own domain will be displayed as part of your username. This feature also works well with social media apps that recognize domain-based profiles, such as Mastodon, keeping your handle consistent across platforms.
2. Custom feeds
Custom feeds, or feed generators, let you create personalized timelines tailored to your interests. Whether you want an algorithmic “For You” page, a feed of cat photos, or a community-specific timeline, custom feeds give you control over what you see.
Unlike traditional social media platforms with typical algorithmic feeds, Bluesky allows users to subscribe to existing custom feeds or create their own. To explore available feeds, go to the Explore section in the app. Examples include curated feeds like the Science Feed, showcasing posts from science communicators, or Follower Feeds, tailored to your followers’ content.
For advanced users, creating a custom feed requires technical steps, such as hosting a feed generator on the AT Protocol. This involves you’ll create custom algorithms, publish the feed, and make it available to subscribers. If you’re interested in creating your own feed generator, check out Bluesky’s starter template for guidance.
Custom feeds offer an innovative way to curate content, making your Bluesky experience more relevant and engaging.
3. Labeling
Bluesky’s labeling feature is primarily used for moderation. It allows users to flag content that might be sensitive, explicit, or otherwise needs a warning. These labels help others control what they see in their feeds and contribute to a safer, more transparent experience.
Labels also play a role in moderation. For example, they can flag sensitive or specific types of content, helping users filter what appears in their feeds.
While users can add their own labels, such as adult content or graphic media, some may also be applied automatically as part of Bluesky’s moderation system.
4. Moderation filters
Let’s face it: not all content online is welcome. Bluesky’s moderation settings are here to help you set boundaries and keep your feed clean. With these filters, you can choose what types of posts, words, or even users you want to avoid. It’s your feed, your rules.
It’s also a way to make your experience more focused and enjoyable. For example, you can filter out irrelevant discussions or mute topics you’re not interested in.
Setting up moderation tools is simple:
- Log into the app and navigate to the Settings section.
- From there, tap on Moderation to access the available options.
- Adjust your preferences to filter out topics, mute users, or customize your feed based on your needs.
5. Review and report
Bluesky takes community safety seriously, and the review and report feature plays a big role in that. If you come across a post that violates community guidelines or just feels off, you can report it directly within the platform. From there, Bluesky’s moderation team will review the flagged content and take action if necessary.
This feature empowers users to help maintain a respectful and engaging environment. It’s easy to use, too. To report a post, tap the three dots at the bottom right of the post, select “Report,” choose a reason from the list, and submit it.
6. Hide post
Sometimes, you just don’t want to see certain posts cluttering up your feed. Bluesky’s “Hide Post” feature gives you the ability to remove individual posts from your timeline without unfollowing or blocking the person who posted them. It’s a subtle but effective method to curate what you see without causing any drama.
To hide a post, tap the three dots at the bottom right of the post and select the “Hide” option. You can continue enjoying content from the same user without being distracted by posts that don’t resonate with you.
7. Mentions
Mentions are how Bluesky keeps conversations flowing. When someone tags you in a post, you’ll get a notification, making it easy to jump into the discussion. Whether it’s a shoutout, a question, or part of a larger thread, mentions ensure you’re always in the loop.
You can also use mentions to bring others into your conversations. Feel free to tag accounts of friends, collaborators, or brands. It is a great way to share ideas or get feedback. Just use the “@” symbol followed by the username.
8. Hashtags
Hashtags help you categorize and discover posts on Bluesky. By adding hashtags to your posts, you make it easier for others to find your content, whether it’s about a trending topic or a niche interest.
To use hashtags, simply include the “#” symbol followed by a keyword when creating your post.
For example, typing #BlueskyTips will group your post with others using the same one. Hashtags are also clickable, so if you see one in a post, you can tap on it to explore other content using the same hashtag.
You can find posts with specific hashtags by searching for them in the search bar, making it simple to connect with other users or explore popular trends.
PRO TIP
Not sure which hashtags to use in your post? Just add your caption to SocialBee’s post editor, click on the hashtag generator, and let SocialBee suggest the best hashtags based on your content. You can even save hashtags you like in collections, making it easy to reuse them in future posts with just a few clicks.
Generate, save and reuse hashtags with SocialBee!
9. In-app media player
Bluesky’s in-app media player lets you view videos and listen to audio clips directly within the app, without needing to switch to third-party apps or open additional tabs. This makes it more convenient compared to platforms like Facebook, where sharing a YouTube link requires others to leave the app and open YouTube to watch the video.
To use it, just tap the media in a post, and it will start playing right there. You can pause, play, and adjust the volume without leaving the app.
10. Direct messaging
Direct messages (DMs) on Bluesky let you connect privately with other users. Whether you’re networking, catching up with friends, or collaborating, DMs offer a secure way to communicate.
To access DMs, open the Bluesky app and tap the Chat icon at the bottom of the screen. This is the fastest way to start a conversation. You can search for a user and send them a message directly.
Bluesky also includes chat settings to control who can message you, ensuring your account stays secure and private.
11. Notifications
Notifications keep you updated on everything happening in your Bluesky account. Whether someone mentions you, replies to your post, or likes your content, you’ll get an alert so you don’t miss a thing.
To access notifications, click the bell icon in the app or web interface. You can customize what types of notifications you receive by enabling the “Priority Notifications” setting in the Settings menu and adjusting your preferences.
12. Starter packs
Starter Packs make it easy for new users to get started on Bluesky. These curated packs suggest people to follow, feeds to join, and topics to explore based on your interests.
When you first join Bluesky, you’ll be prompted to select a Starter Pack, essentially a curated list of suggested accounts. You can find them again through someone’s profile (if they’ve created one), or if someone shares a direct link with you.
You can also create your own Starter Packs and share them with others, making it easier to recommend content or accounts to new users.
13. Reply controls
Bluesky lets you decide who can respond to your posts, giving you more flexibility over your conversations. You can choose to allow replies from everyone, limit them to people you follow, or disable replies entirely.
To adjust reply settings, tap on “Anybody can interact” in the bottom left corner of the screen while creating a post.
Reply controls are especially helpful for keeping discussions constructive. Whether you’re posting about a sensitive topic or simply want to avoid spam, this feature gives you the flexibility to manage your threads on your terms.
14. Emoji picker
The emoji picker on Bluesky is a quick way to add some personality to your posts and replies on the web app. Whether you’re sharing excitement, humor, or support, emojis let you say more with less. This small but fun feature makes interactions feel a bit more personal.
To use it, click the emoji icon when creating a post or reply. From there, you can scroll through categories or search for the perfect emoji.
15. Lists
Bluesky’s Lists feature helps you organize the users you follow into categories, making it easier to manage your connections and focus on specific groups. You can create separate lists for friends, colleagues, or favorite creators, and quickly switch between them to see their posts without distractions.
To set up a list, press the three lines find the Lists section in the left side of your screen. Add users to a new or existing list, name it, and save it.
You can access these lists from your main feed menu to quickly view posts from specific groups.
Useful Bluesky settings
Bluesky has a bunch of settings you can play with to make the app feel more like yours, whether that’s changing the language, adjusting how content shows up, or locking down your account’s security.
These are some of the Bluesky system settings you should know about:
- Languages
- Accessibility
- Content and media
- Appearance
- Privacy and security
1. Languages
The Languages setting in Bluesky lets you customize how the app talks to you and what you see in your feed.
App Language sets the language of the interface (menus, buttons, etc.).
Primary Language is used for automatic translations in your feed, so posts in other languages will appear with translated text.
Content Languages lets you choose which languages you want to see content in. If you leave this blank, posts in all languages will appear in your feed.
This combo helps filter your feed and tailor the overall experience to your language preferences.
2. Accessibility
The Accessibility settings in Bluesky are tools that creators can turn on to help make the platform more inclusive, especially for users who rely on screen readers or have low vision.
You can:
Require alt text before posting images, so you never forget to describe your visuals.
Enable larger alt text badges to clearly show when an image has alt text added.
These features don’t directly support users with impairments (like screen reader toggles), but they do encourage accessible content creation across the platform.
3. Content and media
The Content and Media settings give you a lot of control over how posts show up in your feed. Here’s what you can tweak:
Manage saved feeds – Pin custom feeds to the top of your app, reorder them, or remove ones you no longer want to follow.
Thread preferences – Choose whether you want to see full threads or just the original post first. You can also control whether replies are collapsed or expanded by default.
Following feed preferences – Filter what shows up in your main feed, like hiding reposts or limiting content from certain accounts.
External media – Decide how the app handles images, links, and videos from outside Bluesky.
Autoplay videos and GIFs – Turn this off if you want a quieter or more data-friendly browsing experience.
Trending topics – Enable or disable trending topics if you want to stay on top of hot conversations—or prefer to skip the noise.
4. Appearance
The Appearance settings in Bluesky allow you to customize how the app looks and feels to suit your preferences.
Here’s what you can customize in terms of Appearance for Bluesky:
- Color mode: Choose between system default, light mode, or dark mode.
- Dark theme: Select between “Dim” or full “Dark” for a comfortable viewing experience in low light.
- Font: Pick either the system default font or a theme-specific font for a tailored look.
- Font size: Adjust the text size to smaller, default, or larger to improve readability.
These options make it easy to create a viewing experience that works for you, whether you prefer a clean, bright interface or a darker, more relaxed theme. Bluesky ensures that the app not only performs well but also feels comfortable and accessible for all users.
5. Privacy and security
The Privacy and Security settings in Bluesky help you protect your account and control who sees your content.
You can enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for extra security, requiring a second verification step when logging in. This makes it harder for anyone else to access your account, even if they know your password.
The App Passwords feature allows you to create separate passwords for third-party apps, so you don’t have to share your main Bluesky password.
The Logged-Out Visibility option lets you limit who can see your profile and posts. If enabled, Bluesky will discourage showing your content to users who aren’t logged in. However, since Bluesky is an open platform, other apps and websites might still display your posts.
Frequently asked questions
Ready to play around with the Bluesky app?
Bluesky gives you a lot of flexibility when it comes to personalizing your social media experience, from customizing your feeds to managing privacy settings. Whether you’re just getting started or already fine-tuning your account, Bluesky lets you build a space that feels like yours.
And when you’re ready to get serious about posting? That’s where SocialBee comes in.
With SocialBee, you can generate content using AI, schedule and post to Bluesky, and keep everything organized with built-in tools for hashtags, media management, and team collaboration. It’s your one-stop shop for planning, publishing, and growing consistently on Bluesky.
Get started today with SocialBee’s 14-day free trial and see how it can help you make the most of Bluesky!
