
Content Writer at SocialBee
Ever feel like social media platforms don’t let you control your own experience? With Bluesky settings, that’s about to change. Whether it’s tweaking your feed, enhancing your data privacy, or customizing how the app looks, Bluesky gives you the tools to make the platform truly yours.
This guide walks you through the key Bluesky settings and features you need to know. From managing your account’s security to personalizing your appearance, you’ll learn how to get the most out of Bluesky and take control of your social media experience.
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Short Summary
- Organize your main feed by curating content based on topics, hashtags, or specific users. This ensures your feed stays relevant to your interests.
- Use hashtags to categorize your posts and discover similar content by searching or clicking on hashtags in posts.
- Tag other users in your posts to engage them in conversations or draw attention to your content.
- Bluesky allows you to connect privately with others through secure and easy-to-use messaging.
- Watch or listen to videos and audio clips directly in the app without needing to switch to other platforms, keeping everything seamless.
- Control your timeline by filtering out unwanted content or distractions with Bluesky’s independent moderation services.
- Add labels to your content or benefit from automatic labels to better organize posts and improve discoverability.
- You can choose your preferred language to tailor the app experience to your needs.
- Feel free to adjust features like text size or app navigation to ensure the social network is easy to use for everyone.
- Enhance your account security with app settings like Two-Factor Authentication and manage who can interact with your content for a safer experience.
- You can remove specific posts from your timeline to declutter and focus only on the content you care about.
What is Bluesky?
Bluesky is a microblogging social media service where users can share short posts containing text, images, and videos. It is owned by Bluesky Social PBC, a benefit corporation based in the United States. Built on the AT Protocol, Bluesky supports self-hosting and allows users to manage their data, ensuring greater flexibility and ownership.
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 allows users to categorize their posts by adding labels manually when sharing content, like images or videos. These labels help describe the post’s context, making it easier for others to find relevant content or understand its purpose.
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.
Reach the audience you’re aiming for through hashtags!
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 during the sign-up process. If you want to explore more later, you can access Starter Packs by going to the Explore section in the app or web version.
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’s system settings let you customize your experience, enhance accessibility, and ensure account 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 you interact with the app by choosing the languages you prefer. The App Language option allows you to select the default language for all the text displayed in the app, making navigation simple and clear.
You can also adjust the Primary Language for translations in your feed and select Content Languages to filter what you see.
2. Accessibility
The Accessibility settings in Bluesky make the platform easier to use for everyone. One key feature is the option to require alt text before posting, ensuring that images shared on the platform include descriptions for users who rely on screen readers. This helps make content more inclusive.
Additionally, you can enable larger alt text badges to make it easier to see when an image has alt text added, improving visual clarity.
3. Content and media
The Content and Media settings in Bluesky allow you to customize how posts and media appear in your feed.
You can manage saved feeds to keep your content organized, adjust Thread Preferences to control how threads are displayed, and set Following Feed Preferences to fine-tune what content you see from people you follow.
You can also control External Media settings, such as enabling or disabling autoplay for videos and GIFs. This is useful if you want to reduce distractions or save data while browsing. You can also turn on trending topics to stay updated on popular conversations within the Bluesky community.
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
To create a Bluesky post, log into your account and click New Post; then, write your message within the 300-character limit, optionally add media or hashtags, and hit Post to share it with your followers.
Yes, Bluesky allows users to start chats for direct messaging. To send a direct message, go to the profile of the person you want to message, click the Chat option, and start your conversation. This feature enables private interactions alongside the platform’s public posts.
Yes, Bluesky has a moderation team that uses both human oversight and automated tools to review reported content, aiming to keep the platform safe and respectful for everyone.
Ready to play around with the Bluesky app?
Bluesky’s settings and features give you the tools to personalize your social media experience, from organizing your feeds to managing privacy and security. Whether you’re new to the platform or want to optimize your account, Bluesky makes it easy to take control and create a space that works for you.
To make managing your content even easier, SocialBee can help. With tools like a hashtag generator, post scheduling, and content organization, SocialBee is perfect for keeping your Bluesky posts consistent and effective.
Get started today with SocialBee’s 14-day free trial and see how it can help you make the most of Bluesky!