You're Setting Me Up?!
With information about settings
Introduction
Oh! Hello.
It’s you again! 🫣
Didn’t you find the first bunch of articles… boring?
You didn’t? 😱
You want to know more things? 🥴 Really? 🤔
Are you sure that I didn’t bore you to death or make you enter a coma last time? Huh?
Maybe it’s my writing style. 🤷🏻♂️🤣
Okay, let’s talk settings… Lots of them. This article is now even HUGE-ER-ER-ER er errrrrr! I know huge-er isn’t a word. 🤪
So huge… That I had to swap the Introduction and the CONTENTS around because that contents list is excessive.
I know. It sounds super boring but it is super important. There are a lot of settings scattered across Bluesky, so I’m going to try and cover them all. Yes. All of them.
These include the FULL settings screen and DM (chat) settings within this article.
If you’re looking for the options within post and reply menus take a look at Bluesky for Exiters – Menu Options Everywhere.
Your Settings are important. They give you plenty of tools to do lots of things and it has to be someone’s task to show you them and how they all work… Well, to the best of my ability. 🫣
Before I continue, I’m just going to ask if you could consider buying me a coffee. You can do that on the link below.
Buy Mike Jay a coffee through his Amicite account on Ko-Fi.
Now let’s talk Settings.
If you wish to bypass the long contents list on mobile and start at the beginning of the article click here. To get back to the top you can press the circle with the up arrow in the bottom right.
As always, there’s a contents menu… It’s somewhere around here… with quick links to specific sections on this article, which will take you straight to that point.
You can even right click on the links and Copy link address and when you share them, it’ll take those clicking on it… directly to that section.
I also added a Google Translate function to the site. If you need to view the page in any other language, you can now do so. I hope it’s helpful.
Let’s continue. Shall we?
Contents
First Published on the
27th of August 2024
Last Updated on the
28th of November 2024
Update 1.95 brought the addition thread sort option of hot replies first as a sorting method.
This is simple stuff… Like “How do I get to the settings?”
Opening the Settings
Simple instructions to access the settings.
You know how to click on or press things, right?
The new look design account switcher and its functions.
Explaining what the Account Switcher is
Simple details on the Account Switcher and its uses.
Explaining so you don’t end up muddled.
Switch Account menu options
Find out what menu options are available in the Switch Account area.
These menus are everywhere!
Additional Switch Account tip
There’s another way to switch between accounts on the mobile app, find out how.
An alternative way to switch you up.
The new look design account switcher and its functions.
Email and Change Email
Simple details about the email section and how to change the email address assigned to your account.
You have an email address? That’ll explain your Bluesky account.
Birthday
Find out how to change your birthday on your account.
Happy Birthday! Input it here!
Password
Find out how to change your password.
Knowing where to change your password is important.
Has its own subsection because quite a few don’t know about.
Learn how to change your Bluesky handle or use your domain name as a handle.
Change your bsky.social handle
Change your normal bsky.social user handle to something else.
Changing your usual handle.
Use your own domain as a handle
An explanation of why doing this is beneficial.
Happy Birthday! Input it here!
Own domain as your handle via DNS
A guide explain how to set up your domain as your handle via DNS Settings on your domain providers control panel.
This can be confusing if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Export my data
Brief and limited description providing very little information about this.
All the text. No Media. No images. No video. To be expanded upon at a much later date.
Deactivate account
Find out what the deactivation does and how to use it.
Have a break from Bluesky, return when you want.
Delete account
Find out how to delete your account.
If you’re not a fan of Bluesky. Follow the destructions.
Keeping you, you. And yourself secure.
Two-factor Authentication (2FA)
Find out how to set up the email based two-factor authentication (2FA).
Get a code sent to your email to be able to login.
Has its own subsection because quite a few don’t know about this and this is actually important.
Learn about and learn how to create an App Password for external clients, apps and websites that require you to log in to them!
The new look App Passwords screen
Have a nosey at the recently made changes and what additions were made.
The Option, The Button and The List
Guide for creating an App Password:
Step 1 – Add a new App Password
Step 2 – The name screen
Your given password
A small set of instructions is also given for:
Logged-out Visibility
Information about what the logged-out visibility function does and how to use it.
Maybe you don’t want your content visible to logged-out users.
Find out about all of the available moderation tools and their uses.
You have complete control over visible content.
Has its own subsection because these tools are probably the most often needed.
Mute words & tags
A description of this function and how to use it.
I dislike that word, for this length of time but not with those I follow.
Moderation Lists
Find out what moderation lists are, what they’re used for and how to create them via a link to the lists article.
Block. Mute. Massive list. And more than one of them.
Muted Accounts
Find out where all those people you’ve muted are listed.
You muted these.
Blocked Accounts
Find out where all those people you’ve blocked are listed.
I bet you block more than you mute.
Content Filters
Find out how to enable adult content and then disable it again because it’s all vanilla and amateur.
Oh! You’re one of those? An adult? I suppose you want that kind of content too?
Advanced also known as Labellers
Find out what labellers are and what they’re used for via a link to the labels and labellers article.
Anyone have a Label maker?
Find out about all of content and media related controls and how to use them.
Manage those feeds, external media and autoplays.
Manage saved feeds
Find out how to pin, unpin, move around and delete your saved feeds. Provides a link to the feeds article for addition details.
I’m sure you’ll collect lots of feeds.
Has its own subsection because there are a selection of toggles with different functions for the reply threads of all posts.
I’m sure you want to change how your reply threads behave?
Sort replies
Find out how to give the replies you receive, some kind of order.
Prioritize your follows
Make sure those that you follow, are seen first.
Experimental – Threaded View
See the reply thread in a different way.
An alternative view for the replies thread.
Has its own subsection because there are a selection of toggles with different functions for the given Following feed.
Things to tweak specifically for the following feed.
Show replies
Display replies within the Following feed.
Show reposts
Display reposts within the Following feed.
Show quote posts
Display quote posts within the Following feed.
Experimental – Show posts from my saved feeds
Display additional post samples from your Saved Feeds within the Following feed.
Additional posts from your other saved feeds?
External Media
Find out about external media with a link to the Media article.
Youtube, Vimeo, Soundcloud, Spotify and more. All playable in Bluesky.
Use in-app browser to open links
Choose to open links within Bluesky or with your default web browser on your device.
Autoplay videos and GIFs
Choose whether you want videos and GIFs to autoplay or not.
Control the colour mode and toggle the dark theme as well as choose 1 of 2 fonts and 3 sizes.
Change how it looks.
Colour Mode and Dark Theme
Go light, dim or dark.
Light or Dark then nothing, dim and dark.
Font and Font Size
The font used by your system or the font used by Bluesky for their app branding.
System or Theme font as Smaller, default or bigger.
Controls to change accessibility functions including those to do with the ALT text and device haptics.
Important accessibility options.
Require ALT text before posting
The ALT text is text used to describe an image, this function makes sure you input it before you can post.
Display larger ALT text badges
If an image has ALT text a small badge is show, make it bigger with this.
Disable haptic feedback
Haptics are automatically used when button presses are made and actions are performed, use this to turn it off if needed.
Find out what each of the language options here is used for.
Je ne suis pas doué avec les langues.
The chat/messages settings were removed from the Settings screen. However, the guide is still relevant after some changes as you can access them from the chat/messages screen.
However, There are other ways to access them!
Access Chat/Message settings from the Messages Screen
A guide to get to these settings if you were originally used to accessing them from the Settings screen.
Allow new messages from…
Change the permissions on who you’re allowing to message you.
Notification sounds
Use these settings to change whether you get a sound or not when getting messages through the Bluesky app.
The Basics
This is simple stuff.
Opening the settings
You know how to click on or press things, right?
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings
Getting to the settings is simple, open the side bar and press Settings.
There’s a lot in there, right?
Hey! would you look at that very tidy and very new Settings screen.
The Bluesky developers did a really awesome job of this in the 1.94 update on the 20th of November 2024.
Switch Account
You have more than one account?
Explaining What the account switcher is
Explaining so you don't end up muddled.
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Switch account
Under this is the Switch account option.
This will slide down and show any additional accounts you’re logged in with.
If you haven’t got additional accounts (and even if you do), it will also show Add another account. Selecting this will take you back to the login screen and allow you to sign into already created accounts or to create a new account.
Please note: If you use multiple accounts, settings are not saved between them and you will need to apply the settings as you want on each.
Switch Account Menu options
These menus are everywhere!
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Switch account > Ellipsis (3 dots to right of account)
You’ll see an ellipsis (3 dots) next to each account listed in the Switch account area. Pressing this will show a menu which contains:
Remove account – Remove the account (sign out of it) for the currently selected account. Not the one you’re currently using.
Additional switch account tip
An alternative way to switch you up.
To get here:
Home Feed > Profile Picture (Hold finger on it)
Talking about switching between accounts. You know where your profile photo is on the bottom bar? I have noticed on the Bluesky application, if you keep your finger/thumb on it, a bottom menu will appear, giving you quick access to your other accounts, allowing you to switch between them and add accounts.
You’re welcome. 😁👍🏻
Account
It's all about the current you! Your current account. Not a bank.
Email and change email
You have an email address? That'll explain your Bluesky account.
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Account > Change email
At the top of your account area you’ll see the Email and Change Email area.
Email – This will show you the email that you used to register your account. The blue tick is an indicator that you verified your email address after registration.
Change email – This allows you to change the email address assigned to your account using the Change Your Email screen. Simply follow the given instructions to do so.
Birthday
Happy Birthday! Input it here!
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Account > Birthday (Press Edit)
Everyone has a day of birth… Make sure you’ve set it in the options.
Press Edit. The My Birthday screen will appear, if the date is incorrect, press on the date, make the needed change and save it.
Password
Knowing where to change your password is important
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Account > Password
Don’t be the person that has their password as “password”. Make sure you have a solid login password and change it here.
On the Change Password screen, press Request Code and input the given code sent to your email address to be able to access the text box to input one.
Handle
It's worth using a domain name if you have one but it's okay if you don't.
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Account > Handle
Change your bsky.social handle
Changing your usual handle
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Account > Handle
This allows you to change your handle on Bluesky by using the text box that is displayed.
If using the text box only, just type in a username, like that on Twitter.
Done that? Press Save.
It will automatically add the .bsky.social bit.
It will be @(yournewhandle).bsky.social.
Use your own domain as a handle
It is possible to use your own domain names (TLDs and others) as your @ handle on Bluesky.
This can act as self-verification and validation of identity for individuals and organisations/businesses that are well known… Or not well known.
Own Domain as handle via DNS
This can be confusing if you don't know what you're doing.
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Account > Handle > I have my own domain > DNS Panel
Have your own domain and want it as your @ handle on Bluesky?
Awesome news! Enter it in the text box at the top and press the Copy Domain Value button here.
Now go to your domain providers control panel and click on DNS Settings.
Where your A, CNAME, TXT records are:
Set the Host to _atproto
Change the record type to TXT
Paste the Domain Value you copied on Bluesky into the Value box there.
You don’t have to touch or change the TTL.
Now save these changes you just made on the DNS Settings page on your domain providers website.
Come back to Bluesky and press Verify DNS Record.
If you’ve done this correctly, this should be instantly checkable and applied.
If a red box appears, you’ve made a mistake somewhere.
Go back there and check everything against the change handle screen on Bluesky.
If you made a mistake, make the needed changes and then try again.
If it’s still not working, it might be a record waiting situation. If after 24 hours you still cannot change your handle to your domain name there’s something else occurring that I cannot help with.
Export my data
All the text. No Media. No images. No video.
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Account > Export My Data
This allows you to export your public data as a CAR file.
At the time of writing, I have limited knowledge on this. So, I’ll update this at a later time, after doing my usual experimentation. 🤣
Deactivate Account
Have a break from Bluesky, return when you want.
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Account > Deactivate Account
Need a break? Deactivate your account and come back whenever. There’s no time limit on deactivations on Bluesky.
Press Deactivate account on the Account screen and press Yes, deactivate.
Simple enough, right?
Delete Account
If you're not a fan of Bluesky. Follow the destructions.
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Account > Delete Account
Not happy with Bluesky? You have the choice to delete your account and this is the setting for it. Just follow the destructions. 🤣
Press Delete account on the Accounts screen. Then press Send Email and follow the rest of the instructions given.
Privacy and Security
Keeping you, you. And yourself secure.
Two-factor authentication (2fa)
Get a code sent to your email to be able to login.
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Privacy and Security > Two-factor Authentication (2FA) (Press Enable)
If you didn’t know… Bluesky has two-factor authentication, also known as 2FA.
In this case, it’s email based. Whenever you log in to your Bluesky account, you’ll be asked to retrieve a code from the email address used for your account. Then input it into the given box to finish the log in procedure.
If you wish to use this function, press Enable to the right of Two-factor authentication (2FA) and when the Enable Email 2FA pop up appears, press Enable and follow any other given instructions.
If you already have this enabled, you can Disable this by using this setting.
App passwords
Don't use your actual password on external apps!
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Privacy and Security > App Passwords
I cannot stress this enough!
Don’t use your Bluesky login password to sign into external services and applications that are asking you to enter an App Password.
This setting allows you to make a password specific for the application you want to login to.
In combination, you use your Bluesky handle and the App Password you create in Bluesky.
Using this menu is reasonably simple.
The New Look App passwords screen
The Option
There’s been a subtle change to the App Passwords option in the Privacy and Security section.
It now shows you how many app passwords you have saved
The Button
I for one, are really happy for this needed change.
On the App Passwords screen, the Add App Password button is now at the top. Finally.
The List
The list of all the app passwords you’ve made has had a revamp.
Step 1 - Add a new App Password
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Privacy and Security > App Passwords
You’ll see the App Passwords screen, yours might be empty. That’s normal, especially if you’re new to Bluesky.
Now, press the + Add App Password button. 🤪
Step 2 - The Name Screen
It will ask you to give it a name, use a name that’s a match or close to the app you’re using (just in case you need to remove the password in the future)
If you’re using an external client like Skeets, Greysky and deck.blue, just to name them, tick the box to allow access to the direct messages.
Now press the Next button.
Your Given Password
It will show you a combination password
It will look something like the example ht7s-ky67-54df-888g. A combination of 4 random digits 4 times with 3 dashes separating them.
Copy the password using the 2 squares icon to the right of the new password and make a note of it as you won’t be able to retrieve it. Now use that to log into the service you made it for.
If you lose or don’t remember the App Password, you will have to make another and follow the instructions given by the external service to be able to log back into it.
This will make things more secure.
Deleting App Passwords
Before we continue here… DO NOT delete app passwords for external apps and websites you still currently use. Doing so will log you out of that service and you will need to make a new app password to log back in.
To delete an app password that is no longer in use, press the red Bin/Trashcan to the right.
Then press Delete.
Logged-out visibility
Maybe you don't want your content visible to logged-out users.
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Privacy and Security > Logged-out Visibility (Press Toggle to enable/disable)
This toggle when enabled will try to discourage applications from reading your account. However, application developers are not made to honour this request, some may. Bluesky will not show your profile and posts to logged out users with this enabled.
This doesn’t make your account private to users that are logged in. Bluesky is an open and public network.
Suggested setting for Logged-out Visibility:
That depends on whether you want people to see your account when they aren’t logged in.
If you want your profile, completely public to those not logged in, make sure the toggle is Off.
If you don’t want that to happen, turn the toggle On.
Please note: If you toggle this On and you share a link to one of your posts in something that would display a URL box, the box will display as a thin line and not display your post outside of the Bluesky platform.
Moderation
You have complete control over visible content.
This area is divided into 3 parts.
– Moderation Tools
– Content Filters
– Advanced also known as Labellers
All of these are important to reducing any toxicity that exists across the entire platform. What I’m going to do here, is go through each aspect of the sections and what they will help you with.
Are you ready?
I’m not. 🤣
Moderation Tools
Right, Moderation Tools are your tools to help protect yourself and one can also be shared with others, these include muting words & tags and the muting and blocking of other user accounts. There’s also Moderation lists, a quick explanation of this is that they are user defined lists of accounts that you can mute or block using 2 presses, a button and an option (mute or block).
Mute words & tags
I dislike that word, for this length of time but not with those I follow.
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Moderation > Muted words & tags
Can you remember the mute words function on that other place?
Here is the Bluesky version.
Type in a word, phrase or tag you want to mute across the platform.
You’ll then have to choose some additional options to make changes to:
Duration – Set the amount of time you want the muted word(s) and tag(s) to remain muted for. You can select from Forever, 24 hours, 7 days and 30 days.
Mute in – Set where you want the mute ability to apply. You can select from Text & tags or Tags only. The tags term in this case, refers to the hashtag (#).
Options – Exclude users you follow – Ticking this box will exclude those you follow, from being hidden when mentioning the inputted word or tag.
Once you’ve set it up as you want, press Add +.
Whatever you add will be placed in the Your muted words section a bit further down on the same page. These can be removed as required.
Moderation Lists
Block. Mute. Massive list. And more than one of them.
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Moderation > Moderation Lists
Moderation lists are public, shareable, user curated lists of individuals deemed to be most likely trigger or conflict causing. These lists allow you and others to mute or block those in it.
In my screenshot here, it shows you the lists image, the name of the list, who created it and its description.
To create a Moderation List, whilst on the Moderation Lists screen, press the + New button in the top right hand corner and follow the instructions. It will act like you’re creating a normal list. It will ask for a name and description and image (should you want one) then asks you to add the people you want to add.
I recently made the Bluesky for Exiters – Lists, Moderation Lists and Starter Packs article. You can go straight to the Moderation Lists section too, that’s if you want to. Which describes it’s uses and how to make and edit such lists.
Muted Accounts
You Muted these.
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Moderation > Muted accounts
Now this is something you should know.
These are people you’ve silenced. Simples.
Blocked Accounts
I bet you block more than you mute.
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Moderation > Blocked Accounts
You should know this too.
These are people you’ve outright decided you want nothing to do with. Simples.
Blocks are different on Bluesky. When you block someone, you also cannot see anything on their profile.
On X, you could unhide the posts of those you blocked. Now it’s a nosey non-block marshland full of zombies.
Content Filters
Oh! You're one of those? An adult? I suppose you want that kind of content too?
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Moderation > Enable adult content (Toggle, Enable/Disable)
Some of us don’t want adult content, some of us do.
This option gives you the choice to toggle this with an Enable or Disable.
Enabling this will also enable the 3 disabled settings in the Bluesky Moderation Service in the Advanced area and will display those options to change as you wish inside of the Content Filters with the already accessible option of Non-sexual Nudity.
Others that have this Disabled will not be able to see this content when other have it enabled and decide to share it. Or you shouldn’t.
I’ll personally never use these options. I find that public porn on a public social media platform puts me off the idea of social media.
Advanced also known as labellers
Anyone have a Label maker?
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Moderation > Advanced section
This section is interesting, if you’re new to Bluesky, this will most likely only display the Bluesky Moderation Service (which I highly suggest you look at and change as you see fit, I have mine set on Hide). However, all moderation on Bluesky works on the basis of labels and all tools within the Advanced area are Labelling services.
Wait… All? Yeah about that… There are other labellers out there that can be used to warn, apply a label to or hide users or posts based on specific aspects.
You can read more about Labels and Labellers and even get a list of them by checking out:
Bluesky for EXiters – Label Me This or Don’t
Content and Media
Manage those feeds, external media and autoplays.
Manage saved feeds
I'm sure you'll collect lots of feeds
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Content and Media > Manage Saved Feeds
This is the management tool for your pinned and saved feeds. It allows you to rearrange and unpin those feeds you’ve pinned. And delete saved pins.
The Pinned Feeds section:
The up and down arrows will change the order of the feed you press it for.
Those at the top are those at the left side of the home feeds top bar.
The blue pin if pressed will unpin the feed from the top bar and move it to the My Saved Feeds section.
The My Saved Feeds section:
The grey pin when pressed will move the feed to the Pinned Feed section.
The Bin/Trashcan will allow you to delete a saved feed.
Don’t forget! Any changes made in the Edit My Feeds screen will require you to save them. It will show a blue Save button in the top right.
I talk more about this in Bluesky for EXiters – Feeding Yourself, go have a look.
Thread Preferences
I'm sure you want to change how your reply threads behave?
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Content and Media > Thread preferences
Sort Replies
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Content and Media > Thread preferences
A choice option, allows you to sort the replies in a way you’d like.
Suggested setting:
I think it should be left for you to decide this. 🤪
Hot replies first
Oldest replies first
Newest replies first
Most liked replies first
Random (aka “poster’s roulette”)
Prioritize Your Follows
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Content and Media > Thread preferences
This will put the replies of those you follow, first.
Suggested setting:
Your choice, it depends if you value those replies from those you follow over all your followers. 🤪
No – No prioritizing.
Yes – Prioritize those you follow.
Experimental - Threaded View
An alternative view for the replies thread.
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Content and Media > Thread preferences
This setting is experimental and may break how the comments/replies on all posts work.
This will change the look of the reply threads on posts to a threaded view.
Suggested setting:
This is your choice.
Try it, if you don’t like it or something breaks, change the setting back to No.
No – Don’t use threaded view.
Yes – Use threaded view.
To see this, have a look at the replies of a post.
Following Feeds Preferences
Things to tweak specifically for the following feed.
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Content and Media > Following Feed Preferences
Show Replies
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Content and Media > Following Feed Preferences
This will display replies within the Following feed. This might be okay. However, there is the risk of seeing users you’ve never seen caused by someone following you replying to the never seen before individual.
Suggested setting:
Yes
Yes – Will show followers replies on the Following feed.
No – Will hide all followers replies on the Following feed.
Show Reposts
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Content and Media > Following Feed Preferences
Choose whether Reposts should appear on the Following feed.
Suggested setting:
No, a lot of users are using Bluesky like it’s X. Reposting doesn’t boost anything. And BOOSTING isn’t needed. All feeds are different, some might not even show reposts and therefore, won’t boost or improve visibility.
Until people stop doing this, I suggest you set this to No to stop the flood of posts you probably find tedious and stop the burying of those following you that you which to keep up with.
No – Hide all Reposts on the Following feed.
Yes – Show all Reposts on the Following feed.
Show Quote Posts
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Content and Media > Following Feed Preferences
Choose whether Quote Posts should appear on the Following feed.
Suggested setting:
Yes, unless it’s annoying to you.
No – Hide all Quote Posts on the Following feed.
Yes – Show all Quote Posts on the Following feed.
Experimental - Show Posts from My saved Feeds
Additional posts from your other saved feeds?
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Content and Media > Following Feed Preferences
This setting is experimental and may break how your following feed behaves by adding addition posts from any saved feeds you have.
My assumption is that this option will take samples of feeds saved from the My Saved Feeds area on your Feeds screen and place them in your Following Feed.
I have written about My Saved Feeds on the Bluesky for EXiters – Feeding Yourself article.
Suggested setting:
This is your choice, if it breaks your Following feed or stops you seeing people, turn it off.
No – Won’t use saved feeds from the My Saved Feeds section.
Yes – Will use saved feed from the My Saved Feeds section.
External Media
Youtube, vimeo, soundcloud, spotify and more. All playable in bluesky.
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Content and Media > External Media
This setting allows you to toggle which external services you want to watch and listen to within Bluesky. I do cover this is the article, Bluesky for EXiters – Where’s the Media? which might give you an idea of how this all works.
Use in-app browser to open links
Use the web browser bluesky provides or the default web browser on your device.
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Content and Media
For continuity, browsing website links using the in app web browser may be much quicker but not using it can give you more options in your usual web browser. This will already be enabled by default. You can always disable it to use Chrome, Safari, Brave, Firefox, Opera or others.
Suggested setting:
This is your choice.
Off/No – Use your systems default web browser
On/Yes – Use the in app web browser
Autoplay videos and gifs
Want to stop videos from playing automatically?
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Content and Media
As it says, will autoplay for all videos and GIFs across Bluesky, this by default is set to On/Yes. If you want to stop autoplay, toggle it to disable it.
Suggested setting:
This is your choice.
Off/No – GIFs won’t Autoplay
On/Yes – GIFs will Autoplay
Appearance
Change how it looks
Colour Mode and Dark Theme
Light or Dark then nothing, dim and dark.
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Appearance
The Colour Mode and Dark Theme Options
The Appearance setting allows you to set light or dark mode, or go automatic with the System setting, based on your Operating Systems theming (Windows, iOS and Android) which is based on the set light or dark themes in display settings of your device.
Dark Theme (will only be used if you’re using the Dark option of Appearance shown)
The Dark theme has 2 subthemes. Dark is the pure black background and light text, Dim is usually a dull dark blue with a lighter grey text. Just choose what you’d like.
Font and Font size
System or Theme font as Smaller, default or bigger.
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Appearance
The Font Options
This is a new setting that was added in September of 2024.
This allows you to select a font from:
System – Which is the font currently used by your devices operating system (Those with a custom font on Android are probably loving this).
Theme – Which is Bluesky’s chosen application and website font.
The font Size Options
With the addition of the 2 font options, there are also 3 additional font sizes:
Smaller, Default and Larger
These options are an “it’s up to you” type thing.
Accessibility
Important accessibility options
Require ALT Text Before Posting
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Accessibility
The Alt text is the description given by users of Bluesky or pre-propagated by sources (such as GIPHY and Tenor) which is appended to the image(s)/GIF/video before you can posted it.
Suggested setting:
This is your choice. However, it is suggested that you describe your images, GIFs and videos for those with screen readers and vision disabilities.
Off/No – You will be able to finish and post your post/reply with a photo, gif or video without having to leave an alt text.
On/Yes – You will need to describe all images/GIF/video in a post before the “Post” or “Reply” button will be allowed to be pressed.
Display Larger ALT Text Badges
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Accessibility
This is a UI adjustment. When an ALT description is added to an image, this makes the the ALT label on the image, bigger, to highlight that a description exists for the image or GIF.
Suggested setting:
This is your choice.
Off/No – Tiny ALT text badge on the image or GIF in bottom right.
On/Yes – Larger ALT text badge on the image or GIF in bottom right.
Disable Haptic Feedback
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Accessibility
A setting that should only be visible on mobile devices (mobile/cell phones, tablets). This specifies whether you want the device to vibrate upon button presses and actions within the Bluesky application.
Suggested setting:
Your choice.
Off/No – Your device will vibrate on display presses/actions within Bluesky
On/Yes – Your device won’t vibrate on display presses/actions within Bluesky
Languages
Je ne suis pas doué avec les langues.
To get here:
Side Menu > Settings > Languages
These options are rather self explanatory.
These won’t need adjusting usually as most applications work around your devices language settings.
It’s great to know they’re these can be changed here though:
App language
The language you want the application to use.
Primary language
The language you want other languages to be translated to on your feed.
Content languages
You can select multiple languages to be shown in your subscribed feeds.
Removed Settings
However, There are other ways to access them!
Chat/Message Settings
The only way to get here now:
Bottom bar > Chat/Message Icon (Middle) > Sliders Icon (top right corner)
Access the Chat Settings from the Messages screen
The only way to get here now:
Bottom bar > Chat/Message Icon (Middle)
These settings can be found inside and accessed from the Chat/Messages screen by pressing the icon in the top right hand corner.
I have no idea why these have been removed from the main Settings screen, but they have.
Allow new message from...
The only way to get here now:
Bottom bar > Chat/Message Icon (Middle) > Sliders Icon (top right corner)
Allow new messages from:
Everyone
Users I Follow
No one
Some of you may want to set this as you wish. I won’t suggest what to use.
Please note: If you made the permissions to restrict someone from contacting you and think the setting alone will work, you should be made aware that they’ll be able to still message unless you press the 3 dots (. . . /ellipsis) on their conversation and press Leave Conversation from the menu that appears.
Notification Sounds
The only way to get here now:
Bottom bar > Chat/Message Icon (Middle) > Sliders Icon (top right corner)
Rather self explanatory. Sound or no sound when getting a message.
Enabled
Disabled
Outro
So long, farewell
And all of these are just those settings within the Settings area.
And I’ll leave this settings article at this. It was long wasn’t it.
There will be a part 2 of this covering all the other settings around Bluesky. Thanks for sticking around and reading this. It’s been fun.
I’ll see you in part 2 where I’ll cover reply and post settings and those notifications settings too. 👋🏻😅
