Getting started on Bluesky

Bluesky is a social network built by the same person who created Twitter, and it works much like Twitter did in its early years — you post short messages, follow other users, and see a feed of posts from people you follow. To join, you go to bluesky.social, create an account with an email address, and choose a username. The whole process takes about five minutes.

Unlike Twitter, Bluesky is still in a growth phase, which means the experience is simpler and less crowded. You will not see ads, and the platform does not sell your data to advertisers. The tradeoff is that fewer people are on it yet, so you may find fewer accounts in your specific interests when you first arrive.

The platform is free to use. There is no paid tier, no subscription option, and no way to pay for extra features. Everything described here requires no payment.

Key Takeaways

  • Visit bluesky.social and sign up with an email address, a password, and a username — you can change the username later if you want.
  • Your username on Bluesky is different from your display name; the username is permanent and used in links, while the display name can change anytime.
  • After you create your account, add a profile photo and bio so other users can recognize you and understand what you post about.
  • You can import your followers from Twitter or Mastodon if you have accounts there, which saves time finding people to follow.
  • Bluesky has built-in privacy controls for blocking users and hiding replies, but it does not have private accounts or direct messages yet.

Creating your account step by step

Go to bluesky.social in any web browser or read the Bluesky app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. On the home page, you will see a button that says "Create account." Click or tap it.

You will be asked for an email address. Use an email you check regularly — Bluesky will send you a confirmation link, and you need to click that link to finish creating your account. Type your email, then click "Next."

Next, create a password. Bluesky requires at least eight characters. Use a password you do not use anywhere else, and consider using a password manager to store it safely. Type your password twice to confirm it matches, then click "Next."

Now choose your username. This is the name that appears in your profile link — for example, marcus.bsky.social. Usernames can include letters, numbers, hyphens, and periods, but no spaces. You can change your username later, so do not worry if you are not sure. Type your username and click "Next."

Check your email for a message from Bluesky with the subject line "Verify your email." Open that email and click the link inside. This confirms that you own the email address and completes your account creation. You are now on Bluesky.

Setting up your profile so people recognize you

When you first log in, Bluesky takes you to your profile page. You will see a blank profile with no photo, no name, and no description. Fill these in so other users know who you are and what you post about.

Click the "Edit profile" button. You can now add a profile photo by clicking the camera icon in the circle at the top. You can upload a photo from your computer or phone. Choose a photo where your face is clear — this helps people recognize you when they see your posts in their feed.

Below the photo, you will see a field for your display name. This is different from your username. Your display name can be anything — it can have spaces, emoji, and special characters, and you can change it anytime. Type the name you want people to see when they read your posts.

In the "Description" field, write a short bio. This is where you tell people what you post about — for example, "Photography and travel" or "Local news and community events." Keep it to one or two sentences. Click "Save" when you are done.

Finding people to follow

Bluesky has a "Discover" section that shows popular posts and trending topics. You can also search for specific people by typing their name or username in the search box at the top of the page. When you find someone you want to follow, click the "Follow" button on their profile.

If you have a Twitter account, Bluesky can import the list of people you follow there. On your profile page, click "Settings," then look for "Import followers from Twitter." Bluesky will show you a list of people you follow on Twitter who also have Bluesky accounts, and you can follow them all at once. This is much faster than searching for people one by one.

You can also import followers from Mastodon, another social network, using the same method. This works only if the people you follow have set up their Mastodon account to be discoverable on Bluesky.

Understanding privacy and safety on Bluesky

Bluesky does not have private accounts yet. Every post you write is public unless you delete it. This means anyone on the internet can see your posts, even people who do not have a Bluesky account.

You can block users who bother you. Go to their profile, click the three dots in the top right corner, and select "Block." Blocked users cannot see your posts, follow you, or send you messages. You can unblock them anytime by going back to their profile.

You can also hide replies to your posts. When someone replies to you, you will see a three-dot menu next to their reply. Click it and select "Hide this reply." The reply will no longer show on your post, though the person who wrote it can still see it on their own profile.

Bluesky does not have direct messages or private messaging yet. If you want to send someone a private message, you will need to use another platform or exchange contact information in a public post.

Customizing your feed and settings

Your Bluesky feed shows posts from people you follow, sorted by most recent first. You can customize what you see by creating custom feeds. Click the "Feeds" section on the left side of the page, then click "Create a custom feed." You can make a feed that shows only posts about a specific topic, or posts from a specific group of people.

In your Settings, you can change how your profile looks and how you receive notifications. Click the three dots in the top right corner of your profile page, then select "Settings." From here you can change your password, turn notifications on or off, and adjust your privacy settings.

Bluesky also lets you choose your language and timezone. These settings help the app show you content in the right language and display times correctly for your location.

What to know about Bluesky's current limitations

Bluesky is newer than Twitter or Facebook, so some features you might expect are not there yet. There are no direct messages, no private accounts, and no way to schedule posts in advance. The search function is basic and does not let you search for old posts the way Twitter does.

The user base is much smaller than Twitter's. If you post about a niche topic, you may find fewer people to interact with. However, the smaller community also means less spam and fewer arguments, which many users prefer.

Bluesky is working on new features regularly. The company publishes a roadmap on its website showing what is coming next, so you can see what the team is building.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username after I create my account?

Yes. Go to your profile, click "Edit profile," then click on your username at the top. You can type a new username. Bluesky will let you change it as often as you want, though changing it very frequently may confuse people who follow you.

What happens if I forget my password?

On the Bluesky login page, click "Forgot password?" Type the email address you used to create your account. Bluesky will send you a link to reset your password. Click the link in your email and create a new password.

Can I delete my account?

Yes. Go to Settings, scroll down to "Account," and click "Delete account." Bluesky will ask you to confirm. Once you delete your account, all your posts and profile information are removed and cannot be recovered.

Is Bluesky safe to use?

Bluesky has the same safety concerns as any public social network — people can see your posts, and you should not share personal information like your home address or phone number. Use the block feature if someone harasses you, and report accounts that break Bluesky's rules by clicking the three dots on their profile.

Do I need to pay to use Bluesky?

No. Bluesky is completely free. There are no ads, no paid features, and no subscription option. The company is funded by investors, not by selling your data or showing you advertisements.