Short answer: on Bluesky, a block hides posts in both directions, so the same placeholder can mean you blocked them, they blocked you, or a blocklist did it for one of you. The profile usually tells you which. If it names a list, the block came from a moderation list subscription, not a one-to-one block.
The Messages and What They Mean
The exact wording changes between app versions and third-party apps, but there are four situations:
| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| A blocked post placeholder in a thread | There's a block between you and the author, in either direction. You can't see the post or reply to it. |
| A profile saying you have blocked the account | You blocked them, directly. You can unblock from the profile. |
| A profile saying it's blocked by a list, naming the list | You subscribed to a moderation list as a blocklist, and this account is on it. You didn't block them one by one. |
| A profile saying you are blocked, or one you can't load | They blocked you, directly or through a list they subscribe to. |
| "Post not found" or "post unavailable" with no mention of blocking | Usually the post was deleted, the account was deactivated or suspended, or a moderation label is hiding it. |
How Blocklists Create Blocks You Didn't Choose
A moderation list is a public list of accounts. When you subscribe to one and choose Block, Bluesky treats everyone on it as blocked by you, including accounts the owner adds later. That's useful against spam and harassment, but it means:
- You can be blocking people you've never heard of. If a thread is full of blocked posts, check your subscribed lists before assuming the other person did anything.
- Someone can be blocking you without having seen you. If a stranger's profile says you're blocked, they may have subscribed to a list you're on.
- Unsubscribing removes all those blocks at once. It doesn't touch accounts you blocked individually.
Seeing Which Blocklists You Subscribe To
In the Bluesky app, go to Settings → Moderation and open Moderation lists. That shows the lists you've made and the lists you subscribe to. Open one and you can unsubscribe, or switch it from block to mute.
To see accounts you've blocked one by one, use Blocked accounts on the same Moderation screen. Skyscraper has separate Blocked Accounts and Muted Accounts pages under Settings as well.
Finding Out Whether You're on a Blocklist
Because list membership is public, you can check. Our What Bluesky Lists Am I On? script prints every list that includes you and marks moderation lists as modlist. It can't tell you how many people subscribe to each one, and it can't tell you who muted you.
Can You See Who Blocked You?
Partly. Blocks on Bluesky are public records, because the network needs to enforce them on every server. Individual blocks can be found with third-party tools that index them. Blocklist subscriptions are public too. Mutes are private and can't be seen by anyone. The full picture, and the etiquette of looking, is in Are Bluesky Blocks Public?
What You Can Do
- You're blocked by someone: nothing, practically. Blocks are one-sided decisions and there's no appeal. Making a new account to get around one is against the rules.
- You're on a blocklist you think is wrong: message the list owner once and explain. If the list is abusive, report it from its ··· menu.
- You're blocking more than you meant to: review your list subscriptions and switch the broad ones to mute, which hides their posts from you without cutting off replies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'blocked by list' mean on Bluesky?
It means you've subscribed to a moderation list as a blocklist and the account is on that list. The block comes from the subscription, not from you blocking them individually.
Why do I see blocked posts in threads on Bluesky?
There's a block between you and the author in one direction or the other, possibly through a blocklist. Blocks on Bluesky hide posts both ways.
How do I see which blocklists I'm subscribed to?
In the Bluesky app, go to Settings, Moderation, Moderation lists. You can unsubscribe there or switch a list from block to mute.
Can someone block me without knowing who I am?
Yes. If they subscribe to a blocklist you're on, they block everyone on it, including people they've never seen.
Are Bluesky blocks public?
Yes. Blocks, including blocklist subscriptions, are public records on the AT Protocol. Mutes are private.
Lists in Skyscraper
Skyscraper reads, pins and browses Bluesky lists on iPhone, iPad and Mac, alongside your feeds and saved searches, and keeps blocked and muted accounts on their own pages in Settings. If you also use Mastodon, Skyscraper Pro adds Mastodon lists next to your Bluesky ones.