Short answer: no, nobody knows if you mute them on Bluesky. No notification is sent, and mutes are private preferences rather than public records, so there is nothing for them to look up. That makes muting the quiet option, unlike blocking.
There is one exception worth knowing about – mute lists – and a few things muting does not do. Here is the full picture.
The Direct Answer
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Does the person get notified? | No |
| Can they find out by looking it up? | No – individual mutes are not public records |
| Can they still see my posts? | Yes – muting only changes what you see |
| Can they still reply to me? | Yes – you just won't see it |
| Are mute words private? | Yes |
| Are mute lists private? | No – the list itself is public |
Why Mutes Are Private
Most things you do on Bluesky are records in your public repository. Likes are app.bsky.feed.like records, follows are app.bsky.graph.follow, and blocks are app.bsky.graph.block. Anyone can read them.
Mutes are different. When you mute an account, your app tells the AppView, the service that assembles your timeline and threads, to filter that account out for you. The mute is stored as a private preference attached to your account. It is not written to your repository, it is not broadcast on the firehose, and other users cannot query it.
That design makes sense. A block has to be public because the whole network needs to enforce it – to stop the blocked person from replying to you. A mute only affects what you see, so only the service building your view needs to know. Our guide to Bluesky blocks covers the public side of that comparison.
What Muting Does and Doesn't Do
Muting is one-way. It changes your view, and nothing else.
- You stop seeing their posts in your timeline and feeds.
- Their replies are hidden from you, including replies to your own posts.
- You stop getting notifications from them.
- They can still see everything you post. Muting hides them from you, not you from them.
- They can still reply, like, repost and quote. Other people will see those replies even though you won't.
- They can still follow you. Muting does not touch follows.
That last pair matters. If someone is replying to you in a way that other people can see and you need it to stop, a mute will not stop it. That is what blocking is for.
The Different Kinds of Muting
"Mute" covers several separate features on Bluesky. Their privacy is not identical.
Muting an account
Hides one account from you, as described above. Private.
Mute words and tags
Hides posts that contain a word, phrase or hashtag, from anyone. Good for spoilers, a news story you need a break from, or a recurring argument. The official app lets you set how long a mute word lasts and limit it to accounts you don't follow. Private – nobody can see your list of muted words.
Muting a thread
Stops notifications from one conversation. Useful when a post of yours takes off and the replies will not stop. Private.
Mute lists
This is the exception. A mute list is a moderation list: a public list of accounts that you, or anyone who subscribes, can mute in one action. The list's name, description, creator and full membership are public, just like any Bluesky list. If you put someone on a mute list, they can find out by checking the lists they appear on.
Subscribing to someone else's mute list is a quieter act than creating one, but the list you subscribe to is still public. See are Bluesky lists public? and our moderation lists guide for the details.
Rule of thumb: if you want a mute to stay private, mute the account directly. Don't add it to a list.
Mute vs Block
| Mute | Block | |
|---|---|---|
| Stored as | Private preference | Public record |
| Notification sent? | No | No |
| Can they find out? | No | Yes – on your profile, or by looking it up |
| Can they see your posts while logged in? | Yes | No |
| Can they reply to or quote you? | Yes, you just don't see it | No |
| Do you see their posts? | No | No |
| Best for | Quiet distance | Stopping interaction |
Mute when the problem is your feed. Block when the problem is their behavior toward you.
Practical Guidance
- Mute first for anything personal. A friend who posts too much, a coworker, an ex: muting avoids the social cost of a visible block.
- Use mute words for topics, not people. One mute word can do more than a dozen account mutes.
- Remember they can still reply. If their replies are a problem for other people reading your posts, a mute will not help.
- Check your mutes now and then. Mutes are permanent until you undo them, and it is easy to forget who you muted a year ago.
- Keep personal mutes off lists. Lists are public.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does someone know if you mute them on Bluesky?
No. Muting sends no notification, and mutes are private preferences rather than public records, so the person cannot look it up.
Can a muted person still see my posts on Bluesky?
Yes. Muting only changes what you see. The muted account can still see your posts, reply, like and repost. You just won't see their posts, and their replies are hidden from you.
Are mute lists private?
No. A mute list is a public list, so its name, creator and members are visible to anyone. Muting someone individually is private; putting them on a mute list is not.
What's the difference between muting and blocking on Bluesky?
A mute is private and one-way: you stop seeing them, but they can still see and reply to you. A block is a public record and two-way: neither of you can see or interact with the other's posts while logged in.
Do Bluesky mutes work in every app?
Account mutes and mute words are stored with your account, so they apply in the official app, Skyscraper and other clients. App-specific features, like Skyscraper's temporary mute, only apply in that app.
Muting in Skyscraper
- Mute words, reposts, replies and quote posts – control what shows up in your timeline, not just who; repost mutes sync back to Bluesky
- Temporary mute – hide someone for 2, 24 or 72 hours. It is stored only on your device, so nothing is sent to Bluesky at all
- View Labels – see what label a post has, who applied it, and when