Short answer: open Settings → Moderation → Muted words & tags, type the word, phrase or hashtag, choose how long to mute it, and tap Add. Posts containing it are hidden from your feeds and threads. Nobody is notified, and nobody else can see your list.
That covers the basics. The options below decide whether muting works well or hides things you wanted to see.
How to Mute a Word on Bluesky, Step by Step
- Open Bluesky (iPhone, Android or bsky.app) and go to Settings.
- Tap Moderation.
- Tap Muted words & tags.
- Type the word, phrase or hashtag you want to mute.
- Choose how long to mute it (see below).
- Choose what to mute: the text and tags, or tags only.
- Optionally turn on Exclude users you follow.
- Tap Add. The mute takes effect immediately.
Muted words are saved to your Bluesky account, not to your phone, so they follow you to every device where you're signed in.
Every Muted Word Option, Explained
Duration: forever, 24 hours, 7 days or 30 days
Each muted word can be permanent or expire on its own. Use a timed mute for anything temporary – a TV finale, a sports result, a news cycle you need a break from. If you mute it forever, you'll forget it's there and wonder months later why a topic never shows up.
- 24 hours – a live game or awards show you're watching later tonight
- 7 days – a new movie or game you haven't got to yet
- 30 days – an ongoing news story, an election, or a season of a show
- Forever – slurs, topics you never want to see, persistent spam terms
Text & tags vs. tags only
- Text & tags hides posts where the word appears anywhere – in the post text or as a hashtag. This is the stronger option.
- Tags only hides posts that use it as a hashtag, but not posts that just mention the word. Use this when the word is common but the hashtag belongs to a community you're not interested in.
Example: muting #NFL as tags-only hides the fan hashtag firehose but still shows a friend's post that says "watching the NFL tonight."
Exclude users you follow
Turn this on and the mute only applies to strangers. Posts from people you follow still appear even if they contain the word. This is the right setting for muting a topic that's flooding your Discover feed or search results, when you still want to hear from your own people about it.
Leave it off for spoilers – your friends are the most likely people to spoil something for you.
What Muted Words Actually Hide
- Posts in your feeds – Following, Discover and custom feeds
- Replies in threads, which are collapsed behind a notice rather than removed
- Posts that use the word as a hashtag (if you chose text & tags or tags only)
Muting hides content for you only. It doesn't remove posts from Bluesky or stop the author from posting. If you need to stop a specific person, use a user mute or a block instead.
Can anyone see my muted words?
No. Muted words are stored in your private account preferences. Unlike blocks and moderation lists, which are public on Bluesky, your muted words list isn't visible to other users and nobody is told you muted anything.
Tips for Muting Well
- Mute both the word and the hashtag spelling. If a hashtag is a run-together phrase (
#HouseOfTheDragon), the spaced-out phrase is a different term. Add both. - Mute phrases, not just single words. "Final score" is much more precise than "score".
- Add common misspellings and nicknames. Spoilers often use a character's nickname, not their full name.
- Remember other languages. For a big international event, the word you're muting may also appear in Spanish, Portuguese or Japanese posts.
- Review your list every few months. Delete permanent mutes you no longer need.
Muted Words vs. Other Ways to Filter Bluesky
| Tool | What it hides | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Muted words & tags | Any post containing a term | Topics, spoilers, keywords |
| Mute account | Everything from one person | Someone you want a break from, quietly |
| Mute thread | Notifications from one thread | A post of yours that went viral |
| Block | Two-way: neither of you can see or interact | Harassment, bad actors |
| Moderation lists | Many accounts at once | Known spam or harassment networks |
| Content filters & labelers | Categories (adult content, graphic media) | Broad content preferences |
For the last row, see Bluesky moderation settings, labelers and content filters.
Muted Words Not Working? Check These
- "Exclude users you follow" is on. If the post is from someone you follow, it will show by design.
- The mute expired. Timed mutes remove themselves – check whether yours is still in the list.
- The word is inside an image or a link card. Muted words match post text and tags, not text inside images or the preview of a linked article.
- It's a different spelling.
#WorldSeriesand "World Series" are different terms. Mute both. - The app you're using doesn't apply muted words. Muted words are an account preference, and third-party apps have to support it. If a post shows in one app but not another, that's why.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I mute words on Bluesky?
Go to Settings, then Moderation, then Muted words & tags. Enter the word or hashtag, pick a duration and whether to mute text and tags or tags only, then tap Add.
Can I mute a word on Bluesky temporarily?
Yes. When adding a muted word you can choose 24 hours, 7 days, 30 days or forever. Timed mutes are removed automatically when they expire.
Does muting a word on Bluesky notify anyone?
No. Muted words are private. Nobody is notified and nobody else can see your muted words list.
Can I mute hashtags on Bluesky?
Yes. Add the hashtag in Muted words & tags. Choose "tags only" to hide just the hashtag, or "text & tags" to also hide posts that mention the word without the #.
Do muted words sync between devices?
Yes. They're saved to your Bluesky account, so they apply on every device and in every app that supports Bluesky's muted words preference.
Take Control of Your Timeline
- Skyscraper for iOS – temporary mute for accounts, pinned lists and hashtags
- Keyword Alerts – the opposite of muting: get notified when a word appears
- Trending Hashtags – see which tags to mute before they flood your feed