Short answer: check Bluesky's official status page at status.bsky.app. If everything is green there and Bluesky still isn't working for you, the problem is probably more local: your account's server, one custom feed, your app, or your connection. The rest of this guide helps you work out which and fix it.
Step 1: Is Bluesky Down for Everyone?
- status.bsky.app – Bluesky's official status page. It's the first place incidents are acknowledged.
- Try the web app at bsky.app. If the web works and your phone app doesn't, it's an app problem, not an outage.
- Try another client, like Skyscraper. If one app loads and another doesn't, the app is the problem.
- Outage report sites like Downdetector show spikes in user reports. They're useful as a signal but can lag behind or overreact.
Step 2: Understand Why "Bluesky" Can Be Partly Down
Bluesky isn't one server. It's several services working together, and any one of them can have problems while the rest work fine. Knowing which part is broken tells you what to expect:
| Part | What it does | When it fails, you see |
|---|---|---|
| PDS (your account's server) | Stores your posts and handles login | Can't sign in, can't post, "session expired" |
| AppView | Builds timelines, threads, profiles and search | Empty or stuck feeds, threads not loading |
| Relay | Passes new posts across the network | New posts appear late or not at all |
| Feed generators | Power custom feeds (many run by third parties) | One custom feed is empty; everything else works |
| Image & video CDN | Serves media | Posts load but images or videos don't |
Important if your handle isn't on bsky.social: more people now host their accounts on independent servers (for example European providers, or a personal PDS). If your server is down, you can't log in or post, even while Bluesky itself is fine for everyone else. Check your provider's status. Our AT Protocol architecture guide explains how the pieces fit.
Step 3: Fix It by Symptom
Feed not loading, or stuck on old posts
- Pull down to refresh, then switch to the Following feed. If Following loads but a custom feed doesn't, that feed's generator is down. Nothing on your end will fix it; wait or use another feed.
- Force-quit the app and reopen it.
- Check for an app update. Old app versions can break when Bluesky changes its API.
Can't post, or posts fail to send
- Check the length and media limits. Long posts or oversized videos fail. See Bluesky character, image and video limits.
- If you see "Rate limit exceeded", you've posted, followed or liked too fast. Wait. See how to fix Bluesky rate limit errors.
- If posting works on the web but not in an app, sign out of the app and back in.
Can't log in
- Signing in to a third-party app? Use an app password, and check you haven't revoked it.
- Check your handle. If your profile shows "Invalid Handle", see the invalid handle fix.
- If you use 2FA, check your email for the sign-in code. See Bluesky 2FA setup.
- If your account is on an independent server, check that server's status.
Images or videos not loading
- Usually the media CDN or your connection. Try switching between Wi-Fi and cellular.
- Check that a content filter isn't hiding the media. See moderation settings and content filters.
Notifications missing
- Check your in-app notification filters. You may be showing only people you follow. See the notification settings guide.
- For push notifications, check the system notification settings for the app on your phone.
- A muted thread or muted word can also hide notifications you expected.
A post or profile says "unavailable" or "blocked"
That's usually not an outage. It's a block, a moderation list, or a deleted post. See "Blocked by list" and "Post unavailable" explained.
Step 4: What to Do During a Real Outage
- Don't keep retrying posts. Repeated failed attempts can trip rate limits once service returns.
- Don't reset your password. An outage is not an account problem, and resets during outages cause more confusion.
- Follow the status page for updates rather than refreshing the app.
- Draft offline. Write your post in Notes and send it when things are back.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if Bluesky is down?
Check Bluesky's official status page at status.bsky.app, and try bsky.app in a web browser. If both work, the problem is likely your app, your account's server or one custom feed.
Why is my Bluesky feed not loading?
If only one custom feed is empty, its feed generator is down; switch to Following. If every feed fails, force-quit the app, update it, and check the status page.
Why can't I post on Bluesky?
The most common causes are rate limits, posts or media over the size limits, an expired session in a third-party app, or an outage on your account's server.
Why does Bluesky work for my friends but not me?
Your account may be hosted on a different server (PDS) than theirs, you may be using a different or outdated app, or a feed you use may be down.
Have a Backup Client Ready
- Skyscraper for iOS – an independent Bluesky and Mastodon client, useful when another app is misbehaving
- Bluesky Tools – account backups and keyword alerts