AT Protocol Account Migration
Are you tired of Bluesky PBC's terrible moderation and product decisions? Don't worry! You don't have to switch to an entirely different platform and lose your followers, posts, likes, feeds, etc.
The beauty of Bluesky as a network, and the technology it's built on (AT Protocol), is that you can easily move your data to another provider while still keeping your posts, followers, likes, etc.
In this guide, I'll walk you through choosing another hosting provider (aka Personal Data Server or PDS), and App View. This should take around 20 minutes, but the migration process could take longer if your account has a lot of data (e.g. you often post videos & media).
I'll try to keep this guide practical without too many technical details, so that it's useful for more people.
Migrating your account and data
In this section, we'll choose a new provider to host your account and data. This provider can also be referred to as your "PDS" (Personal Data Server).
Choosing a provider
My recommendations (choose the one that best fits your values)
Provider | Community Guidelines/ToS | Main Values |
|---|---|---|
Fully hosted and governed in the EU, with GDPR compliance | ||
Worker-owned non-profit cooperative providing a safe and sustainable platform for the LGBTQIA+ and other marginalized communities | ||
Provide curated feeds and moderation tools to support Black social media users |
All of the above providers are LGBTQIA+ friendly, and do not blindly accept all of Bluesky PBC's moderation desisions.
If you want a more complete list of options, take a look at pds.directory.
Migrating to a new PDS
Once you've chosen a provider, you can migrate your account to their PDS. I'll go over how to do this for my recommended providers above, but if you choose to go with a different provider, you should be able to find instructions on their website.
Eurosky
- Log out of the Bluesky app and close any tabs where you are signed in.
- Go to Eurosky's account migration tool: move.eurosky.tech
- The account migration tool will walk you through the rest of the process.
- Log into the Bluesky app and set your password.
Northsky
- Apply at northskysocial.ca/apply, and wait for the moderators review your application.
- Log out of the Bluesky app and close any tabs where you are signed in.
- Follow Northsky's migration instructions at northskysocial.ca/migration
- Log into the Bluesky app and set your password.
Blacksky
- Log out of the Bluesky app and close any tabs where you are signed in.
- Go to Blacksky's account migration tool: move.blacksky.community
- The migration tool will walk you through the process. You can also view their migration guide and a walkthrough video on the Blacksky Documentation Site
Migrating to a different App View
Once you've migrated your data to a different PDS, you can choose an alternative "App View" and Network Service to get away from Bluesky's moderation decisions.
The important thing to understand about the concept of an App View is that it is not an entirely separate social platform. It still gets and displays data from the AT Protocol network that Bluesky is built on, but the provider can make their own moderation decisions, rather than relying on Bluesky PBC.
For most people, I recommend using the App View that your PDS provider operates. The community guidelines and moderation will line up with the provider you already choose in the previous step.
Provider | Recommended Web/Desktop App View | Recommended iOS/Android App View |
|---|---|---|
Migrating to an alternative App View is as simple as logging out from bsky.app and uninstalling Bluesky, then downloading and logging into another App View.
Additional Support & Questions
If you have any questions, or suggestions for how this guide could be improved, feel free to leave a comment below! You can also DM me on Bluesky, Germ DM, or other platforms listed on my website.
If you would like to meet one-on-one for a deeper explanation or walkthrough, or if anything went wrong during account migration and you need help with recovery, you can schedule a meeting with me for free.
Please understand that I am not responsible for anything that went wrong during your migration process. I can usually help you recover your account if something went wrong, but please be respectful and pay attention to the migration tool's documentation.
