Fedi.Tips

Posting tips and answering questions about how to use Mastodon and the Fediverse 🌍

There are lots of guides on my site at https://fedi.tips. If you can't find your answer @ or DM me, there's no such thing as a silly question!

I am a volunteer, you can buy me a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/fedithing or become a patron at https://liberapay.com/FediThing

Maintained by @FediThing, banner artwork is by @posiputt

🎂 Account originally joined mstdn.social on 16th Nov 2020

Public Key

npub1p45qg9vnqkn75s92f40f0c8vy4ztfmlkyf8vypwq54geks5kfpes80x9sx

NIP-05 Address

FediTips@social-growyourown-services.mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsq66qyzkfstfl2gz4y6h5hurkz2395almzynkzqhq225vmg2tysucpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0ds7j6w02

Publishing to

relay.damus.io

nos.lol

Author Public Key

npub1p45qg9vnqkn75s92f40f0c8vy4ztfmlkyf8vypwq54geks5kfpes80x9sx

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Last Notes

2026-07-23 10:49:33 UTC

There's apparently scammers going round pretending to be Mastodon admins, demanding people "verify their identity".
Do not click on their links, do not give them any info. It is a scam. Genuine Mastodon server admins never demand verification like this.
Here's a guide to how to recognise and avoid various kinds of scams on Mastodon and the wider Fediverse:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/how-to-avoid-scammers-on-mastodon-and-the-fediverse
(Thanks to @nprofile…mg3q for providing warning about the latest wave of scam posts.)
#FediTips
https://cdn.masto.host/socialgrowyourownservices/media_attachments/files/116/968/877/656/343/978/original/73294d21a1023154.jpg

2026-07-20 17:12:00 UTC

If you're following someone who posts interesting stuff but boosts way too often, you can mute just their boosts:
1. Go to the account's profile page
2. Click the ⋯ button
3. Click "Hide Boosts"
Their own posts will continue appearing in your timeline as normal, but their boosts won't.
#FediTips #Mastodon #Boosts

2026-07-13 16:23:21 UTC

Do you want to write posts that are longer than 500 characters? If so you might want to consider moving your account to a server that supports longer posts.
Here's a list of good, reliable servers that let you write longer posts:
➡️ https://fedi.garden/tag/larger-post-size
Here's an easy-to-understand step-by-step guide on how to transfer your account to another server:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/transferring-your-mastodon-account-to-another-server
#FediTips #Mastodon

2026-07-02 18:33:46 UTC

There has recently been a wave of AI-generated accounts signing up pretending to be real people.
Server admins are trying to ban them as quickly as they are discovered, and some servers have temporarily closed sign-ups while they deal with it.
If you spot an account you think might be AI-generated, click ⋯ on one of the account's posts and select "report". Remember to give your reason for reporting, so that the admin knows what to look for.
#FediTips

2026-05-04 17:05:32 UTC

Have you noticed unusual emoji in people's posts such as :commodore: or :rickroll: ?
These are custom emoji, which are added by a server's admin. Anyone on that server can use the server's custom emoji, and they will be visible to people on other servers too. More info at:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/what-are-custom-emoji-how-do-i-access-them-can-i-add-new-ones
If there are custom emoji you would like added to your server, contact your server admin to discuss it.
If you are a server admin, there's a guide to adding custom emoji at https://fedi.tips/using-custom-emoji-on-your-mastodon-server

2026-05-01 17:15:52 UTC

Are you looking for a good PeerTube server to publish your videos on?
https://tubefree.org - General server
https://spectra.video - General server
https://mrfunkedude.com/peertube - For original content creators
https://video.gamerstavern.online - Cosy safe space for fun gaming videos
https://makertube.net - Creative people making/fixing things
https://urbanists.video - Urban planning & transport
https://video.hardlimit.com - Gaming & tech
Guide to publishing vids: https://fedi.tips/how-to-publish-videos-and-audio-on-peertube
#FediTips #PeerTube

2026-04-01 15:00:51 UTC

You can use Mastodon through your server's website, or through apps, but did you know there is also a third option?
"Web apps" let you get the best of both worlds, with all the unrestricted features of the website but also notifications and a full-screen interface.
It's really easy to install web apps, you can find out more in the guide at:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/how-to-install-web-apps-for-mastodon-and-the-fediverse
It's not just Mastodon either, lots of Fediverse platforms offer web apps.
#FediTips #Mastodon #Fediverse #WebApps #PWA

2026-03-30 20:16:13 UTC

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p.s. If you want an easy way to discover reliable good servers, there are human-curated server lists at https://fedi.garden and https://joinmastodon.org/servers
All the servers listed on these sites have to comply with certain standards of technical reliability and moderation.
p.p.s. If you want help with moving there's a guide at https://fedi.tips/transferring-your-mastodon-account-to-another-server

2026-03-30 19:51:02 UTC

⚠️ Do not move your account to mastodon.cloud. If you know someone already on mastodon.cloud you might want to suggest they move to a different server.
-Mastodon.cloud's admin hasn't posted since Feb 2023
-There doesn't seem to be any moderation, really awful bigotry is still there months after being reported
-The server software is very outdated and full of unpatched security holes
-Because of all the above, many other servers have defederated mastodon.cloud
#MastodonCloud

2026-03-29 17:30:00 UTC

If you want to make your Mastodon account as secure as possible, you can use "two factor authentication" also known as 2FA.
2FA means that even if someone finds out your password, they won't be able to access your account because logging in also requires entering a special ever-changing code. (This is similar to the system many banks use to protect online accounts.)
More info about how to use 2FA on Mastodon including lots of questions answered:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/using-two-factor-authentication-2fa-on-mastodon
#FediTips #Mastodon

2026-03-28 19:07:59 UTC

Did you know you can subscribe to PeerTube channels from ordinary podcast apps like Apple Podcasts etc?
If you're publishing on PeerTube, you can offer this option to expand your audience to people who aren't on the Fediverse but enjoy podcasts.
More info about how to do this and lots of questions answered in the guide:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/how-to-subscribe-to-peertube-channels-through-podcasting-apps
#FediTips #PeerTube #Podcasts

2026-03-27 18:33:34 UTC

Do you want your account and posts to be as visible and easy to discover as possible?
Here's a list of all the ways to increase your visibility on Mastodon and the wider Fediverse:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/how-do-i-get-more-followers-on-mastodon-and-the-fediverse
You don't have to do all these, but each one helps.
#FediTips #Mastodon

2026-03-26 19:59:31 UTC

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p.s. Because it's federated through the Fediverse, you can follow Manyfold accounts from other Manyfold servers and also from Mastodon etc accounts.
Manyfold is free open source software, and if you're techy you can self-host it using the instructions at https://manyfold.app/get-started/installation

2026-03-26 19:48:33 UTC

3D printing people! There is a Fediverse platform just for you which lets you upload and share 3D print models:
➡️ https://manyfold.app
You can follow the official account at:
➡️ @nprofile…rd4l
There's a public server you can join at:
➡️ https://3dprint.social (Click "Sign In" and then "Create Account" to sign up)
If you just want to try it, there's a demo server at:
➡️ https://try.manyfold.app
#Fediverse #3DPrinting #Thingiverse #Printables #Makerworld #Alternatives

2026-03-25 18:50:26 UTC

Have you ever wondered why some people's posts are longer than the usual 500 character limit on Mastodon?
There are many possible ways to write longer posts, this guide goes through them all:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/why-do-some-people-on-mastodon-and-the-fediverse-have-bigger-character-limits
TL:DR - You have to be on a server that allows longer posts.
If you're looking for a well-run server that allows longer posts, there's a human-curated list of them here:
➡️ https://fedi.garden/tag/larger-post-size
#FediTips #Mastodon

2026-03-24 19:53:54 UTC

Do you want to customise your notifications on Mastodon? There are lots of options for adjusting what you are told about and how you are told.
If you're using your server's website go to 🔔 Notifications and click the double arrows icon in the top right corner, then scroll down to see all the options.
If you're using a mobile app there are many different ways to adjust notifications, usually in notifications or settings.
More info at:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/customising-your-notifications-on-mastodon
#FediTips #Mastodon

2026-03-23 19:43:13 UTC

There is a Fediverse alternative to Substack called Ghost. It allows you to host blogs and newsletters in a very similar way to Substack, but it has much less problematic management and you can host your own Ghost-powered site if you want to.
Lots more info about Ghost in the guide at:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/ghost-blogs-and-newsletters-on-the-fediverse
Would also highly recommend the article by @nprofile…9g8s which outlines the advantages of Ghost over Substack:
➡️ https://www.citationneeded.news/substack-to-self-hosted-ghost
#FediTips #Ghost #Substack #Alternatives

2026-03-22 19:10:37 UTC

Do you want to move your account to a different server?
Fedi.Garden is a human-curated site listing good reliable servers accepting new members:
➡️ https://fedi.garden
Choose the option on the front page which suits you best, then follow the instructions.
If you want to see the entire list sorted into categories go straight to this link:
➡️ https://fedi.garden/fedi-gardens-full-server-list
If you want help with transferring your account, here's a step-by-step guide:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/transferring-your-mastodon-account-to-another-server
#FediTips #Mastodon

2026-03-21 19:13:33 UTC

If you're trying to verify your account on Mastodon but the profile link won't turn green, here's a list of troubleshooting tips to work through:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/how-do-i-verify-my-account/#MyWebsiteVerificationDoesntWork
(If you want help with how to do verification in general, have a look at the beginning of the guide at https://fedi.tips/how-do-i-verify-my-account )
#FediTips #Mastodon #Verification

2026-03-20 16:38:54 UTC

In case you missed it, I also run several other accounts you might want to follow:
@nprofile…c8pt - Recommending interesting accounts on the Fediverse.
@nprofile…yshj - Boosting nice videos on the Fediverse. You can reply to a video's post to comment on it, or follow the video's account to see more videos like that.
@nprofile…p4lr - Highlighting reliable well-run servers on the Fediverse that you can sign up on or move to.
@nprofile…2zzy - Encouraging non-technical people to create their own servers.

2026-03-19 16:53:43 UTC

Wanderer is a Strava-style Fediverse platform for recording and sharing your journeys and trails. You can find out more at:
➡️ https://wanderer.to
There is a list of public servers where you can sign up at:
➡️ https://wanderer.to/servers
To sign up on a server, click "Login" and then "Don't have an account? Make one".
If you just want to try it, there's a demo server at:
➡️ https://demo.wanderer.to
NOTE: The demo server regularly deletes its data.
#Wanderer #Fediverse #Strava #Alternatives

2026-03-09 18:50:34 UTC

You can attach images, video files or audio files to Mastodon posts:
🖼️ Images can be PNG, JPG, HEIF, WEBP, AVIF or GIF (including animated GIFs)
📺 Video clips can be MP4, M4V, MOV or WebM files
🔈 Audio clips can be MP3, OGG, WAV, FLAC, OPUS, AAC or 3GP files
The maximum file size for each image is usually 16 MB, for video or audio it's usually 99 MB. There is no restriction on running time, just file size.
More info on attachments at https://fedi.tips/how-do-i-post-images-videos-or-audio-in-mastodon-what-can-i-attach-to-a-post-how-do-i-post-gifs
#FediTips #Mastodon

2026-03-08 19:58:01 UTC

In case you missed it, there's a list of unusual-but-popular hashtags to follow on the Fediverse at:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/fun-and-useful-hashtags-to-follow-on-mastodon-and-the-wider-fediverse
Let me know if I've missed any tags! 🙂
To use this list, copy-paste a hashtag into the search box in Mastodon etc, select the tag to see its results and then click "follow" to follow it. If you want help with how to follow hashtags see the guide at https://fedi.tips/how-do-i-follow-hashtags-on-mastodon-and-the-fediverse
#FediTips #Hashtags

2026-03-08 00:02:08 UTC

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p.s. The sites I run are:
https://fedi.tips - Tips on using Mastodon & the wider Fediverse
https://fedi.directory - Interesting accounts to follow
https://fedi.garden - Nice reliable servers to join or move to
https://fedi.video - Highlighting the best videos on the Fediverse
https://growyourown.services - Encouraging non-technical people to create their own online services through managed hosting

2026-03-07 18:12:55 UTC

I am an unpaid volunteer running 5 websites and 5 accounts helping people use Mastodon and the wider Fediverse. I pay their bills every month.
If you want to help these sites & accounts keep going, you can buy me a coffee:
➡️ https://ko-fi.com/fedithing
(No registration, choose any amount, all currencies work, one-off or monthly donations)
Alternatively become a patron:
➡️ https://liberapay.com/FediThing
All support greatly appreciated! 🙂
❤️ @nprofile…q0gn, @nprofile…c8pt, @nprofile…yshj, @nprofile…p4lr & @nprofile…2zzy

2026-03-05 17:37:21 UTC

If you want to, Mastodon lets you block DMs from people you don't follow:
1. Log in on your Mastodon server's website
2. Click "🔔 Notifications" (on mobile it's just a 🔔 icon at the bottom of the screen)
3. Click the double arrow icon in the top right corner
4. Set "Unsolicited private mentions" to "Ignore"
Bear in mind that no one will know you've done this, so some people mention they've done this on their profile to avoid any confusion (but this is optional).
#FediTips #Mastodon

2026-03-04 17:15:48 UTC

Do you know an organisation (big or small) that might be interested in joining Mastodon and the wider Fediverse? Here's a guide that tries to answer questions they might have about it:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/tips-for-organisations-on-mastodon-and-the-fediverse
If any organisations want to ask further questions or want help joining, please let me know!
I've tried to cover all the basics in relation to organisations, let me know if I've missed something or if you have other feedback 🙂
#FediTips #Fediverse #Mastodon

2026-03-03 08:41:04 UTC

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p.s. Another couple of scams to watch out for as well:
- Scammers saying you need to verify by clicking on a link. Admins will NEVER demand you verify. The verification system on Mastodon is optional and does not involve credit cards or any kind of payment.
- Scammers saying you need to temporarily change your account's email address. Admins will NEVER do this. This is done by scammers who want to take over your account, which is possible if you change your email to match theirs.

2026-03-02 21:10:33 UTC

⚠️ Scam warning: there are accounts posing as Mastodon admins claiming to offer "rewards" or "payments" or "partnerships".
These are scams. There is no reward or payment schemes on Mastodon. No genuine admin would ever send this kind of post or reply.
If you see scam posts like the ones in the screenshot below, report them by clicking ⋯ on the scam posts and then selecting "report".
#Mastodon
https://cdn.masto.host/socialgrowyourownservices/media_attachments/files/116/161/621/866/099/087/original/2192396da2ba1315.png

2026-03-01 17:37:54 UTC

Do you want to see more posts on specific topics in your timeline? If so, you might want to follow hashtags!
When you follow hashtags, posts with those tags will start showing up in your home timeline even if you're not following the person who made it. It's a really useful way to discover interesting posts and accounts.
Here's an easy-to-understand guide on how to follow hashtags, as well as answers to lots of common questions about hashtag following:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/how-do-i-follow-hashtags-on-mastodon-and-the-fediverse
#FediTips

2026-02-28 17:27:34 UTC

Retro computing fans, there are Mastodon apps for many classic systems:
:apple_old_logo: Apple II
https://www.colino.net/wordpress/mastodon-for-apple-ii
:apple_old_logo: Apple Macintosh (pre-OS X)
https://github.com/smallsco/macstodon
:commodore: Commodore 64
https://github.com/Havoc6502/MOStodon
:amiga: Commodore Amiga
https://github.com/BlitterStudio/amidon
:ms_dos: MS-DOS
https://github.com/SuperIlu/DOStodon
:IBM: MVS
https://github.com/mainframed/BREXXTODON
:Palm_OS: Palm OS
https://github.com/knickish/heffalump
:windows95: Windows 95
https://github.com/meyskens/mastodon-for-workgroups
https://github.com/sdomi/awsom
#RetroComputing

2026-02-27 19:25:19 UTC

Have you made a post or thread that you want people to see when they look at your profile?
If so, you might want to pin it. This makes the post or thread appear at the top of your profile, above your latest posts.
1. Log in through your server's website
2. Go to the post/thread you want to pin and click ⋯
3. Select "Pin on profile"
Lots more info and questions answered about pinning at:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/how-do-i-pin-my-posts-on-my-mastodon-profile
#FediTips #Mastodon

2026-02-26 13:51:34 UTC

If you want to see trending posts on the official Mastodon mobile app, click the 🔍 magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the app but don't enter anything in the search box. It will show you the trends by default.
- "Posts" is trending posts
- "Hashtags" is trending hashtags
- "News" is trending links, often news but not always
- "For You" is a slightly misleading title, it's suggestions for accounts to follow based on how many follow them on your server
#FediTips #Mastodon

2026-02-25 20:00:33 UTC

You don't need to browse my timeline to look for past tips, they are all listed on my website at:
➡️ https://fedi.tips
The "Quick Start" section at the top of the front page of the website is especially suitable for new people. It has the guides to all the basics.
If you scroll down past the quick start, you'll see the full contents of the site divided up into themed sections.
#FediTips

2026-02-24 16:50:14 UTC

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@nprofile…aswa @nprofile…ufxk
Yup, that should help with searching, and there is also a fix for the "blank profiles" problem on the way. A profile may look blank if no one from your server has followed it before, but the fix will allow people to automatically load recent posts for that profile.
There are also workarounds for this blank profile issue, see the guide for more details about why it happens and what can be done about it: https://fedi.tips/why-does-someones-account-page-look-completely-blank-is-it-really-blank/

2026-02-24 16:45:11 UTC

Do you want to hide posts that link to certain websites? You can do this with Mastodon Filters:
1. Create a new filter
2. Add domain names of the sites that you don't want to see links to (e.g. example.com), use new keyword for each domain
3. UN-tick box marked "whole word" for each keyword
4. Save filter
If you're not familiar with Mastodon Filters, there are easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions for creating filters in the guide at:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/filtering-your-timeline-to-hide-posts-on-mastodon
#FediTips #Mastodon

2026-02-22 19:10:18 UTC

Here's a guide to all the different ways you can discover accounts to follow and videos to watch on PeerTube:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/how-to-search-peertube
The different methods have pros and cons, I've tried to mention these in each section.
By the way, you don't need a PeerTube account! You can follow and interact with PeerTube from within Mastodon, the videos will show up in your timeline. You only need a PeerTube account if you intend to publish videos or create playlists.
#FediTips #PeerTube

2026-02-21 20:01:47 UTC

If you're using Mastodon's web interface on a computer, you might like to know there are built-in keyboard shortcuts for almost all its functions. There's a list of all the shortcuts here:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/using-mastodon-through-a-keyboard
You just press the shortcut key when you're NOT typing a post, and it will do whatever it's assigned to.
You can also see the shortcut list built into Mastodon by typing Shift+? (or whatever your local keyboard layout uses to get the question mark to appear).
#FediTips #Mastodon

2026-02-09 18:04:21 UTC

Substack hosts swastika-laden Nazi accounts promoting white supremacism (https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/feb/07/revealed-how-substack-makes-money-from-hosting-nazi-newsletters). If you're currently using Substack, you might want to switch to a more ethical alternative like Ghost.
Ghost is a Fediverse-compatible blog and newsletter platform, it runs on free open software and you can host it yourself or use a paid hosting service. More info:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/ghost-blogs-and-newsletters-on-the-fediverse
The journalist @nprofile…9g8s wrote on moving from Substack to Ghost:
➡️ https://www.citationneeded.news/substack-to-self-hosted-ghost
#Substack

2026-02-05 18:32:06 UTC

If you see a post with numbers at the bottom like any of these:
3
6/
1/4
2/8
7/?
🧵 5/9
...it means the post is part of a larger thread. You can view the full thread by clicking on the post, then scrolling up or down.
If someone can't fit everything they want to say in one post, they will create a thread by replying to themselves. The numbers indicate which part of the thread that post is.
More info on creating threads and lots of questions answered at:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/how-do-i-post-a-thread-on-mastodon
#FediTips

2026-01-24 21:08:22 UTC

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p.s. Apologies for the wrong guide link, it's corrected now.

2026-01-24 20:44:43 UTC

There is a lot going on in the world right now, and it may be overwhelming at times. If you want to follow the news but you also need some way of taking mental health breaks, Mastodon's "Lists" feature might help.
Lists lets you move the accounts you follow into several separate timelines. You could for example create a "News" timeline and a "Non-News" timeline, then switch between them when you want to.
More info on how to use Lists in the guide at https://fedi.tips/how-to-use-the-lists-feature-on-mastodon/
#FediTips #Mastodon

2026-01-14 18:09:36 UTC

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p.s. Posting this because new people on other servers were asking if they needed to open an account on mastodon.social or move to mastodon.social. Answer to both is no 🙂

2026-01-14 18:04:32 UTC

Mastodon.social has no advantages at all over any other server. It has no special status or special privileges, it uses exactly the same software as other Mastodon servers.
In fact I'd strongly advise people *NOT* to sign up on mastodon.social, here are the reasons why: https://fedi.tips/its-a-really-bad-idea-to-join-a-big-server
TL:DR - It's far far too big, it's putting the entire decentralised nature of the Fediverse in danger.
If you want help choosing a good reliable server, have a look at https://fedi.garden
#FediTips

2025-12-12 19:10:16 UTC

⚠️ Scam alert: if anyone ever asks you to "temporarily change" the email address on your Mastodon account, DO NOT DO THIS.
There is currently a scammer posing as a server admin telling people to temporarily change their Mastodon account's email to an address supplied by the scammer. This is a scam, don't do it.
Real admins will NEVER ask you to do this.
You can see examples of this scam in the thread at https://ohai.social/@redsad/115708030185038699
(Thanks @nprofile…jvmr for the warning about this! 🙏 )
#FediTips

2025-12-05 23:15:21 UTC

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p.s. If you already have a PeerTube account and want to get more visibility for your videos, here's a guide all about that: https://fedi.tips/how-to-promote-your-peertube-videos-account-and-channels

2025-12-05 20:01:57 UTC

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@nprofile…mxt3 @nprofile…z6ju
As far as I know it's not a mirror, it's just YT-DLP downloading a copy. If the original changes, it isn't reflected on PeerTube.
However, the advantage of a direct upload is it never even passes through Google's systems. Usually this just means higher image quality, but if Google is going to alter uploads with AI then it would avoid that too.

2025-12-05 19:38:21 UTC

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@nprofile…mxt3
Exactly.
That's why having a copy of your videos on PeerTube is so important, it means any alterations on YouTube instantly become obvious by comparing the two versions.
It also means your viewers who want to avoid YouTube/Google completely are being given the option of watching on PeerTube.

2025-12-05 18:49:54 UTC

YouTube is now using AI to alter people's videos without permission. (There are threads about this at https://mastodon.content.town/@operationpuppet/115640694705318541 & https://mastodon.nzoss.nz/@strypey/115598837629003478 etc)
This is really disturbing and dangerous. It's more insidious than censorship because viewers cannot tell a video has been altered.
If you post to YouTube, I'd strongly recommend you start ALSO posting to PeerTube, either on your own server or a public server. There's a complete guide here:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/how-to-publish-videos-and-audio-on-peertube
#PeerTube #YouTube

2025-11-18 10:10:39 UTC

Mastodon gGmbH has just issued a new blogpost:
➡️ https://blog.joinmastodon.org/2025/11/the-future-is-ours-to-build-together
Some highlights:
- Eugen has stepped down as head, his replacement is @nprofile…u8td (Eugen will continue as an advisor)
- Mastodon gGmbH and its US-based 501(c)(3) intend to transition to a Belgian non-profit and transfer their assets there
- Eugen has sold his Mastodon-related assets (including the trademark) to the 501(c)(3) for €1 million, these will eventually be transferred to the Belgian non-profit
#Mastodon

2025-11-15 09:50:50 UTC

⚠️ WARNING: If anyone tells you your account has been suspended and you need to "verify" it, they are trying to scam you.
DO NOT respond to them or click their link.
DO report them by clicking ⋯ on the scam post and then "Report" and if possible select the option to forward the report to its origin server.
The scammers may have :Mastodon: Mastodon logos as their profile pictures and are posing as technical support.

2025-11-08 16:03:51 UTC

In case you missed it buried in the replies, I've done a guide to using Mastodon's new quoting feature:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/why-cant-i-quote-other-posts-in-mastodon
The guide covers how to quote, how to consent to being quoted, how to go back to single-click boosts etc and answers lots more quoting-related questions.
#FediTips #Mastodon

2025-11-05 18:40:25 UTC

A number of people have asked what happens to your posts if you move your account to another Mastodon server.
If you follow all the steps in the transfer guide at https://fedi.tips/transferring-your-mastodon-account-to-another-server your old posts will stay visible on the old server, they will let people know you've moved and they will redirect people to your new account.
As far as I know this is the only account transfer guide that includes steps to make sure that your old posts redirect people. Other guides seem to skip this.
#FediTips

2025-10-23 08:54:18 UTC

If your Mastodon server is being very slow today, it may be due to a DDoS attack on one of the biggest hosting providers.
They are aware of the situation and they're taking action against the attack.
This attack doesn't affect servers running on different hosting providers.
#Mastodon #MastoAdmin

2025-10-21 17:47:54 UTC

Can I ask a favour?
If you see someone who is asking for help using this place, and if no one else is helping them, could you tag me into the conversation and/or link to my website https://fedi.tips?
I'm trying to provide unofficial tech support for people using Mastodon and the wider Fediverse. I'm especially keen to help new people who want easy-to-understand advice, but they won't see me and I won't see them unless someone tags me.
Thanks 🙏
#FediTips #Fediverse #Mastodon

2025-10-18 17:55:19 UTC

Bluesky has just started officially hosting and verifying dozens of accounts from Trump's regime including the Whitehouse, Homeland Security / ICE, the Department of War etc (https://cyberplace.social/@GossiTheDog/115393404732174116).
*All* of these accounts are spreading bigotry, hatred and dangerous lies about vulnerable groups.
It is NOT enough to just "block and forget", here's why: https://social.chinwag.org/@FediThing/112581263140051643
This is a 1930s moment, and #Bluesky is choosing to host vile hatred. It is going down the same path as Twitter/X.

2025-10-14 16:53:01 UTC

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p.s. Just to make absolutely clear, I am a human being! 😅 I do not use any AI/LLMs.

2025-10-14 16:11:32 UTC

Do you want help with using Mastodon or the wider Fediverse?
You can ask questions by replying or messaging, and I'll try to find you some answers 🙂
Don't worry if a question seems simple, there is no such thing as a stupid question.
If you prefer to look stuff up yourself, there is lots of help for using Mastodon and the Fediverse on the website at https://fedi.tips (new people might especially like the "Quick Start" section at the top).
#FediTips #Mastodon #Fediverse

2025-10-13 16:34:08 UTC

Do you know an organisation that might want to join Mastodon or the wider Fediverse?
This guide could be useful, it goes through the reasons for joining and how to get started, as well as answering many questions:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/tips-for-organisations-on-mastodon-and-the-fediverse/
If an organisation is running their own Mastodon server, they might want to also read this guide about how to assign roles and powers to server staff:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/how-can-organisations-or-groups-run-a-mastodon-server
#FediTips #Mastodon

2025-10-12 20:17:12 UTC

Do you want to make your posts more visible? Do you want to make your account more noticeable?
This is a checklist of all the ways you can maximise your discoverability on Mastodon and the wider Fediverse:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/how-do-i-get-more-followers-on-mastodon-and-the-fediverse
You don't have to do everything on the list, but each thing you do helps more people discover your account and posts.
#FediTips #Mastodon

2025-10-10 17:11:56 UTC

You don't have to use Mastodon through an app. You can access your Mastodon server through a web browser on computers, phones or tablets. Use the same account and password you use for your app.
More info about using Mastodon through the web and lots of questions answered at:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/how-do-i-log-in-through-the-website-help-my-password-doesnt-work
Many settings and features are on the website but not on apps. If there's a feature or setting missing on your app, try seeing if it's there on the website.
#FediTips #Mastodon

2025-10-05 22:50:43 UTC

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p.p.s. The server mastodon.social is NOT a good place to sign up, for many different reasons (more info here: https://fedi.tips/its-a-really-bad-idea-to-join-a-big-server).
If you just want one alternative, https://mas.to is a much better option. It's reliable and has been online since 2019, and doesn't suffer from the problems of mastodon.social.
If you want to choose from a wide selection of servers, there are human curated lists of well-run reliable servers at https://fedi.garden and https://joinmastodon.org/servers

2025-10-05 14:28:43 UTC

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p.s. I know Mastodon and the wider Fediverse can be a bit trickier to use, but it does get easier once you've spent time here. There are many really good reasons why this place is structured the way it is: https://fedi.tips/why-is-the-fediverse-on-so-many-separate-servers
Servers on here are fully independent in every sense, usually owned by ordinary grassroots people like you and me. There is no central authority or corporation controlling things, it's up to each server to decide on how it's run and what it allows.

2025-10-05 14:07:24 UTC

Welcome new people!
If you want help using this place feel free to ask, I'm trying to provide some unofficial tech support on here (and yes I am a human being). Ask in the replies or mentions or DMs or whatever🙂
You can also find lots of help for new people at https://fedi.tips, especially in the section marked "Quick Start" at the top of the page.
How to discover people to follow:
https://fedi.tips/how-do-i-find-accounts-to-follow-on-mastodon-and-the-fediverse-how-do-i-find-my-friends
How to make your own account more discoverable:
https://fedi.tips/how-do-i-get-more-followers-on-mastodon-and-the-fediverse

2025-09-07 17:51:36 UTC

Okay, some really bad news but also a suggestion for a way forward.
The Guppe groups domain name was sold by their registrar before they could renew it. This means all Guppe groups are broken, and their web addresses point to a spam blog 😞
However, there is another group provider called FediGroups, you can find out more on their site:
➡️ https://about.fedigroups.social/home
FediGroups has features that Guppe never had, including private groups.
(More info about #Guppe situation: https://github.com/immers-space/guppe/issues/118 )

2025-08-23 19:16:56 UTC

Would you like to hide your follows and follower lists on your Mastodon profile? Here's how to do it:
1. Log in on your server's website
2. Click ⚙️ Preferences (if you're on a phone it's ☰ in bottom right and ⚙️ Preferences)
3. Click "Public Profile" (on a phone it's ☰ in top right and "Public Profile")
4. Click the "Privacy & Reach" tab
5. Scroll down to "Privacy" section and UN-tick the box marked "Show follows & followers on profile"
6. Click "Save Changes" button
#FediTips #Mastodon

2025-08-14 13:26:00 UTC

⚠️ Important headsup if you are on the server mastodon.cloud:
Mastodon.cloud no longer seems to be moderated. Its admin account hasn't posted since Feb 2023, its code of conduct is blank and there are vile racists posting from there. The racists have been reported many times but their accounts are still active.
Because of this, other server admins are starting to block mastodon.cloud completely.
If you're on mastodon.cloud you might want to move to another server ASAP: https://fedi.tips/transferring-your-mastodon-account-to-another-server

2025-07-11 22:14:45 UTC

⚠️ If you see a post or DM saying "your account is currently suspended for verification purposes", do NOT click on the link. It is a scam.
Fediverse servers do not ask people to verify their identity. There is an optional self-verification system available, but that's just for those who want to use it.
If you are in ANY doubt about ANY official-looking message, contact your own server's admin directly using their public email address on your server's website's "About" page.

2025-07-07 19:36:57 UTC

In case you missed it, there is now a Fediverse alternative to Strava called Wanderer:
➡️ https://wanderer.to
There is a public server list at:
➡️ https://wanderer.to/servers
To sign up on a server, click on "Create Account", then "Login", then "Make One".
If you're running your own public Wanderer server you can add it to the list at https://github.com/Flomp/wanderer/discussions/361
Techy people can self-host using instructions at https://wanderer.to/run/installation
#FediTips #Fediverse #Strava #Komoot #Outdoors #Hiking

2025-06-25 17:18:33 UTC

If you're on mastodon.social, you might want to move your account to a different server:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/its-a-really-bad-idea-to-join-a-big-server
The Fediverse is protected from takeover as long as we are spread out on many servers. If one server dominates, takeovers become easier.
Mastodon.social is currently 25.5% of the active Fediverse. This proportion is way too large and seems to be increasing.
Larger servers also tend to have worse moderation and are harder to defederate, threatening safety.
#FediTips #Fediverse

2025-06-19 10:57:24 UTC

Bluesky are openly welcoming, verifying and hosting accounts of prominent far right politicians. Trump's VP Vance is now on Bluesky:
https://bsky.app/profile/jd-vance-1.bsky.social
"We welcome the Vice President to the conversation on Bluesky" (Bluesky in their email to Fox News)
More 🚩: Bluesky is centralised, run by a for-profit corporation, its CEO has blockchain background, it is partly owned by VCs & Blockchain Capital.
Bluesky are going down exactly the same Nazi Bar path as Twitter.
(via @nprofile…zezf)

2025-06-18 18:53:20 UTC

If you're only using Mastodon through the official mobile apps, you're missing out on many of its features such as pinned posts, temporary mutes, scheduled posts, different poll types, account redirects and more.
If you want the complete Mastodon experience, you might want to try using your server's website, third party apps, web apps, desktop apps etc.
More info on all the different ways of accessing Mastodon in the guide here:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/which-apps-can-i-use-should-i-use-the-official-app-or-a-third-party-app
#FediTips #Mastodon

2025-06-14 17:25:11 UTC

⚠️ A reminder that like all social networks Mastodon is not end-to-end encrypted. It is not designed or intended as a way to send sensitive information.
If you need to send private messages with sensitive content, use a secure messenger with end-to-end encryption both present and activated.
One option is XMPP with OMEMO (https://joinjabber.org), another is @nprofile…hnjr
Yet another is Signal, but Signal is centralised which makes it more vulnerable to enshittification or selling itself to Meta etc.

2025-06-11 16:40:16 UTC

There's an excellent new video telling the world about the Fediverse:
"Introducing the Fediverse"
https://videos.elenarossini.com/w/64VuNCccZNrP4u9MfgbhkN
There are also many other good intro videos:
"Mastodon in 180 seconds"
https://tilvids.com/w/f747058d-3991-4046-a1c9-29c184daa0ff
"What is Mastodon?"
https://fedi.video/w/cbQE3NRw76FayQCSdb14TU
"Crafter's Guide to the Fediverse" (not just for crafters!)
https://makertube.net/w/e0482fe7-2143-443e-9db4-68ae52ac34a7
"What is the Fediverse?"
https://framatube.org/w/4294a720-f263-4ea4-9392-cf9cea4d5277
"What is PeerTube?"
https://tilvids.com/w/gMdn3DYqBUmbCuSsCbkQAt
These can be useful in spreading the word 🙂

2025-06-04 11:03:27 UTC

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@nprofile…km45
PeerTube doesn't have pending followers, if you're getting this message in Mastodon it means something has gone wrong with the follow.
I would strongly recommend posting about this on the PeerTube forum:
https://framacolibri.org/c/peertube/38
They have experienced self-hosters there and the official devs post too.

2025-04-04 16:37:51 UTC

If you want to try PeerTube, the official PeerTube app IS NOT currently a good way to do it. Due to silly app store rules it is missing key features, and there are much better alternatives.
If you just want to watch and interact with PeerTube videos, it's easiest to do it from within Mastodon. For example try visiting @nprofile…eh79
If you prefer to use a PeerTube account, use your PeerTube server's website or web app. Here's how to install web apps: https://fedi.tips/how-to-install-web-apps-for-mastodon-and-the-fediverse
#FediTips #PeerTube

2025-03-30 16:52:50 UTC

Something a bit different today:
I'd like to do a shoutout to writer and accessibility advocate Robert Kingett, who has helped lots of Fediverse projects with accessibility including BookWyrm, GoToSocial, Fedi.Tips and others.
He has done a lot for accessibility on the Fediverse, and I'd strongly recommend sending Robert a donation if you can (I've just done so). His donation links are at:
➡️ https://robertkingett.com/support
You can follow him at @nprofile…pye9 and his site is https://robertkingett.com

2025-03-29 21:59:59 UTC

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@nprofile…02l7 @nprofile…pye9
Yes, you can set a reading goal!
And yes, you can import content from many popular services, I've done a guide to this at https://fedi.tips/importing-your-data-into-bookwyrm-from-goodreads-librarything-storygraph-openlibrary-or-calibre/

2025-03-29 17:27:26 UTC

BookWyrm is a social network for people who enjoy books and reading. It's intended as a Fediverse alternative to Amazon's Goodreads. The official site is at:
📚 https://joinbookwyrm.com
There's a FediTips guide all about BookWyrm with lots of questions answered at:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/bookwyrm-a-social-network-for-people-who-enjoy-reading
BookWyrm accounts can be followed from Mastodon etc. However, you need to sign up for an account on a BookWyrm server if you want to use BookWyrm's features.
#FediTips #BookWyrm #GoodReads #Alternatives

2025-03-27 18:13:10 UTC

There is a really good privacy feature on Mastodon and the rest of the Fediverse:
When you post a link on Mastodon etc, it remains exactly as you posted it. There is no analytics or tracking going on, no one is monitoring clicks on links.
By contrast, on Twitter/X and Bluesky the links people post are alterered so clicks can be monitored. We don't know exactly what Musk or Bluesky do with this info, but they do it by redirecting all links to sites they control (t.co & go.bsky.app).
#FediTips

2025-03-21 11:06:10 UTC

If you get a DM saying "call me the Fediverse chick", it's a spam. Don't click the links, but DO report it!
Reports from users are really important, especially if they are about spam DMs because no one else can see the spam except the user.
You can report posts by clicking ⋯ on the post and selecting "Report". When you report it, make sure to select the option to forward the report to the server it came from so that the admin there can delete the spammer's account.
#FediTips #Spam

2025-03-20 18:46:33 UTC

The Fediverse has its own alternative to Twitch called OwnCast, a live streaming platform with built-in chat system.
You can follow OwnCast accounts from Mastodon etc and they will post in your timeline when they go live. You can also sign into OwnCast chat using your Mastodon etc account.
More info at:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/owncast-live-streaming-and-chat-on-the-fediverse
If you want to get started, I've just posted some good OwnCast accounts to follow over at @nprofile…yd4f
#FediTips #OwnCast #Twitch #Alternatives #LiveStreaming

2025-03-19 20:38:36 UTC

Do you use Mastodon's web interface? Do you get frustrated when viewing a thread with content warnings because you have to open lots of CWs individually?
There is a solution to this problem: just click the eye 👁️ icon in the top right corner to toggle all the thread's CWs open or closed.
More info and questions answered about this feature at:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/what-does-the-eye-icon-%f0%9f%91%81%ef%b8%8f-mean-on-mastodon
#FediTips #Mastodon

2025-03-15 18:34:52 UTC

You can embed Mastodon posts in your website or blog by doing the following:
1. Log in through your server's website
2. Go to the post or reply you want to embed and click on it to show it in an enlarged view
3. Click ⋯ on the post and select "Get Embed Code"
4. Copy-paste the HTML code into your website or blog
Lots of common questions answered about this at:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/how-to-embed-mastodon-posts-on-a-website
If you have problems embedding, see the article for suggestions.
#FediTips #Mastodon

2025-03-13 19:22:47 UTC

If you want to hide your Mastodon profile's follow and follower lists, here's how to do it:
1. Log in through your server’s website or web app
2. Click on your profile icon (your profile picture), then click "Edit profile"
3. Click on the "Privacy & Reach" tab at the top
4. Scroll down to the option marked "Show follows and followers on profile", and UN-tick it
5. Click the "Save changes" button at the bottom
#FediTips

2025-03-12 15:57:26 UTC

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p.s. More info from one of Mastodon's core developers @nprofile…kgua :
Fetch All Replies will be in the next experimental version of Mastodon (aka the "nightly" version). It will be disabled by default, but will be tested to see how it behaves on a small number of real servers. Once the developers are confident it works okay, they will release it fully to everyone.
Server admins are free to use nightly versions at their own risk, so you may see this on some servers before the "official" release.

2025-03-12 12:09:01 UTC

Some good news about #Mastodon, there has been a very significant bit of code added which will automatically fetch all the replies in a thread. This means everyone will be able to see a thread's whole conversation no matter which server they are on! 🥳
The code has just been "merged" which means it should become available in the next update to Mastodon, hopefully within the next few months.
(Those who want the technical details can see the Pull Request at https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/pull/32615)
(Via @nprofile…jpfa)

2025-03-11 19:49:57 UTC

Hey new people, you don't have to use the official Mastodon app! There are lots of other options you can use such as third party apps etc. Most people who try these alternatives usually prefer them.
Mastodon doesn't impose any particular app on you. You're free to use your account in whatever way works best for you. Here is a guide to all your options:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/which-apps-can-i-use-should-i-use-the-official-app-or-a-third-party-app
If you want to compare apps, you can be logged in with the same account on many apps at once.
#FediTips #Mastodon

2025-03-10 22:52:39 UTC

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p.s. A couple of questions answered:
1. No, this isn't a dating app! It's just a general social media platform on the Fediverse. It has features somewhat similar to Facebook's.
2. The "18+ Extreme Violence" tag is totally misleading, this isn't an adult app and it doesn't contain any violence. The label is there just because Google Play's rules aren't really suited to apps which let you sign in on a server of your choice. Google effectively forces Fedi app makers to use restricted ratings.

2025-03-10 19:30:49 UTC

Hey Friendica users! There is now a Friendica app called Raccoon available in the Google Play store:
➡️ https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.livefast.eattrash.raccoonforfriendica
It's also available on F-Droid:
➡️ https://f-droid.org/packages/com.livefast.eattrash.raccoonforfriendica
As well as Friendica, the app is also compatible with Mastodon and Glitch Mastodon.
Friendica is a Fediverse platform so you can follow and interact with Friendica users from Mastodon. If you've never heard of Friendica and want to know more, have a look at https://fedi.tips/friendica-a-flexible-fediverse-server-type-with-long-posts
#Friendica

2025-03-09 18:49:35 UTC

It is a REALLY good idea to write an introductory post about yourself and pin it to your profile. Pinned posts appear at the top of your profile page, and they also have a special ability to federate much more widely than ordinary posts.
It's very quick and easy to do:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/how-do-i-pin-my-posts-on-my-mastodon-profile
Here's why it matters: there's a quirk on Mastodon where some profiles may appear blank to people on some servers, but profiles with pinned posts never look blank to anyone!
#FediTips #Mastodon

2025-03-08 17:03:59 UTC

One of the most common questions asked by new people is this: "Why is this place on so many different servers? Why isn't it all on one server like other social networks?"
There are many important reasons why Mastodon and the wider Fediverse is spread out on thousands of servers:
➡️ https://fedi.tips/why-is-the-fediverse-on-so-many-separate-servers
Hopefully these reasons answer the question. I've tried to keep the explanations as non-technical as possible 🙂
#FediTips #Fediverse

2025-03-07 21:39:11 UTC

Here's a very brief tip for the more techy people on here:
You can use Mastodon (and compatible servers) through command lines and text-based interfaces with the free open source client "toot":
➡️ https://toot.bezdomni.net
There are lots more details on the developer's website.
#CLI #TUI #Mastodon

2025-03-04 18:38:23 UTC

Do you filter your timeline on Mastodon? Do you want a filter to detect variations of a word, for example both "apple" and "apples"?
To do this, UN-tick the box marked "whole word". When the box is un-ticked, the filter will look for all words that contain that word within them.
(If you're wondering what the heck filters are on Mastodon, here is a complete guide: https://fedi.tips/filtering-your-timeline-to-hide-posts-on-mastodon )
#FediTips #Mastodon

2025-03-04 18:29:37 UTC

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@nprofile…v6dl
Yes! Also, one of the best things about the Fediverse is that it is possible to talk directly to the human beings who build or run this place. 😄 Developers and admins will answer questions directly 👍
On other social networks, the people who build or run them are distant and impossible to talk to. 😞

2025-03-04 18:24:12 UTC

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@nprofile…v6dl
The latest version of Mastodon has the message "This user has chosen to not make this information available" and this is what people see when they view your profile from an updated server. Your server is still running an older version of Mastodon, but when they update you will see this new message too.
About the numbers, unfortunately this isn't possible to hide on the current standard version of Mastodon. Some have customised their version to hide them though.

2025-02-27 17:58:40 UTC

In case you missed it, the Fediverse's livestreaming platform OwnCast has official apps:
:apple_old_logo: iPhone, iPad, Apple TV
https://apps.apple.com/app/owncasts/id6451178968
📺 Roku
https://channelstore.roku.com/details/2179326b6b85869a1a3a18d48ca76de6/owncasts
You don't have to use these though, all of OwnCast's features are available through the web.
(OwnCast is like the Fediverse's alternative to Twitch, it's a livestreaming platform with a built-in chat service. More info at https://fedi.tips/owncast-live-streaming-and-chat-on-the-fediverse)
#OwnCast #FediTips #LiveStreaming #Twitch #Alternatives

2025-02-24 19:59:17 UTC

There is no algorithm on here. You are free to like and share and interact with whatever you want, it won't affect what appears in your timeline.
The only things in your timeline are all the posts from all the accounts and hashtags and groups you've followed. That's it, it's as simple as that. You control your timeline, there isn't any content being pushed at you or hidden from you or promoted by anyone.
Lots more info and questions answered about this at https://fedi.tips/does-mastodon-and-the-fediverse-use-algorithms-does-it-start-pushing-stuff-at-me-based-on-my-interactions
#FediTips

2025-02-23 13:28:31 UTC

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p.s. Important voting tip from @nprofile…59w3
1. Use first vote to choose a candidate from your favourite party even if it's a tiny party.
2. Use second vote to choose your favourite from parties likely to get over 5% of the vote.
If you do both these things, it will make your vote most effective 👍

2025-02-23 12:19:30 UTC

Hello to all the wonderful Germans following this account 👋
Please, for the sake of humanity, use your vote today to stop the AfD.
Thanks to Germany's excellent proportional voting system, Germans have a wide range of parties to vote for and every vote counts towards the result. Voting for any party except the AfD will help to stop them by diluting their vote share.
If ever there was a time to use your vote, today is that day. This is your chance to make a difference.
Thank you 🙏