How to Enable Fediverse Sharing on Your Threads Profile

Threads now supports the ActivityPub protocol, which lets your public posts reach users on Mastodon and other fediverse platforms. Without enabling this feature, your Threads posts stay inside the app and cannot be seen by users on other servers. This article explains exactly what Fediverse sharing does, what you need to set it up, and the steps to turn it on from your Threads profile. You will also learn about common limitations and how to confirm your posts are actually federating.

What Is Fediverse Sharing in Threads

Fediverse sharing is a feature that uses the ActivityPub protocol to connect Threads with other social platforms like Mastodon, Pleroma, and Pixelfed. When you enable it, your public Threads posts are sent to a fediverse address that other servers can pull and display. This means someone on Mastodon can follow your Threads profile and see your public posts in their home feed without leaving their own app.

The feature is currently in beta and has several prerequisites. Your Threads profile must be public, and your account must be linked to an Instagram account. You also need to be in a supported region. The feature is rolling out gradually, so not all users see the toggle immediately. Once enabled, only posts made after the activation are shared; old posts remain inside Threads only.

How the Fediverse Address Works

When you enable Fediverse sharing, Threads generates a fediverse address in the format @username@threads.net. This address acts like an email address on the fediverse. Users on Mastodon and other platforms can search for this address and follow your Threads profile. Every public post you make from that point forward appears on their server as a new post from your fediverse account. Replies and likes from fediverse users also appear on your Threads posts, but only if the other server supports them.

Steps to Enable Fediverse Sharing on Your Threads Profile

Before you start, confirm that your Threads profile is set to public. You can check this by going to your profile and looking for the public badge. If your profile is private, you must switch it to public first. Also make sure your Threads account is linked to an Instagram account. If it is not, you will not see the Fediverse sharing option.

1. Open the Threads app on your mobile device
   Launch the Threads app on your iPhone or Android phone. The Fediverse sharing setting is currently only available on mobile, not on the web version.
2. Go to your profile
   Tap the profile icon at the bottom-right corner of the screen. This opens your personal profile page where you can view your posts and edit your settings.
3. Open the settings menu
   Tap the two horizontal lines icon at the top-right corner of your profile page. This opens a menu with account options.
4. Tap Privacy
   In the settings menu, select the Privacy option. This opens the privacy settings page where you control who can see your posts and interact with you.
5. Scroll to Fediverse sharing
   Scroll down the Privacy page until you see the heading labeled Fediverse sharing. Tap on it to open the Fediverse sharing settings.
6. Toggle on Fediverse sharing
   Tap the toggle switch next to Fediverse sharing to turn it on. A confirmation dialog appears explaining that your public posts will be shared on other servers. Tap Confirm to enable the feature.
7. Copy your fediverse address
   After enabling, the screen shows your fediverse address in the format @username@threads.net. Tap the copy icon to copy this address to your clipboard. You can share this address with friends on Mastodon or other fediverse platforms so they can follow you.

After you complete these steps, any new public Threads post you create will be sent to the fediverse. Old posts remain private to Threads. To verify that sharing is working, ask a friend on Mastodon to search for your fediverse address and follow you. If they can see your posts, the feature is active.

Things to Avoid and Common Limitations

Fediverse Sharing Toggle Is Missing

If you do not see the Fediverse sharing option in your Privacy settings, your account may not have access yet. The feature is rolling out gradually by region and account age. Ensure your profile is public and linked to an Instagram account. If you still cannot see it, wait for the feature to become available in your region. There is no workaround to force it early.

Private Profiles Cannot Use Fediverse Sharing

Fediverse sharing only works with public profiles. If your profile is private, the toggle is grayed out or hidden entirely. To use this feature, switch your profile to public by going to Profile > Privacy > Private profile and turning it off. Remember that making your profile public allows anyone to see your posts, not just fediverse users.

Old Posts Are Not Shared

Posts you created before enabling Fediverse sharing will not appear on the fediverse. Only new public posts made after activation are federated. If you want an old post to appear on Mastodon, you must repost it after turning on the feature. There is no bulk sharing option for historical posts.

Fediverse Interactions Are Limited

Not all fediverse servers support replies, likes, or reposts from Threads. Some servers may show your posts as read-only, meaning users can see them but cannot interact. This is a limitation of the current beta implementation. Future updates may improve cross-platform interaction, but for now, expect some features to be one-way.

Threads vs Other Fediverse Platforms: Federation Approach Compared

Item	Threads	Mastodon
Protocol	ActivityPub (beta)	ActivityPub (full)
Account requirement	Instagram account linked	Self-hosted or chosen server
Post visibility	Only public posts federate	Public, unlisted, or followers-only
Cross-platform replies	Limited, server-dependent	Full support across instances
Profile portability	Cannot move account	Can migrate to another instance

Threads uses the same protocol as Mastodon but with more restrictions. The biggest difference is that Threads only shares public posts, while Mastodon lets users choose different visibility levels. Also, Threads does not allow account migration, so your fediverse address is tied to your Threads profile permanently. Mastodon users can move their account to a different server without losing followers.

Another key difference is how replies work. On Mastodon, replies from any instance appear on the original post. On Threads, replies from fediverse users may not appear in the Threads app at all, depending on the server. This makes cross-platform conversations less reliable on Threads for now.

Now you can enable Fediverse sharing on your Threads profile and connect with users on Mastodon and other platforms. Start by turning on the toggle in Privacy settings and sharing your fediverse address with friends. For the best experience, keep your profile public and post regularly. If you run into issues, check that your Instagram link is active and that your region supports the feature. Remember that only new posts federate, so repost any older content you want to share across the fediverse.