How to Enable Fediverse Sharing in the European Union on Threads

Threads users in the European Union have reported that the Fediverse sharing option is missing from their account settings. This happens because Meta has not fully rolled out the ActivityPub integration across all EU member states due to regulatory reviews. The feature lets you share your public Threads posts with Mastodon and other servers that use the ActivityPub protocol. This article explains the exact steps to enable Fediverse sharing from within the EU and what to do if the option remains hidden.

Why Fediverse Sharing Is Restricted in the European Union

Meta began testing Fediverse sharing on Threads in late 2023, but the feature has a staggered rollout. Users in the European Union face additional delays because the company is reviewing how ActivityPub data sharing complies with the Digital Markets Act and the General Data Protection Regulation. The Fediverse sharing toggle is not available to every account in the EU at the same time. Meta updates the server-side flag per region and per account, so you may see the option after a later app update or after changing your account region.

The feature works by publishing your public Threads posts as ActivityStreams objects that other Fediverse servers can fetch. Your Threads profile becomes discoverable on Mastodon, Pixelfed, and other ActivityPub-compatible platforms. When you enable Fediverse sharing, your posts appear on those servers as if they came from a native account. Replies from users on other servers appear in your Threads notifications. The entire exchange requires that your Threads and Instagram accounts are set to Public.

Steps to Enable Fediverse Sharing in Threads for EU Users

Follow these steps exactly to turn on Fediverse sharing. If the toggle is missing, use the VPN workaround in the next section.

1. Open Threads and go to your Profile tab
   Tap the profile icon at the bottom right of the screen. This opens your account overview page.
2. Tap the two-line menu icon in the top right
   This icon opens the main settings menu. On some versions, the icon is a gear symbol.
3. Select Privacy from the menu
   Scroll down and tap the Privacy row. Do not tap Account or Notifications.
4. Find the Fediverse sharing section
   Scroll to the bottom of the Privacy screen. Look for the row labeled Fediverse sharing or Share posts to the fediverse. If you see it, tap it. If you do not see it, proceed to the VPN workaround below.
5. Toggle Fediverse sharing to On
   Tap the toggle switch next to Allow your public posts to be shared across the fediverse. A confirmation popup appears. Read the notice and tap Turn On.
6. Verify the feature is active
   Return to your Profile tab. Your profile now shows a fediverse icon next to your username. Post a public update and check that a small fediverse badge appears on the post.

VPN Workaround for EU Users Who Cannot See the Fediverse Toggle

If the Fediverse sharing option does not appear in Privacy, your account region has not received the server-side flag yet. You can temporarily change your region using a VPN. This method works because Meta checks the device IP address at the time you open the Privacy screen.

1. Install a VPN app on your phone or tablet
   Use a reliable VPN provider that offers servers in the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom. These countries have the Fediverse toggle available.
2. Connect to a server in a supported country
   Open the VPN app and select a server in the US, Canada, or the UK. Wait for the connection to establish.
3. Force close Threads and reopen it
   Swipe the Threads app away from your recent apps list. Open Threads again while the VPN is active.
4. Navigate to Profile > Menu > Privacy
   Follow steps 1 through 3 from the main guide above. The Fediverse sharing toggle should now appear at the bottom of the Privacy screen.
5. Enable the toggle and disconnect the VPN
   Turn on Fediverse sharing. Wait 10 seconds, then disconnect the VPN. The setting stays active on your account even when you return to your local EU network.

If Fediverse Sharing Still Does Not Appear After the VPN Workaround

Your Instagram account is set to Private

Threads requires your linked Instagram account to be Public. Open Instagram, go to Settings > Privacy and set your account to Public. Return to Threads and check Privacy > Fediverse sharing again. You may need to force close Threads once more.

Threads app version is outdated

The Fediverse sharing feature requires Threads version 145 or newer. Open your device app store, search for Threads, and install any pending updates. After updating, repeat the VPN workaround.

Account was created in a restricted EU country

Meta has not enabled Fediverse sharing for accounts created in certain EU member states such as Germany, France, or Italy. Even with a VPN, the account flag may not change immediately. Create a new Threads account while connected to a VPN server in the US. Use a different email address or Instagram account. Once the new account has the toggle enabled, you can switch back to your primary account later.

Fediverse Sharing: EU Accounts vs Non-EU Accounts

Item	EU Account	Non-EU Account
Fediverse toggle availability	Delayed or hidden until server-side flag is enabled	Available immediately after app update
VPN workaround effect	Works for most accounts within 24 hours	Not needed
Data sharing restrictions	Subject to DMA and GDPR review by Meta	No additional restrictions
Post visibility on Mastodon	Same as non-EU once enabled	Same as EU once enabled
Reply syncing from other servers	Works after toggle is turned on	Works after toggle is turned on

Once you enable Fediverse sharing, your public Threads posts are visible on Mastodon and other ActivityPub servers. Replies from those servers appear in your Threads notifications. You can disable the feature at any time by returning to Profile > Privacy > Fediverse sharing and toggling it off. Disabling the feature stops new posts from being shared, but posts already distributed to other servers remain visible on those servers.