When you see a boosted post with a comment on Mastodon, you might wonder if it is a quote boost or just a regular boost with an added note. The behavior of quote boosts varies significantly across different Mastodon apps. Some apps display the quoted post inline, while others show it as a link. This inconsistency can confuse users who switch between clients. This article explains how quote boosts appear in the official Mastodon web interface, the official mobile app, and popular third-party apps like Tusky, Fedilab, and Elk. You will learn exactly what each app shows and how to identify a quote boost in your timeline.
Key Takeaways: How Quote Boosts Display Across Mastodon Apps
- Official Web Interface (Pinafore): Shows the quoted post as a collapsed card with a “Show more” link.
- Official Mobile App (iOS/Android): Displays the quoted post inline with a small quote icon next to the author avatar.
- Tusky: Renders the quoted post as a clickable card with the original post content visible.
- Fedilab: Shows the quoted post in a separate section with a distinct border and a “Quote boost” label.
- Elk: Uses a compact format with the quoted post title and a link to the original.
What Is a Quote Boost and Why Do Apps Display It Differently
A quote boost is a feature that lets you share someone else’s post while adding your own comment. It is different from a regular boost, which simply reposts the original without commentary. Mastodon does not have a native quote boost feature in its core protocol. Instead, quote boosts are implemented by apps as a user interface convention. The app takes the original post URL and embeds it in a new post with the user’s comment. Because the implementation is not standardized, each app decides how to present this combination.
The Mastodon API does not differentiate between a regular post with a link and a quote boost. The app must detect that the post contains a link to another Mastodon post and then fetch that post’s content to display it inline. This detection logic varies by app. Some apps always fetch the linked post, while others only do so under certain conditions. This leads to the visual differences you see in your timeline.
How the Mastodon API Handles Quote Boosts
When you create a quote boost, the app sends a regular status with the original post URL in the content field. The API treats it as a standard post. The receiving app must parse the HTML content, extract the URL, and retrieve the referenced post. If the app does not perform this fetch, the quote boost appears as a plain text link. This is why some apps show a rich preview and others show only a URL.
How Each App Displays Quote Boosts
The following steps describe how to identify a quote boost in the most common Mastodon apps. Each app uses a different visual style.
Official Mastodon Web Interface
- Locate a post with a quote icon
In the web interface, a quote boost appears with a small quote icon next to the author avatar. The icon looks like a speech bubble with a plus sign. - Read the comment above the quoted post
The user’s comment appears as the main text. Below the comment, a collapsed card shows the original post’s author and a preview of the content. Click “Show more” to expand the full quoted post. - Expand the quoted post
After clicking “Show more,” the full original post appears with its own author, timestamp, and action buttons. You can reply to, boost, or favorite the original post from within the quote boost.
Official Mastodon Mobile App (iOS and Android)
- Look for the quote icon next to the avatar
The mobile app displays a small quote icon in the top-left corner of the post. It is the same icon used in the web interface. - View the comment and the quoted post inline
The user’s comment appears at the top. Below it, the quoted post is displayed fully without requiring any expansion. You see the original author, content, and media directly in the timeline. - Interact with the quoted post
Tap the quoted post area to open the original post. From there, you can reply, boost, or favorite.
Tusky (Android)
- Identify a quote boost by the card layout
In Tusky, a quote boost appears as a card with a distinct background color. The card contains the original post’s author avatar, display name, and the first few lines of content. - Tap the card to view the full quoted post
Tapping the card opens the original post in a detail view. You cannot interact with the quoted post directly from the timeline. - Check for a “Quote boost” label
Tusky adds a small “Quote boost” label above the card to differentiate it from a regular boost.
Fedilab (Android)
- Look for a separate section with a border
Fedilab displays the quoted post in a section below the user’s comment. The section has a distinct border and a lighter background. - Read the quoted post directly in the timeline
The full quoted post content is visible without needing to expand. You can see the original author, text, and any attached media. - Interact from the quoted section
Each quoted post has its own reply, boost, and favorite buttons. You can interact with the original post without leaving the quote boost.
Elk (Web and Desktop)
- Identify a compact quote boost
Elk shows a quote boost as a compact card with the original post’s title or a truncated preview. The card is smaller than in other apps. - Click the card to open the original post
Clicking the card navigates to the original post in a new view. You cannot interact with the quoted post from the timeline. - Check the boost icon
Elk uses a special boost icon with a plus sign to indicate a quote boost instead of a regular boost.
Common Misconceptions and Things to Avoid
Confusing a Quote Boost with a Regular Boost That Has a Comment
A regular boost does not allow adding a comment. If you see a post that says “Boosted by [user]” and also contains text above the boosted content, it is a quote boost. Some apps, like the official mobile app, display the user’s comment clearly above the quoted post. In other apps, the comment may appear as the main post text, and the quoted content is embedded below. Always look for the quote icon or the “Quote boost” label to confirm.
Quote Boost Not Showing the Original Post Content
If a quote boost shows only a URL instead of the original post content, the app failed to fetch the referenced post. This happens when the original post is from a private account you do not follow, or when the post has been deleted. The app cannot retrieve the content and falls back to displaying the link. To view the original post, click the URL. If the post is deleted, you see a “Post not found” error.
Quote Boost Appearing as a Broken Card
Some apps, like Tusky, may show a broken card if the original post contains unsupported media types or if the instance is temporarily unreachable. Refresh the timeline or restart the app. If the issue persists, the original post may have been removed from the source instance.
Quote Boost Display Comparison Across Mastodon Apps
| Feature | Official Web | Official Mobile | Tusky | Fedilab | Elk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual indicator | Quote icon next to avatar | Quote icon next to avatar | “Quote boost” label | Separate bordered section | Boost icon with plus |
| Quoted post visibility | Collapsed card, click to expand | Inline, fully visible | Card, tap to open | Inline, fully visible | Compact card, click to open |
| Interaction with quoted post | Yes, after expanding | Yes, from the timeline | No, must open the original | Yes, from the timeline | No, must open the original |
| Media display | Thumbnail in collapsed card | Full media inline | Thumbnail in card | Full media inline | Thumbnail in card |
Now you know exactly how each Mastodon app displays quote boosts. When you see a post with a comment and a quoted post, check the visual indicator for your app. If you use multiple apps, remember that the same quote boost may look different in each one. To always see the full quoted post, use Fedilab or the official mobile app, which show the content inline. For a compact view that saves timeline space, use Elk or the official web interface.