You want to back up your Mastodon followers list as a CSV file. Mastodon provides a built-in data export tool that creates a downloadable archive of your account data, including a CSV file containing your followers. This article explains exactly how to export that CSV file, what each column in the file means, and how to use the exported data for backup or migration planning.
The export feature is available on every Mastodon instance through the account settings page. No third-party tools or browser extensions are required. The exported CSV file contains the username, display name, and account URL of each follower.
This guide covers the complete export process, the CSV file structure, and the limitations of using this file as a backup. It also explains why the CSV file alone cannot restore followers to a new account without the official migration tool.
Key Takeaways: Mastodon Followers Export CSV
- Preferences > Import and export > Export: Navigate to this menu to download your followers CSV file directly from your Mastodon instance.
- CSV column format: The CSV contains three columns: Account address, Show boosts, and Notify on new posts. The Account address column holds the full ActivityPub URI.
- CSV backup limitation: The exported CSV is a list of followers only. It cannot be re-imported to restore followers. Use the official Move account feature to transfer followers to a new instance.
What the Mastodon Followers Export CSV Contains
The Mastodon export tool generates a CSV file named followers.csv when you download it. This file is not a traditional backup that you can re-import to restore your follower list. Instead, it serves as a human-readable record of who follows you on the Mastodon instance where you exported the data.
The CSV file includes three columns:
- Account address: The full ActivityPub URI of the follower, for example https://mastodon.social/@username. This is the unique identifier for each follower across the fediverse.
- Show boosts: A boolean value (true or false) indicating whether the follower has enabled the option to see your boosted posts in their home feed.
- Notify on new posts: A boolean value (true or false) indicating whether the follower has enabled notifications for your new posts.
The file does not contain email addresses, IP addresses, or any personal data beyond what is publicly visible on the ActivityPub protocol. The export does not include the follower count or any analytics data.
How the CSV File Differs From a Full Account Archive
The followers CSV is part of a larger data export package. Mastodon offers two types of exports:
- Individual CSV exports for followers, following, lists, domain blocks, and mute lists. Each is a separate CSV file.
- Full account archive that includes all your posts, media files, bookmarks, and a copy of your profile information in JSON format.
The followers CSV is the only export that contains your follower list. The full archive does not include a followers.csv file.
Steps to Export Your Followers CSV File
The export process is identical on all Mastodon instances regardless of the version. You must be logged into your account on the instance where you want to export the followers list.
- Open your account preferences
Click the gear icon or your profile avatar in the top navigation bar. Select Preferences from the dropdown menu. This opens the Preferences page. - Navigate to the Import and export section
In the left sidebar, click Import and export. This page shows two tabs: Import and Export. The Export tab is selected by default. - Locate the followers export option
Under the Export tab, you see a list of data types you can export. Find the row labeled Followers. A CSV file icon appears next to it. - Click the Export button
Click the Export button next to the Followers row. Your browser downloads a file named followers.csv. The file size depends on your follower count. A few hundred followers typically produce a file under 10 KB. - Open the CSV file in a spreadsheet application
Open the downloaded file with any spreadsheet application such as Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or LibreOffice Calc. The data appears in three columns as described above. You can sort, filter, or search the list as needed.
Exporting All Data Types at Once
If you want to download all CSV exports together, you can request a complete archive. On the same Import and export page, click the Request your archive button. Mastodon prepares a ZIP file containing all your data, including posts, media, and the followers CSV. The archive may take several minutes to generate for accounts with many posts. You receive an email notification when the archive is ready.
Common Mistakes and Limitations of the Followers CSV Export
The CSV File Cannot Be Re-imported to Restore Followers
The most frequent misunderstanding about the followers CSV is that it can be uploaded to restore followers on a new account. Mastodon does not provide a re-import option for followers. The Import tab on the Import and export page only supports importing lists for following accounts, domain blocks, and mute lists. There is no import option for followers. To move your followers to a new account, use the Move account feature under Preferences > Account > Move to a different account. This official migration tool sends a handshake request to each follower asking them to follow your new account.
Follower List May Be Incomplete Immediately After Export
The export reflects the follower list at the exact moment you click the Export button. If a follower unfollows you while the export is processing, that follower does not appear in the CSV. For accounts with rapid follower changes, export the CSV multiple times and compare the files to get a complete picture.
CSV Encoding Issues in Spreadsheet Applications
Some spreadsheet applications may display special characters incorrectly if the CSV uses UTF-8 encoding. Mastodon exports the CSV in UTF-8 format. If you see garbled text for non-English usernames, open the CSV file using the import function in your spreadsheet application and explicitly select UTF-8 encoding. In Microsoft Excel, use Data > From Text/CSV and choose UTF-8 as the file origin.
Follower Data Does Not Include Timestamps
The CSV file does not include the date or time when each follower started following you. If you need to track follower growth over time, you must export the CSV regularly and manually record the date of each export. Mastodon does not offer a built-in analytics feature for follower history.
Mastodon Followers CSV vs Full Account Archive
| Item | Followers CSV | Full Account Archive |
|---|---|---|
| File format | CSV (comma-separated values) | ZIP containing JSON and CSV files |
| Contains follower list | Yes, with Account address, Show boosts, Notify on new posts | No, follower list is not included |
| Contains posts | No | Yes, in JSON format with media files |
| Can be re-imported | No, Mastodon does not support follower import | No, archive is for personal reference only |
| Download method | Single button click on Export tab | Request archive button, then wait for email |
The followers CSV export is a lightweight, fast way to capture a snapshot of your follower list. The full account archive provides a more comprehensive record of your account activity but omits the follower data entirely. For backup purposes, export both the followers CSV and the full archive to have a complete record of your Mastodon presence.
You can now export your Mastodon followers CSV file in under a minute using the steps above. Keep the file as a personal record or use it to audit your follower list offline. Remember that the CSV cannot be uploaded to restore followers after a move. For migrating to a new instance, use the Move account feature in Preferences > Account > Move to a different account. As an advanced tip, schedule a monthly CSV export using a browser automation tool like Selenium to track follower growth trends over time.