Bluesky shows the default “Following” feed on your home tab. This feed shows posts from people you follow in reverse chronological order. You may want to see a different feed first, such as a topic-based feed or an algorithmic feed built by the community. This article explains how to pin a custom feed to the Bluesky home tab so that feed becomes your default view.
Custom feeds are created by other users or developers using Bluesky’s open AT Protocol. They filter posts by keywords, language, or specific communities. Pinning a feed places it as a tab next to the default “Following” and “What’s Hot” feeds. You can also reorder pinned feeds to set your favorite as the first tab.
This guide covers the desktop web app and the Bluesky mobile app for iOS and Android. The steps are nearly identical on both platforms. You will learn how to find, subscribe to, and pin a custom feed to the home tab.
Key Takeaways: Pinning a Custom Feed on Bluesky
- Search or browse feeds at the Feeds page: Open the sidebar or your profile to find the Feeds section and discover new feeds.
- Subscribe to a feed first: You cannot pin a feed unless you have already subscribed to it by clicking the “+” or “Subscribe” button.
- Pin from the Feeds page or the feed itself: Use the pin icon on the Feeds page or the “Pin to Home” button inside any feed you are viewing.
What Are Custom Feeds on Bluesky and Why Pin One
Custom feeds are algorithmically curated timelines built by the Bluesky community. Unlike the default “Following” feed, which shows only people you follow, custom feeds can surface posts from any user based on rules set by the feed creator. For example, a feed might show only posts about photography, or only posts from verified journalists, or only posts that contain a specific keyword.
When you subscribe to a custom feed, it appears in your Feeds list but not on your home tab. Pinning a feed adds it as a separate tab at the top of your home screen. This lets you switch between feeds with a single tap or click. If you use a particular feed more than the default “Following” feed, pinning it saves time and makes Bluesky feel personalized.
You can pin multiple feeds. The order of the tabs on the home screen matches the order in which you pinned them. You can also unpin a feed later without losing your subscription.
Steps to Pin a Custom Feed on Bluesky Desktop Web App
The desktop web app at bsky.app works identically on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Follow these steps to pin a custom feed.
- Open the Feeds page
Click your profile picture in the top-right corner. Select “Settings” from the dropdown menu. On the Settings page, click “Feeds” in the left sidebar. Alternatively, click the “Feeds” link in the left navigation panel on your home screen. - Find a feed to subscribe to
Scroll through the suggested feeds or use the search bar at the top of the Feeds page. Type a topic like “tech” or “photography” to find relevant feeds. Click on any feed to see its description and recent posts. - Subscribe to the feed
Click the “+” button next to the feed name. A checkmark appears indicating you are now subscribed. The feed is added to your “My Feeds” list. - Pin the feed to your home tab
Locate the feed in the “My Feeds” section. Click the pin icon that appears to the right of the feed name. The icon turns solid, and the feed immediately appears as a new tab at the top of your home screen. - Reorder pinned feeds
On the Feeds page, click and drag the handle icon next to any pinned feed. Move it to the left or right to change the tab order on your home screen. The leftmost pinned feed becomes the default tab.
Steps to Pin a Custom Feed on Bluesky Mobile App
The Bluesky mobile app for iOS and Android uses the same core interface. The steps below apply to both platforms.
- Open the Feeds page
Tap your profile picture in the top-left corner to open the sidebar. Tap “Feeds” from the menu. You will see a list of suggested feeds and your subscribed feeds. - Search for a custom feed
Tap the search icon at the top of the Feeds page. Type a keyword or the name of a known feed. Tap a result to preview the feed’s posts and read its description. - Subscribe to the feed
Tap the “+” button next to the feed name. The button changes to a checkmark. The feed is now in your “My Feeds” list. - Pin the feed
In the “My Feeds” section, tap the pin icon to the right of the feed name. The icon turns blue. The feed tab appears on your home screen. You can also open the feed by tapping its name and then tapping the “Pin to Home” button at the top of the feed view. - Reorder pinned feeds
On the Feeds page, tap and hold the three-line handle next to a pinned feed. Drag it up or down to change the tab order. The leftmost tab on your home screen is the first feed in this list.
Common Issues When Pinning Custom Feeds
The pin icon does not appear for a feed
You must subscribe to a feed before you can pin it. If the pin icon is missing, tap the “+” button first to subscribe. After subscribing, the pin icon becomes visible next to the feed name on the Feeds page.
The pinned feed does not show new posts
Custom feeds update based on their creator’s algorithm. Some feeds refresh every few minutes, while others refresh less often. Pull down on the feed tab to force a manual refresh. If the problem persists, the feed creator may have stopped updating it. Unsubscribe and try a different feed.
I pinned a feed but it disappeared after restarting the app
This is rare but can happen if the feed creator deleted the feed or changed its visibility settings. Check the Feeds page to see if the feed still appears in your subscriptions. If it is gone, search for the feed by name and subscribe again if it still exists.
I cannot unpin a feed
On the Feeds page, tap the pin icon again. The icon returns to an outline state, and the feed tab is removed from your home screen. Unpinning does not unsubscribe you. The feed remains in your “My Feeds” list for later use.
| Item | Default “Following” Feed | Pinned Custom Feed |
|---|---|---|
| Source of posts | Only accounts you follow | Any account that matches the feed’s algorithm |
| Customization | None | Created by community members; topic or rule-based |
| Visibility on home tab | Always present | Appears as a tab only after pinning |
| Order control | Reverse chronological | Determined by feed creator’s algorithm |
| Subscription required | No | Yes, before pinning |
You can now pin any custom feed to your Bluesky home tab on desktop and mobile. Start by exploring the Feeds page to find feeds that match your interests. Try pinning two or three feeds and reorder them so your most-used feed appears first. An advanced tip: you can create your own custom feed using the SkyFeed tool or AT Protocol, then pin your own creation to the home tab for a fully personalized Bluesky experience.