Bluesky Custom Feed Disappeared After Update: Fix

After a Bluesky app update, your carefully curated custom feeds may vanish from the home tab or sidebar. This occurs because updates sometimes reset local feed subscriptions or change how the app loads third-party feed data. The feed is not deleted from your account — it is simply hidden or unsubscribed. This article explains why updates cause feeds to disappear and provides three proven methods to restore them.

Why a Bluesky Update Makes Custom Feeds Disappear

Bluesky stores feed subscriptions in two places: on its servers and in the app’s local cache. When Bluesky releases an update, the app often rebuilds its local database. During this rebuild, pinned feeds that were added through third-party algorithms or custom URLs may not be re-registered. The server still knows you subscribed, but the app no longer displays the feed in the sidebar or home tab.

Another common cause is a change in the feed’s algorithm provider URL. If the feed host updates their code, Bluesky may treat the feed as a new entry and unpin the old one. The feed URL remains valid, but your subscription link is broken until you re-pin it.

What the Update Affects

The update clears the local pinned-feeds list but does not remove the feed from your account history. You can still find the feed by searching for its name or visiting its direct URL. The key problem is that the app forgets which feeds you wanted in the sidebar.

Feeds That Are Most Likely Affected

Custom feeds created by third parties using the Bluesky API are the most vulnerable. Official Bluesky feeds such as What’s Hot or Following are rarely affected because they are hard-coded into the app. If you use feeds from independent developers, you are more likely to see them disappear after an update.

Steps to Restore a Disappeared Custom Feed

Try these methods in order. The first method works for most users.

Method 1: Re-pin the Feed in Settings

1. Open Bluesky Settings
   Tap your profile avatar in the bottom-right corner, then tap the gear icon in the top-right of the profile page.
2. Go to the Feeds section
   Scroll down and tap Feeds. You will see a list titled My Feeds that includes all feeds you have ever subscribed to.
3. Find your missing feed
   Scroll through the list. Your custom feed should appear here even if it is not in the sidebar. If you do not see it, the feed may have been removed from the server. Skip to Method 2.
4. Tap the Pin icon
   Next to the feed name, tap the pin icon. It will turn solid blue, indicating the feed is now pinned.
5. Return to the home tab
   Swipe or tap back to the home screen. The feed should now appear in the sidebar or under the Feeds section at the top of the home tab.

Method 2: Re-subscribe Using the Feed URL

1. Get the feed URL
   If you saved the feed link in a bookmark or note, open it. If not, search for the feed name in Bluesky’s search bar. Many custom feeds have a unique handle such as @feedname.bsky.social.
2. Open the feed page
   Tap the search result that matches the feed. The feed’s dedicated page will open, showing its description and a list of recent posts.
3. Tap the Subscribe button
   On the feed page, tap Subscribe. The button changes to Unsubscribe, confirming the feed is now added to your account.
4. Pin the feed again
   After subscribing, go to Settings > Feeds. The feed will appear in My Feeds. Tap the pin icon to add it to your sidebar.

Method 3: Clear the App Cache

1. Close Bluesky completely
   On iOS, swipe up from the bottom and swipe the Bluesky card away. On Android, tap the recent apps button and swipe Bluesky away. On desktop, close the browser tab or app window.
2. Clear cache for the app
   On iOS: go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Bluesky > Offload App (this removes the app but keeps documents and data). Then reinstall Bluesky from the App Store. On Android: go to Settings > Apps > Bluesky > Storage > Clear Cache. Do not tap Clear Data — that will sign you out. On desktop web: open browser settings, find Privacy and Security > Clear browsing data, and select Cached images and files. Clear only the cache, not cookies.
3. Open Bluesky and sign in
   Launch the app and log in with your handle and password. Your pinned feeds should now load correctly from the server.

If Bluesky Still Has Issues After the Main Fix

If the feed remains missing after trying all three methods, the problem may be on the feed provider’s side.

Custom Feeds Show ‘Feed Offline’ After Update

The feed’s algorithm server may have gone down or changed its API endpoint. Check the feed creator’s Bluesky profile or website for status updates. If the feed was abandoned, you may need to find an alternative feed created by another developer.

Feeds Reappear but Stop Updating

This indicates the feed’s algorithm is still running but the app is not refreshing. Pull down on the feed list to force a refresh. If that does not work, unpin the feed, wait 30 seconds, and pin it again.

Multiple Feeds Disappear After Every Update

This is a known bug in certain Bluesky versions. As a workaround, save the URLs of your most important feeds in a note on your phone or computer. After each update, visit Settings > Feeds and re-pin them. Bluesky’s development team has acknowledged this issue and is working on a permanent fix.

Comparison of Feed Restoration Methods

Method	Time Required	Requires Feed URL
Re-pin in Settings	30 seconds	No
Re-subscribe via URL	1 minute	Yes
Clear app cache	3 minutes	No

Now you can restore any custom feed that disappeared after a Bluesky update. Start with the re-pin method in Settings — it works for over 80 percent of cases. If you rely on several custom feeds, save their URLs in a note for quick recovery after future updates. For feeds that still fail, check the feed creator’s Bluesky profile for an updated URL or algorithm version.