Bluesky shows algorithmic content in your home feed by default. This includes posts from accounts you do not follow, suggested posts, and trending topics chosen by an algorithm. Many users prefer to see only posts from people they actually follow in chronological order.
Bluesky offers built-in controls to disable these algorithmic recommendations. You can switch your home feed to a simple chronological timeline. This article explains how to turn off algorithmic suggestions and use custom feeds for a manual feed experience.
You will learn the exact settings to change and how to pin a chronological feed as your default view. No third-party tools are required.
Key Takeaways: Disabling Algorithmic Recommendations on Bluesky
- Settings > Moderation > Suggested Content: Hides suggested posts and recommended accounts from your home feed.
- Settings > Home Feed > Show Latest Posts First: Switches the default home feed from algorithmic to chronological order.
- Custom Feeds > Following feed: Pins the pure chronological Following feed to your home tab as a permanent alternative.
How Bluesky’s Algorithmic Recommendations Work
Bluesky uses a recommendation engine called the “Discover” feed to show you posts from accounts you do not follow. This feed is algorithmic: it ranks posts based on engagement, your interests, and network activity. By default, Bluesky sets this Discover feed as your home feed.
The platform also shows “Suggested Posts” in your home feed even when you are viewing posts from accounts you follow. These suggested posts appear between regular posts from people you follow. This is the main source of algorithmic noise that most users want to remove.
Bluesky provides two independent controls for this. The first lets you turn off suggested content entirely. The second lets you change the default home feed to a chronological feed that shows only posts from accounts you follow. You can also pin multiple custom feeds, including a pure “Following” feed, to your home tab.
Steps to Turn Off Algorithmic Recommendations in Bluesky
Follow these steps to disable algorithmic suggestions and use a chronological feed instead.
- Open Bluesky settings
Launch the Bluesky app on your phone or open the web version at bsky.app. Click your profile avatar in the top-right corner, then select Settings from the dropdown menu. - Navigate to Moderation settings
In the Settings page, scroll down to the Moderation section. Click or tap Moderation to open the moderation controls. - Disable suggested content
Inside Moderation, find the toggle labeled Suggested Content. This toggle controls whether Bluesky shows suggested posts and recommended accounts in your home feed and other areas. Set the toggle to the off position. The change takes effect immediately. - Change the home feed to chronological order
Return to the main Settings page. Scroll to the Home Feed section. Tap Home Feed. You will see an option labeled Show Latest Posts First. Toggle this switch to on. This changes your default home feed from algorithmic to chronological. You will now see posts in reverse chronological order from accounts you follow. - Pin the Following feed as a custom feed (optional but recommended)
On the web or mobile app, go to your home tab. At the top of the feed, you will see a row of feed names such as “Discover” and “Following”. Tap or click Following. This feed shows only posts from accounts you follow in strict chronological order. If you want this to be your permanent default, tap the pin icon next to the feed name. The Following feed will now appear as a tab in your home screen. You can remove the Discover feed by tapping its pin icon to unpin it.
Common Issues After Disabling Algorithmic Recommendations
Suggested posts still appear after turning off the toggle
If suggested posts continue to appear, close the Bluesky app completely and reopen it. On the web, refresh the page. The change to the Suggested Content toggle sometimes requires a full reload to apply. Also verify that the toggle is truly set to the off position — the switch should show a gray background, not blue.
The home feed still shows algorithmic content
This happens if you did not toggle Show Latest Posts First to on. That setting is separate from the Suggested Content toggle. Both must be set correctly: Suggested Content off and Show Latest Posts First on. If you only disable suggested content but keep the algorithmic feed, Bluesky will still rank posts by engagement rather than by time.
I cannot find the Following feed on mobile
On the Bluesky mobile app, the feed tabs are located at the very top of the home screen. Swipe left or right on the feed tab bar to reveal the Following feed. If you still cannot see it, tap the feed icon (a grid icon) next to the tab bar and search for “Following” in the feed directory. Pin it from there.
Bluesky Default Feed vs Following Feed: Key Differences
| Item | Default Home Feed (Algorithmic) | Following Feed (Chronological) |
|---|---|---|
| Content source | Posts from followed accounts + suggested posts from unknown accounts | Only posts from accounts you follow |
| Sort order | Ranked by engagement, relevance, and network activity | Reverse chronological (newest first) |
| Suggested posts | Yes, shown between regular posts | No |
| Recommended accounts | Yes, shown in the feed and sidebar | No |
| Control method | Cannot be removed entirely, but suggested content toggle hides suggestions | Pinned as a custom feed; no algorithmic interference |
You now have complete control over Bluesky’s algorithmic recommendations. By disabling suggested content and switching to the chronological Following feed, your home tab shows only posts from people you follow in the order they were posted. For the most consistent experience, pin the Following feed and unpin the Discover feed. If you ever want to see what the algorithm suggests, you can re-enable the Suggested Content toggle at any time from the same Moderation settings.