You tap the image icon in Bluesky, pick a photo, and the app shows “Uploading…” but never finishes. The progress bar stays frozen, and the image never appears in your post. This problem usually comes from one of three causes: a slow or unstable internet connection, a corrupted browser cache, or an image file that exceeds Bluesky’s size or format limits. This article explains why the upload gets stuck and gives you four tested methods to get past the frozen “Uploading” state.
Key Takeaways: Fixing a Bluesky Image Upload That Stays on “Uploading”
- Check your internet speed: A connection under 5 Mbps can cause the upload to stall. Use Fast.com or a similar speed test.
- Clear browser cache for Bluesky: Stale cached scripts in Chrome or Edge can block the upload endpoint.
- Resize the image to under 4 MB: Bluesky silently fails on files larger than 4 MB. Use a free tool like Paint or Squoosh.
- Switch to the mobile app: The native iOS or Android app uses a different upload pipeline that often bypasses browser-specific bugs.
Why Bluesky Gets Stuck on “Uploading” for Images
Bluesky uploads images through a multi-step process. The app first compresses the file on your device, then sends it to the Bluesky relay server, and finally inserts the media URL into your draft post. If any step fails, the upload indicator stays on “Uploading” indefinitely.
The three most common root causes are:
- Network latency or packet loss: Bluesky requires a stable TCP connection. Wi-Fi with high jitter or cellular networks with weak signal can drop the upload mid-stream.
- Corrupted browser cache or service worker: The Bluesky web app caches JavaScript files. If those files become outdated or corrupted, the upload handler fails silently.
- File size or format mismatch: Bluesky accepts JPEG, PNG, and GIF files up to 4 MB. Files above that limit or in unsupported formats like HEIC or WebP cause the upload to hang.
Less common causes include a temporary outage on Bluesky’s image relay server or an ad-blocking extension that blocks the upload endpoint. The steps below address each of these scenarios.
Steps to Fix the Frozen “Uploading” State
Method 1: Check Your Internet Connection and Switch Networks
- Run a speed test
Open Fast.com or Speedtest.net in a new tab. If your download speed is below 5 Mbps or the test shows high latency above 150 ms, your connection is too slow for reliable image uploads. - Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data or vice versa
Turn off Wi-Fi on your phone and use cellular data. On a laptop, disconnect from Wi-Fi and connect to a mobile hotspot. Try uploading the image again. - Restart your router
Unplug the router power for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for the lights to stabilize. Repeat the upload.
Method 2: Clear Browser Cache and Service Workers
- Open browser settings
In Chrome or Edge, click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner and select Settings. - Go to Privacy and Security
Click Privacy and Security on the left panel, then click Clear browsing data. - Select time range and data types
Choose All time from the time range dropdown. Check Cached images and files and Cookies and other site data. Uncheck everything else. - Clear the data
Click Clear data. Close all Bluesky tabs, then reopen Bluesky and try uploading again. - Remove service workers for Bluesky
In Chrome, open Developer Tools with F12. Go to the Application tab, click Service Workers on the left, find the Bluesky entry, and click Unregister. Reload the page.
Method 3: Resize or Convert the Image File
- Check the current file size
Right-click the image file on your computer and select Properties Windows or Get Info on Mac. If the file is larger than 4 MB, you must resize it. - Open the image in Paint Windows
Right-click the file and choose Open with > Paint. - Resize the image
Click the Resize button on the toolbar. Select Pixels and reduce the longest side to 1200 pixels. Keep the aspect ratio locked. - Save as JPEG
Click File > Save as > JPEG picture. The new file will be well under 4 MB. Upload this resized version to Bluesky. - Convert HEIC or WebP to JPEG
If your file is HEIC iPhone or WebP Chrome, open it in a free online converter like CloudConvert or Squoosh. Set the output format to JPEG and download the converted file.
Method 4: Use the Mobile App or Incognito Mode
- Open Bluesky in Incognito or Private mode
In Chrome, press Ctrl+Shift+N Windows or Cmd+Shift+N Mac. Go to bsky.app and log in. Try uploading the image. If it works, a browser extension is blocking the upload. - Disable ad blockers and privacy extensions
In the regular browser window, click the puzzle icon next to the address bar. Turn off extensions like uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger, or AdBlock. Reload Bluesky and retry the upload. - Switch to the Bluesky mobile app
Open the App Store iOS or Google Play Store Android. Search for Bluesky and install the official app. Log in and upload the image from the app. The mobile app uses a separate upload pipeline that is more tolerant of network issues.
If Bluesky Still Has Issues After the Main Fix
Bluesky Shows “Uploading” but No Error Message Appears
The upload may be stuck because the Bluesky relay server is temporarily overloaded. Wait 15 minutes and try again. If the problem persists, check the Bluesky Status page at status.bsky.app for reported outages.
Images Upload Successfully but Do Not Display in the Post
This indicates a corrupted browser cache. Clear the cache again using Method 2, but this time also clear the Site data for Bluesky specifically. In Chrome, click the lock icon next to the URL, select Cookies, and click Remove.
Upload Works on One Device but Not Another
The problem is likely device-specific. On the failing device, check that the date and time are set correctly. An incorrect system clock can break TLS handshakes with Bluesky’s server. Go to Settings > Time & Language > Date & time and turn on Set time automatically.
Bluesky Image Upload Stuck: Web App vs Mobile App
| Item | Web App bsky.app | Mobile App iOS/Android |
|---|---|---|
| Upload method | Browser HTTP POST with multipart form | Native iOS URLSession or Android OkHttp |
| Cache dependency | Depends on browser cache and service workers | No browser cache involved |
| File size limit | 4 MB | 4 MB |
| Common failure point | Corrupted cache or ad-blocking extension | Weak cellular signal or low storage space |
| Fix method | Clear cache, disable extensions, or use incognito | Switch to Wi-Fi, free storage, or reinstall app |
Now you can fix a Bluesky image upload that stays stuck on “Uploading” forever. Start by checking your internet speed and clearing the browser cache. If the problem continues, resize the image to under 4 MB or switch to the Bluesky mobile app. For persistent issues, check the Bluesky Status page or disable browser extensions that might block the upload endpoint. A quick tip: always keep your Bluesky app updated to the latest version, as image upload bugs are often patched in minor releases.