You open your custom feed on Bluesky and see the same post repeated two or even three times. This makes the feed look broken and hard to read. The duplicates usually appear because of how the feed algorithm retrieves and combines posts from multiple sources. This article explains the root cause of duplicate posts in custom feeds and provides a clear set of steps to remove them.
Key Takeaways: Fixing Duplicate Posts in Bluesky Custom Feeds
- Feed generator algorithm logic: Duplicates occur when the same post is pulled from multiple configured sources or when the deduplication buffer is too small.
- Bluesky client-side caching: The app or website may cache old versions of a feed, showing the same post twice after an update.
- Manual feed refresh: Pulling down on mobile or pressing F5 on desktop clears the local cache and often removes visible duplicates.
Why a Custom Feed Shows Duplicate Posts
A custom feed on Bluesky is powered by a feed generator — a server that runs an algorithm to select and order posts. The feed generator can pull posts from multiple sources, such as a list of followed users, a set of keywords, or a combination of starter packs. When the algorithm does not properly deduplicate posts across those sources, the same post appears more than once.
Another common cause is a short deduplication buffer in the feed generator code. Most feed generators use a time window to check for duplicates. If the window is too small, two identical posts arriving milliseconds apart both get included. Some feed generators also fail to ignore re-posts or quote posts of the same original content.
A third cause is client-side caching. When you first load a custom feed, Bluesky stores a copy locally. If the feed generator updates its output but the client does not fetch the new version, you see the old cached posts alongside new ones. This is especially common on the mobile app if you switch between accounts or network connections.
Steps to Remove Duplicate Posts from a Custom Feed
Follow these steps in order. Test the feed after each step to see if duplicates are gone.
- Force refresh the feed
On mobile, swipe down from the top of the feed until the loading indicator appears. On desktop, click the feed name in the left sidebar, then press F5 or Ctrl+R. This clears the local cache and forces the app to fetch the latest version from the feed generator. - Log out and log back in
Go to Settings > Account > Sign Out. Close the app or browser completely. Open Bluesky again and sign in. This resets all cached data, including stored feed responses. - Clear the browser cache (desktop only)
If you use the web version, clear the site cache: open browser settings, find Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data, select Cached Images and Files, and clear. Then reload Bluesky. - Check the feed generator’s source configuration
If you created the feed using a tool like SkyFeed or Feed Generator Starter Kit, log into that tool. Review the list of sources. If you added the same user list twice or included both a keyword source and a list that contains the same keywords, remove the duplicate source. Save and redeploy the feed. - Increase the deduplication window in the feed generator code
If you run your own feed generator, open the algorithm file. Look for a variable namedDEDUP_WINDOW_MSordedupWindow. Increase its value from 1000 (1 second) to 5000 (5 seconds) or higher. Rebuild and restart the generator. - Report the feed to the feed generator operator
If the feed is created by someone else, contact them. Mention that duplicates appear and ask them to check the deduplication logic. Most feed operators respond through Bluesky DMs or the feed’s GitHub repository.
If Duplicates Persist After the Main Fix
Duplicates appear only on mobile but not on desktop
This is usually a caching difference. On mobile, go to Settings > Moderation > Muted Words and check if any muted words accidentally match the duplicate posts. Also, uninstall and reinstall the Bluesky mobile app to clear all app-level caches.
Duplicates come from re-posts of the same original post
Some feed algorithms intentionally include re-posts. If you do not want that, modify the feed generator code to filter out posts where record.reply or record.embed references an already-included post. This requires editing the algorithm and redeploying.
The feed shows three or more copies of the same post
This indicates multiple sources are all matching the same post. Check each source individually by temporarily disabling all but one. Enable them one at a time and watch for the moment duplicates appear. Remove the source that introduces the extra copy.
| Item | Client-side cache | Feed generator logic |
|---|---|---|
| Cause | Stale local copy of the feed | Algorithm fails to deduplicate across sources |
| Fix time | Instant after refresh or re-login | Requires editing feed source or code |
| User action needed | Manual refresh, clear cache, or reinstall app | Modify feed generator configuration or report to operator |
| Persistence | Duplicates return after new cache is built | Duplicates stop permanently after logic fix |
You now know why duplicate posts appear in a Bluesky custom feed and how to remove them. Start with a simple refresh or re-login — those fix most cases quickly. If duplicates keep coming back, the problem is in the feed generator itself. For advanced control, run your own feed generator and increase the deduplication window to at least 5000 milliseconds.