Your Bluesky custom feed shows old posts, and new content from followed users does not appear. This usually happens because the feed algorithm has not re-run or the feed cache has not been cleared. The app relies on server-side caching and scheduled algorithm refreshes, so manual intervention is sometimes needed. This article explains why custom feeds stop updating and provides specific steps to force a refresh on both the Bluesky web app and mobile app.
Key Takeaways: Force Refresh a Stuck Custom Feed
- Pull-to-refresh gesture on mobile: Swipe down from the top of the feed to trigger a manual cache clear and API call.
- Feed algorithm re-index delay: Some feeds use an algorithm that re-indexes posts every 15 to 60 minutes; waiting may resolve the issue.
- Unfollow and refollow the feed: Removing the feed from your saved list and adding it back forces a fresh fetch from the server.
Why a Custom Feed Stops Showing New Posts
A Bluesky custom feed is a curated list of posts generated by an algorithm or a set of rules defined by the feed creator. The feed does not update in real time. Instead, the feed algorithm runs on a schedule, typically every 15 to 60 minutes, depending on the feed provider and server load. If the algorithm has not run recently, the feed appears frozen. Additionally, the Bluesky client caches feed data locally. When the cache is stale, the app displays old content even if the server has new posts. Another cause is a network issue where the API request fails silently, leaving the cached data in place. Understanding these mechanisms helps you choose the correct refresh method.
Steps to Refresh a Custom Feed on the Bluesky Web App
The web app stores feed data in the browser cache. You can clear that cache or force a fresh load using the steps below.
- Navigate to the stuck feed
Open Bluesky in your browser at bsky.app. Click the feed name from the left sidebar to display the feed that is not updating. - Perform a hard browser refresh
Press Ctrl+F5 on Windows or Cmd+Shift+R on Mac. This bypasses the browser cache and reloads the entire page from the server. The feed will re-fetch its data. - Clear site data for Bluesky
If the hard refresh does not work, go to your browser settings. Find the site data or cookies section. Look for bsky.app and click Clear Data. Reload the tab. This removes all cached feed data and forces a fresh API call. - Check the feed algorithm status
Some feeds show a small clock icon or a note saying Last Updated. Note the timestamp. If the timestamp is more than one hour old, the algorithm has not run. Wait 15 minutes and repeat the hard refresh.
Steps to Refresh a Custom Feed on the Bluesky Mobile App
The mobile app uses a local cache that can be cleared with a gesture or by restarting the app.
- Use the pull-to-refresh gesture
Open the Bluesky app and navigate to the custom feed that is not updating. Place your finger at the top of the feed list and swipe downward until you see a spinning indicator. Release. The app will clear the local cache and request new data from the server. - Force close and reopen the app
If pull-to-refresh does not work, close the Bluesky app completely. On iOS, swipe up from the bottom and swipe the app card off the screen. On Android, open the recent apps screen and swipe Bluesky away. Reopen the app and navigate to the feed. This clears the in-memory cache. - Toggle the feed off and on
Tap the feed name to open the feed settings page. Look for the Remove Feed or Unpin button. Remove the feed from your saved list. Then search for the same feed and add it back. This forces the app to fetch the feed definition and data from scratch. - Check for app updates
Open your device app store and check for pending Bluesky updates. An outdated app version may have bugs that prevent feed refreshes. Install any available update and repeat the pull-to-refresh gesture.
If Bluesky Still Has Issues After Refreshing
Feed shows a red banner saying Feed Offline
This means the feed server is not responding. The feed creator may have taken the server down or the algorithm has a bug. You cannot fix this from the client side. Check the feed description for a support link or contact the feed creator. In the meantime, use a different feed.
New posts appear but then disappear after a few seconds
This is a client-side rendering issue. The feed fetched new data, but the local cache overwrote it with stale data. Clear the Bluesky app data from your device settings. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Bluesky > Storage > Clear Cache. On iOS, you must delete and reinstall the app because iOS does not expose a per-app cache clear option. After reinstalling, sign in and check the feed.
Only one specific feed fails to update while others work
The problem is likely with that feed’s algorithm, not your app. The feed may be using a custom algorithm that has stopped running. Visit the feed’s page on bsky.app and look for a link to the source code or the feed provider’s site. If the feed is open-source, you can report the issue on GitHub. If it is a third-party feed, wait for the creator to restart the algorithm.
Manual Refresh vs Algorithm Refresh: Key Differences
| Item | Manual Refresh | Algorithm Refresh |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger | User action (pull-to-refresh, hard refresh, cache clear) | Server-side scheduler (runs every 15-60 minutes) |
| Scope | Clears local cache and re-fetches existing data from the server | Re-runs the feed algorithm to include new posts from the network |
| Effect | Shows the most recent data the server has already processed | Generates new posts that were not in the feed before |
| Control | You can do it at any time | You cannot control it; depends on the feed creator |
| When to use | Feed shows old data but you know new posts exist | Feed is empty or has very few posts and you expect more |
Use a manual refresh when you see posts that are hours old. Use patience and wait for the algorithm refresh when the feed appears to have no new content at all. Combining both methods gives you the best chance of seeing the latest posts.
Conclusion
You can now force a custom feed to update on Bluesky using pull-to-refresh on mobile or a hard browser refresh on the web. If the feed still shows old posts, check the feed algorithm timestamp or remove and re-add the feed to your saved list. For persistent issues, clear the app cache or reinstall Bluesky. As an advanced tip, bookmark the feed’s direct URL on bsky.app and open it in a private browser window to see if the feed works without any cached data at all.