Bluesky’s moderation tools let you mute words to hide unwanted content from your feeds and notifications. The platform offers a toggle labeled Mute words in tags only that changes how the mute list behaves. When enabled, the mute filter applies only to hashtags and linked tags, not to the same words used in normal post text. This article explains exactly what this toggle does, how it differs from the default mute behavior, and how to configure it for your needs.
Key Takeaways: How the Tags-Only Mute Toggle Works on Bluesky
- Settings > Moderation > Muted Words: Add words to hide from feeds and notifications. The toggle appears per word.
- Toggle ON (Mute words in tags only): Hides posts only when the word appears inside a hashtag or linked tag. The word in plain text stays visible.
- Toggle OFF (default): Hides any post containing the word anywhere in the text, including tags and regular sentences.
What the ‘Mute Words in Tags Only’ Toggle Does
The toggle controls the scope of a muted word. By default, when you mute a word, Bluesky hides any post that contains that word in any part of the post text. This includes the word used in a sentence, in a hashtag, or in a linked tag. The default behavior is broad and catches every mention of the word.
When you enable Mute words in tags only for a specific word, Bluesky narrows the filter. It only hides posts where the word appears inside a hashtag or a linked tag. Posts that use the same word in normal sentence text remain visible. This is useful when you want to block a topic that is mostly discussed through tags, but you still want to see conversations where the word is used in a different context.
Prerequisites for Using the Toggle
You need a Bluesky account and the app or web client open. The muted words feature is available to all users. You do not need a paid subscription or special permissions. You can add up to 250 muted words per account.
How Bluesky Distinguishes Tags from Plain Text
Bluesky identifies a tag when the word is preceded by the hash symbol # or when it is linked as a tag in the post composer. The platform parses the post text and flags any token that matches a tag format. When the toggle is on, the mute filter checks only those flagged tokens. Words that appear without the hash symbol or outside a tag link are ignored by the filter.
Steps to Configure the Tags-Only Mute Toggle
Follow these steps to add a muted word and enable the tags-only option.
- Open Muted Words settings
On the Bluesky web app or mobile app, go to Settings > Moderation > Muted Words. This page lists all words you have muted and lets you add new ones. - Add a new muted word
Tap or click Add muted word. A text field and a toggle appear. - Enter the word or phrase
Type the word you want to mute. The field accepts single words and short phrases. It is case-insensitive. - Enable the tags-only toggle
Find the switch labeled Mute words in tags only. Move it to the ON position. The switch turns blue or changes appearance to indicate it is active. - Save the word
Tap or click Add to confirm. The word appears in your muted list with a small tag icon next to it, showing the tags-only filter is active.
To turn off the tags-only filter for an existing word, tap the word in your muted list, toggle the switch OFF, and save the change.
Common Misunderstandings and Limitations
“I enabled the toggle but posts still show the muted word”
This happens when the word appears in plain text without a hash symbol. The tags-only filter does not hide posts that use the word in a regular sentence. If you want to hide all occurrences, turn the toggle OFF for that word.
“The toggle does not work for phrases”
The tags-only filter works on any word or phrase you add. However, Bluesky matches the exact text you entered. If you mute the phrase sports news, the filter looks for that exact two-word sequence inside a tag. Tags are usually single words, so muting a multi-word phrase in tags-only mode may rarely match anything. For phrases, consider leaving the toggle OFF.
“I cannot see the toggle for some words”
The toggle is available for every word you add. If you do not see it, close the Muted Words screen and reopen it. The toggle appears below the text field when you are adding or editing a word.
“The tag icon does not show in the list”
The tag icon appears only when the tags-only toggle is ON. If you do not see the icon, the word is using the default full-text filter. Edit the word and enable the toggle.
Mute Words in Tags Only vs Full-Text Mute: Comparison
| Item | Tags-Only Mute (Toggle ON) | Full-Text Mute (Toggle OFF) |
|---|---|---|
| Scope of filter | Only words inside hashtags or linked tags | Any appearance of the word in post text |
| Example match | #election or linked tag “election” | “The election results are out” and #election |
| Best use case | Blocking a topic that uses tags heavily | Blocking a topic entirely |
| Risk of over-filtering | Low — only tag-based posts are hidden | High — all posts with the word are hidden |
| Notifications affected | Yes, if the tag appears in a notification | Yes, if the word appears in a notification |
The Mute words in tags only toggle gives you fine-grained control over content filtering. Use it when you want to reduce noise from tagged discussions without missing conversational posts that use the same word. For complete silence on a topic, leave the toggle OFF.
After configuring your muted words, check your feeds and notifications to confirm the filter works as expected. You can edit or remove any muted word at any time. For advanced moderation, combine the tags-only toggle with the Mute accounts feature to hide posts from specific users entirely.