You can follow Mastodon users directly from your Threads account without leaving the app. This is possible because Threads supports the ActivityPub protocol, which connects different social platforms. Many Threads users are unaware that they can search for and follow accounts on Mastodon and other federated servers. This article explains how to find and follow a Mastodon user using only your Threads account.
Key Takeaways: Following Mastodon Users from Threads
- Search bar in Threads: Enter the full Mastodon username including the server domain to find the account.
- Full username format: Use the format @username@server.domain, for example @user@mastodon.social.
- Follow button: Tap the Follow button on the profile after the search returns the account.
How Threads and Mastodon Connect Through ActivityPub
Threads uses the ActivityPub protocol to communicate with other social platforms that also support this standard. Mastodon, Pixelfed, and many other services are part of the fediverse, a network of interconnected servers. When you follow a Mastodon user from Threads, your follows and public posts can be seen on that user’s Mastodon server. This is a one-way connection: you can see their public posts in your Threads feed, but you cannot reply using ActivityPub directly unless both accounts are fully federated.
To follow a Mastodon user, you need their full handle. A Mastodon handle looks like @username@server.domain, for example @technews@mastodon.social. The server part is required because Mastodon is decentralized — each server is independent. Threads searches the fediverse using this full address.
Steps to Follow a Mastodon User from Threads
- Open the Threads app on your phone
Launch the Threads app on your iOS or Android device. Make sure you are logged into the account you want to use. - Tap the search icon
At the bottom of the screen, tap the magnifying glass icon to open the search page. - Type the full Mastodon username
In the search bar, enter the complete Mastodon handle including the server. For example, type @technews@mastodon.social. Do not leave out the server part — without it, Threads will search only its own users. - Select the correct profile from results
After you press Search, Threads displays profiles that match your query. Look for the profile that shows the Mastodon server name below the username. Tap it to open the profile page. - Tap the Follow button
On the profile page, tap the blue Follow button. The profile now appears in your Following list. Their public posts will appear in your feed, but only if they are public and not limited to local followers only.
Common Issues When Following Mastodon Users from Threads
Mastodon user does not appear in search results
If the search returns no results, check that you typed the full handle correctly. The username is case-sensitive on most Mastodon servers. Also, the user must have public posts enabled — private or locked accounts will not appear in federated searches. If the server is very small or new, it may not be indexed yet by Threads. Wait a few hours and try again.
Follow button is missing or grayed out
When you open a Mastodon profile in Threads, the Follow button may be missing if the user has blocked federation or set their account to private. Only accounts with public visibility and federation enabled can be followed from Threads. If you see a message like “This account is not available on Threads,” the user has restricted cross-platform follows.
Posts from the Mastodon user do not appear in your feed
Even after following, posts may take up to 15 minutes to appear. If they still do not show after an hour, the Mastodon user may have set their posts to appear only to followers on their own server. Check the user’s Mastodon profile settings — they need to have “Public” visibility and federation enabled for their posts to reach Threads.
Threads vs Mastodon: Following Across Platforms Compared
| Item | Threads | Mastodon |
|---|---|---|
| Search format | Full handle @user@server | Username only or full handle |
| Follow button | Available for public federated accounts | Always available for public accounts |
| Post visibility | Public posts only | Public, unlisted, followers-only, or private |
| Reply across platforms | Not supported natively | Supported via ActivityPub |
| Blocked by default | No | No, but users can opt out |
Following a Mastodon user from Threads is a straightforward process once you know the full handle format. Keep in mind that not all Mastodon users allow cross-platform follows. If you want to engage more deeply, consider creating a Mastodon account for two-way interaction. This feature is part of Threads’ ongoing integration with the fediverse, and more capabilities may arrive in future updates.