Mastodon allows anyone on the fediverse to mention your account in a post by typing your @username. This can lead to unwanted notifications from strangers or spam accounts. The platform includes a privacy setting that restricts mentions so only people you follow can notify you. This article explains how to enable that setting and what happens when you do.
When you limit mentions to followers only, non-followers who try to mention you will see an error message. Their post will not send, and you will not receive a notification. This is different from muting or blocking, which act after a mention is made. The restriction applies to all posts on all instances that federate with yours.
This guide covers the exact steps for the Mastodon web interface and official mobile apps. It also explains edge cases such as group mentions and replies within threads. After following these steps, you will control who can call your attention on the network.
Key Takeaways: Limit Mentions to Followers Only on Mastodon
- Preferences > Profile > Limit who can mention you: Toggle this setting to restrict mentions to people you follow.
- Non-followers see an error: Users not in your follow list cannot complete a mention; their post fails to send.
- Group mentions and replies are exempt: Mentions inside a reply to a post you are already part of still work even from non-followers.
Why Limit Mentions to Followers on Mastodon
Mastodon uses a mention system similar to Twitter or other microblogging platforms. When someone types @yourusername in a post, Mastodon sends you a notification and links the post to your profile. This is useful for conversations but can be abused by spammers, bots, or harassers who discover your account through public timelines or instance search.
The setting Limit who can mention you changes the server-side validation of mentions. When enabled, Mastodon checks whether the posting user is in your followers list before accepting the mention. If the check fails, the post is rejected with a generic error. The poster sees a message such as “Validation failed: You are not allowed to mention this user.”
This restriction applies to all visibility levels of the post — public, unlisted, followers-only, and direct messages. It also works across instances because the check happens on your home instance when the mention is processed. There is no way for a remote user to bypass the setting unless your instance software has a bug.
The setting does not affect existing mentions. Posts that already mention you remain visible and linked. It only blocks new attempts after you enable the option.
How the Setting Interacts with Replies
If a non-follower replies to a public post that you also replied to, and they include your @username in their reply, Mastodon will still allow the mention. This is because the reply is part of an existing conversation thread you joined. The platform assumes you have consented to the thread by participating. This exception prevents legitimate discussion from breaking.
Steps to Limit Mentions to Followers on Mastodon
The following steps work on the Mastodon web interface and the official mobile apps for iOS and Android. The menu names are identical across platforms.
- Open your account settings
Click or tap the gear icon in the top-right corner of the Mastodon interface. On mobile, tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) then select Preferences. - Navigate to the Profile section
In the left sidebar, click Profile. This section contains your display name, bio, avatar, and privacy options. - Find the mention restriction setting
Scroll down to the section labeled Privacy and reach. Look for the toggle labeled Limit who can mention you. - Enable the toggle
Toggle the switch to the on position. The toggle turns blue when active. No save button is needed — the change takes effect immediately. - Verify the setting is active
Return to your profile page. Open a new browser tab or ask a non-follower to try mentioning you. They should receive an error when they attempt to post.
To disable the restriction later, follow the same steps and toggle the setting off. Mentions from non-followers will work again immediately.
What Happens When a Non-Follower Tries to Mention You
When a user who does not follow you attempts to post a mention, the Mastodon API returns a 422 Unprocessable Entity error. The post is not created. The user sees an error message in their compose box. On the web interface, the message appears as red text below the compose area: “Validation failed: You are not allowed to mention this user.”
The user can still post the same text without your @username. They can also follow you first and then attempt the mention again. If you accept their follow request, the mention will go through on their next attempt.
Group Mentions and Hashtags
The restriction applies only to direct @mentions. Hashtags, links to your profile URL, and other forms of reference are not blocked. A non-follower can still write “@yourinstance@example.com” as plain text, but it will not be parsed as a mention and will not notify you.
Common Issues with Mention Restrictions
Non-Followers Can Still Reply to My Public Posts Without Mentioning Me
This is expected behavior. The setting only blocks explicit @mentions. Replies to your public posts appear in your notifications if you have the notification setting for replies enabled. To stop reply notifications, you must mute the thread or block the user individually.
The Setting Does Not Appear in My Preferences
This setting was introduced in Mastodon version 4.0. If you run an older version or use a small instance that has not updated, the option may be missing. Contact your instance administrator to confirm the software version. Users on Mastodon 3.x or earlier cannot use this feature.
I Still Receive Mentions From Non-Followers After Enabling the Setting
Check whether the mentions were created before you enabled the restriction. Existing mentions are not retroactively removed. If new mentions arrive, verify that the toggle is saved. Log out and log back in, then recheck the toggle position. If the problem persists, your instance may have a custom modification that bypasses the restriction.
Mention Restriction vs Other Privacy Controls
| Item | Limit Mentions to Followers | Mute User | Block User |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effect on new mentions | Prevents all non-followers from mentioning you | Hides notifications from a specific user | Prevents all interaction from a specific user |
| Scope | Global — applies to all non-followers | Per user | Per user |
| User sees error | Yes — post fails to send | No — post sends but you do not see it | Yes — post fails or user is removed |
| Requires follow | Non-follower must follow you first | No | No |
Limiting mentions to followers is the broadest protection against unwanted attention. Muting and blocking are better for handling specific users after they have already interacted with you.
Now you can prevent random mentions from non-followers on Mastodon. Enable the toggle in Preferences > Profile and test it with a second account or a friend. For additional privacy, consider setting your default post visibility to followers-only in Preferences > Appearance. This combination keeps your account reachable to people you trust while blocking unwanted noise from strangers.