When you compose a new post in Mastodon, the web interface and most apps apply two default settings: the post language and its visibility level. Many users leave these defaults unchanged, which can lead to posts appearing in the wrong language filter or being visible to a larger audience than intended. The language default controls which language tag is attached to each post, while the visibility default determines who can see the post — from public to direct messages only. This article explains how to review and change these two defaults in your Mastodon account settings so that every new post starts with the exact language and audience you want.
Key Takeaways: Language and Visibility Defaults in Mastodon
- Preferences > Posting defaults > Post language: Sets the language tag applied to every new post until you change it per post.
- Preferences > Posting defaults > Post visibility: Sets the default audience (Public, Unlisted, Followers-only, or Mentioned people only) for every new post.
- Preferences > Appearance > Language: Controls the Mastodon interface language, not the post language — do not confuse the two.
What the Language and Visibility Defaults Control
Mastodon stores two separate default values for new posts: the post language and the post visibility. These defaults apply at the moment you open the compose box. You can override them on a per-post basis, but the defaults save you from having to set them every time.
The post language default attaches a language tag — such as EN for English, DE for German, JA for Japanese — to every new post. This tag tells other Mastodon instances and client apps which language the post is written in. It also affects the language filter in your home and federated timelines. If you write most of your posts in English but the default is set to German, your English posts will show up under the German language filter on other servers. That can confuse readers and reduce engagement.
The visibility default controls who can see your post. Mastodon offers four visibility levels:
- Public: Visible to everyone on the internet, including users not logged into Mastodon. Appears in public timelines and search engines.
- Unlisted: Visible to everyone, but does not appear in public timelines or search engines. Only people who follow you or visit your profile see it.
- Followers-only: Visible only to your approved followers. Not shown in public timelines or search results.
- Mentioned people only: Visible only to the users you explicitly mention in the post. Often used for direct messages.
By default, Mastodon sets visibility to Public. If you prefer a more private audience for most of your posts, changing the default to Unlisted or Followers-only saves you from manually switching each post.
How to Change the Language and Visibility Defaults
The settings are located in the Posting defaults section of your Mastodon account preferences. The exact steps are the same on the web interface and most official mobile apps, though the menu labels may differ slightly.
- Open your preferences
In the Mastodon web interface, click the gear icon in the right sidebar under your profile name. On mobile apps, tap the profile icon, then tap the gear icon or the menu item labeled Preferences. - Navigate to Posting defaults
In the left navigation panel, click Preferences. Then click Posting defaults. This section contains two dropdown menus: Post language and Post visibility. - Change the post language default
Click the Post language dropdown. Scroll to find your primary language. Click it to select it. The dropdown lists languages by their English name, followed by the native name in parentheses. For example, English is listed as English (English). - Change the post visibility default
Click the Post visibility dropdown. Select one of the four options: Public, Unlisted, Followers-only, or Mentioned people only. If you are unsure, Unlisted is a common middle ground that keeps posts visible but out of public timelines. - Save your changes
Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the Save changes button. A green confirmation banner appears at the top of the page saying Your changes have been saved.
After saving, compose a new test post. Open the compose box and check the language tag and visibility icon. The language tag appears as a small two-letter code next to the post text. The visibility icon appears as a globe for Public, a lock for Unlisted, a person icon for Followers-only, or an envelope for Mentioned people only. If the defaults do not match what you set, refresh the page and check again.
Common Mistakes and Misunderstandings
The interface language is set instead of the post language
The Preferences > Appearance > Language setting controls the language of the Mastodon interface — buttons, menus, and labels. This is not the same as the post language. Changing the interface language to German does not set your post language to German. Always use Preferences > Posting defaults > Post language to set the language tag on your posts. If you change only the interface language, your posts will still use the previous post language default, which is usually English.
Post language default does not auto-detect the language you write in
Mastodon does not analyze the text of your post to guess the language. The language tag is always whatever you set in the defaults or manually select in the compose box. If you write posts in multiple languages, you must change the language tag manually for each post. Leaving the default set to English while writing a post in Spanish will tag that post as English, which may cause it to be filtered incorrectly on other servers.
Visibility default does not apply retroactively
Changing the visibility default only affects new posts. Existing posts keep their original visibility. To change the visibility of an existing post, you must edit that post individually. Open the post, click the three-dot menu, select Edit, change the visibility, and save. There is no bulk edit feature for post visibility in Mastodon.
Followers-only posts are not encrypted
Setting the default visibility to Followers-only does not encrypt your posts. The Mastodon server stores the post text and can read it. The server admin can also read it. Followers-only means the server restricts who can view the post through the API and web interface, but the post data is still accessible to the server operator. If you need true end-to-end encryption, Mastodon does not support it. Use a different platform for sensitive communications.
Language Default vs Interface Language: Comparison
| Item | Post Language Default | Interface Language |
|---|---|---|
| Location in settings | Preferences > Posting defaults > Post language | Preferences > Appearance > Language |
| What it affects | The language tag attached to each new post | The language of the Mastodon web interface and app menus |
| Can be overridden per post | Yes — change the tag in the compose box | No — applies to the entire session until changed in settings |
| Affects other users | Yes — other servers see the language tag on your posts | No — only your own view of the interface changes |
| Common mistake | Confusing it with interface language | Confusing it with post language default |
Now you can set your Mastodon account to always start new posts with the correct language tag and the desired audience level. After changing both defaults, compose a few test posts to confirm the settings stick. For users who post in a single language and prefer a quieter audience, switching the visibility default to Unlisted is a practical next step. One advanced tip: if you often post in two languages, bookmark the Posting defaults page for quick access, because Mastodon does not offer a per-language visibility default.