Mastodon allows you to edit a post after publishing it. When you make an edit, the platform saves the previous version of that post. Other users and you can view this edit history to see what changed. This article explains how to find and read the edit history of any edited post on Mastodon.
Edits are tracked so conversations remain transparent. If someone edits a post to change its meaning, the history shows the original content. This feature works on the web interface and most mobile apps. You do not need special permissions to view edit history on a public post.
This guide covers the steps to open edit history on the web and on the official Mastodon mobile apps. It also explains what information the edit history displays and what limitations apply.
Key Takeaways: Mastodon Edit History
- Three-dot menu on any post: Opens the menu that contains the “View edit history” option.
- “View edit history” option: Displays a chronological list of all saved versions of that post.
- Timestamped entries with content diff: Each version shows the exact date and time of the edit and the full text of that version.
What the Edit History Feature Does
When you edit a post on Mastodon, the server saves a copy of the post before applying your changes. This saved copy becomes part of the post’s edit history. The history stores every version of the post from the original publish date through each edit.
The edit history is visible to anyone who can see the post. For public posts, all users on any instance can view the history. For followers-only or direct posts, only the intended audience can see the history. The feature is built into the Mastodon web interface and the official mobile apps for iOS and Android.
Each entry in the edit history shows the date and time of the edit, the user who made the edit, and the full text of the post at that point. If the edit changed media attachments or content warnings, those changes are also recorded. The history does not show edits to the post’s visibility level or the deletion of media files.
Steps to View Edit History on the Web
- Open the post you want to inspect
Navigate to the post on your home timeline, a list, or a user’s profile. Click the post to expand it if needed. You must see the full post with its interaction buttons. - Click the three-dot menu icon
Look for the icon with three dots arranged horizontally or vertically. This icon is located at the top-right corner of the post, near the timestamp. Click it to open the post’s action menu. - Select “View edit history”
In the menu that appears, find and click the option labeled “View edit history.” This option appears only if the post has been edited at least once. If the post has never been edited, the option does not show. - Read the edit history panel
A new panel opens on the screen. It lists all saved versions of the post in reverse chronological order, with the most recent edit first. Each entry shows the date, time, and the full text of the post from that version. Scroll down to see older versions.
Steps to View Edit History on Mobile Apps
The official Mastodon apps for iOS and Android follow a similar pattern. The exact icon and label may vary slightly between app versions.
- Tap the three-dot menu on the post
On the post, tap the icon with three dots. On iOS, this icon is at the bottom of the post. On Android, it is at the top-right corner of the post. - Tap “View edit history”
From the menu that appears, tap the option “View edit history.” The app opens a new screen showing the history. - Swipe through the versions
The history screen shows the latest version at the top. Scroll down to see older versions. Each version displays the edit timestamp and the full post content.
What the Edit History Displays
The edit history panel shows the following information for each saved version:
- The edit timestamp in the instance’s local time zone.
- The username of the editor (always the post author).
- The full text of the post as it appeared after that edit.
- The content warning text, if a content warning was set at that time.
- The list of media attachments, if any were attached at that time.
The history does not show the specific characters that were added or removed. It shows the entire post text for each version. To compare two versions, you must read both entries manually.
Common Issues With Edit History
Edit history option is missing
If you do not see the “View edit history” option, the post has never been edited. Posts that have been edited always show this option. If the post was edited but the option is still missing, the instance software may be outdated. Mastodon version 3.5 or later supports edit history. Earlier versions do not show the history option.
Edit history shows only one version
If the edit history shows only one entry, the post was edited exactly once. The single entry is the original version of the post. The current version of the post is always displayed in the main post view, not in the history panel.
Editing a post after viewing history
You can edit a post while the edit history panel is open. After you save a new edit, the history panel updates automatically to include the new version. You do not need to close and reopen the panel.
Mastodon Edit History vs. Twitter Edit History
| Item | Mastodon | Twitter (X) |
|---|---|---|
| Feature availability | Available on all instances running Mastodon 3.5+ | Available only to X Premium subscribers |
| History visibility | Visible to all users who can see the post | Visible only to the post author |
| Content shown | Full text of each saved version | Label that says “Last edited” with no content history |
| Edit time limit | No limit — post can be edited anytime | 30-minute limit after posting |
| Media change tracking | Records media attachments per version | Does not track media changes |
Mastodon’s edit history is more transparent than Twitter’s. All viewers can see the original content, which helps prevent misleading edits. Twitter hides the edit history from everyone except the author.
Conclusion
You can now view the edit history of any edited post on Mastodon using the three-dot menu and selecting “View edit history.” This works on the web interface and the official mobile apps. Use this feature to verify that a post’s content has not been silently changed. For even more control, consider using a third-party client like Tusky or Ivory that may display edit history differently. Remember that edit history is permanent — once a version is saved, it cannot be deleted by the post author.