If you have featured hashtags on your Mastodon profile, some may no longer match your current interests or posting habits. Over time, you might have stopped using certain tags while they still appear prominently on your profile. This can confuse followers who expect content on those topics. This article explains how to identify stale featured tags on your Mastodon account and clean them up.
Key Takeaways: Cleaning Up Your Mastodon Featured Tags
- Profile > Edit profile > Featured hashtags: Lists all currently featured tags that appear on your public profile.
- Preferences > Appearance > Featured tags list: Shows the same featured tags during profile editing for quick removal.
- Search bar with your own handle: Lets you check which tags actually appear on your profile from a visitor’s perspective.
Why Stale Featured Tags Matter on Mastodon
Featured hashtags are tags you choose to display on your Mastodon profile. They signal to visitors what topics you post about regularly. When you add a featured tag, it appears below your bio and avatar. If you stop posting about that topic but leave the tag featured, your profile shows outdated information. This can reduce the trust of new followers who expect relevant content.
The feature itself is simple. You select up to ten hashtags to feature. Each tag links to your public posts containing that tag. Mastodon does not automatically remove tags you no longer use. You must manually review and update them. A periodic audit keeps your profile accurate and focused on your current interests.
Steps to Find and Remove Stale Featured Tags
- Open your profile settings
Log in to your Mastodon instance. Click the gear icon or your avatar in the top navigation bar. Select Preferences from the dropdown menu. Then click Profile in the left sidebar. - Go to the Featured hashtags section
Scroll down to the section labeled Featured hashtags. Here you see every tag you have featured. Each tag shows the hashtag name and a Remove button next to it. - Review each tag against your recent posts
Open your public profile in another browser tab or window. Click each featured tag to see your recent posts using it. If the last post with that tag is older than 30 days or if the content no matches your current topics, mark that tag as stale. - Remove stale tags
Return to the Preferences > Profile page. Click the Remove button next to each stale tag. The tag disappears from your profile immediately. You can add a different tag later if needed. - Verify the changes on your public profile
Refresh your public profile page. Confirm that only the tags you want to keep are visible. Repeat the audit every three months to keep your profile current.
Common Issues When Auditing Featured Tags
Featured tags not showing up on the profile
If you added a featured tag but it does not appear on your public profile, check that your profile is set to public. Go to Preferences > Profile and ensure the checkbox for “Make your profile discoverable” is enabled. Also confirm that you have not exceeded the limit of ten featured tags. Mastodon silently ignores tags added beyond the limit.
Accidentally removed a tag you want back
You can re-add any tag at any time. Go to Preferences > Profile and scroll to the Featured hashtags section. Type the tag name in the text field and click Add. The tag reappears on your profile immediately. There is no undo history, so re-add manually.
Cannot find the Featured hashtags section
Some Mastodon client apps or older web interfaces may hide this section. Use the official Mastodon web interface on a desktop browser. If you still do not see the section, log out and log back in. Clear your browser cache if the interface does not update.
| Item | Active Featured Tag | Stale Featured Tag |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Tag you post about at least once per month and plan to continue | Tag you last posted about more than 30 days ago or no longer interest you |
| Effect on profile | Shows accurate current interests to visitors | Misrepresents your posting habits and may disappoint followers |
| Action needed | Keep featured | Remove from featured list |
Performing a regular hashtag audit keeps your Mastodon profile honest and focused. After removing stale tags, consider adding one or two new tags that reflect your current posting activity. To save time in future audits, review your featured tags each time you update your profile bio or avatar. This small habit prevents old tags from lingering on your profile and confusing new visitors.