If you run a self-hosted Mastodon instance, losing the database means losing all user accounts, posts, follows, and settings. The database is the central component that stores every piece of data except media files and custom emoji. Without a recent backup, an accidental deletion, server crash, or software update failure can destroy your community. This … Read more
You uploaded a CSV file to Mastodon to import followers or blocks, and the server rejected it with an Invalid CSV error. This error usually means the file structure does not match what Mastodon expects. The problem often lies in incorrect column headers, extra quote characters, or stray text outside the data rows. Mastodon requires … Read more
You exported your Mastodon data archive, but now you need to restore your followers on a new or existing account. Mastodon does not natively allow importing followers from a data archive. The archive contains your followers list as a CSV file, but the platform provides no direct import feature for it. This article explains why … Read more
Mastodon allows you to download an archive of your account data, including posts, media, followers, and lists. However, you cannot request an export every few minutes. The server enforces a cooldown period between export requests to prevent abuse and reduce server load. This article explains the exact frequency limit, how to check your next eligible … Read more
Moving a Mastodon account between instances often preserves followers but leaves your carefully organized lists behind. Mastodon lists let you group accounts by topic or workflow, and rebuilding them manually can take hours. This article explains how to export list data from your old account and import it into a new one using the Mastodon … Read more
You need to export your domain block list from Mastodon to share with another instance or to back up your moderation settings. Mastodon stores these blocks as a JSON file that contains every domain your instance has silenced, suspended, or limited. This article explains exactly how to generate that export file from your Mastodon admin … Read more
You want to save your Mastodon posts as a permanent, searchable archive that stays online even if your instance shuts down. Mastodon provides a built-in data export tool, but the default CSV and JSON files are not human-readable in a browser. This article explains how to convert your exported Mastodon data into a static HTML … Read more
When you move your Mastodon account from one instance to another, you must decide whether to import your followers list first or your posts archive first. The order you choose affects whether your followers receive notifications about your new account and whether your old posts appear under your new identity. This article explains the technical … Read more
You have downloaded your Mastodon archive from your old instance and want to import it into a new account. An incomplete or corrupted archive can cause failed imports, missing posts, or broken media links. Mastodon creates a ZIP file containing JSON data, media files, and your avatar and header images. This article explains how to … Read more
You have spent time building a set of Mastodon filters to hide unwanted posts, keywords, and hashtags. When you move to a new Mastodon account or instance, you must rebuild those filters manually. Mastodon does not include a built-in export or import tool for filters in its standard web interface. This article explains how to … Read more