You want to export your Mastodon profile fields — the custom text labels and values you set under your profile settings — so you can back them up or reuse them on another instance. Mastodon does not offer a one-click export for profile fields in the web interface. However, you can retrieve them programmatically using … Read more
As a Mastodon server administrator, you need a reliable backup strategy to protect user data, media files, and configurations. Manual exports are time-consuming and prone to human error, especially when managing a growing instance. This article explains how to set up an automated cron job that runs a Mastodon export on a schedule, creating regular … Read more
When you leave a Mastodon instance, you can download an archive of your data including posts, media, and lists. However, simply uploading that archive to a new instance does not automatically load your old content into the active timeline. Mastodon’s archive is designed for data portability and backup, not as a live import tool that … Read more
When you export your Mastodon account data, the standard archive includes your statuses, media files, and followers list. But pinned posts — the tweets you have manually pinned to the top of your profile — are not included as a separate item in the default export. This can be confusing if you want to preserve … Read more
Mastodon instances often include hundreds of custom emoji that you cannot use on other servers. You might want to back up these emoji for personal use or migrate them to another instance. The built-in Mastodon export feature does not include custom emoji. This article explains how to use a browser script and a manual method … Read more
When you export your Mastodon account settings, the platform generates a JSON file that contains your profile, preferences, and other configuration data. Many users export this file for backup or migration purposes but struggle to interpret the raw JSON structure. This article explains the key sections of the Mastodon export JSON file and shows you … Read more
When you enable two-factor authentication on Mastodon, the server provides a set of backup codes. These codes let you regain access if you lose your authenticator app. The exported file containing these codes is encrypted to protect your account. This article explains how to decrypt that file and recover your backup codes. The encrypted file … Read more
When you need to leave a Mastodon instance or reorganize your account, two tools are available: data export and account migration. Many users confuse these options or pick the wrong one for their situation. Export creates a downloadable archive of your posts, media, and lists. Account migration transfers your follower relationships and profile information to … Read more
You may have downloaded your Mastodon account archive twice — once today and once a month ago — and want to see what changed. Mastodon archives contain separate JSON files for follows, mutes, blocks, domain blocks, bookmarks, and lists. Comparing two archives manually is tedious and error-prone. This article explains how to use a simple … Read more
When you log in to a Mastodon client app like Tusky, Fedilab, or the official Mastodon mobile app, the app receives an OAuth token that grants it permission to act on your behalf. If you lose access to your account or need to switch devices without reauthorizing every app, backing up those tokens saves time … Read more