You added a custom feed to your Bluesky home tab, and now you want it gone from the pinned list. The problem is that the standard unpin action also removes the feed from your saved feeds entirely. This happens because Bluesky treats unpinning and removing as the same operation in the main interface. This article shows you how to unpin a custom feed while keeping it saved in your feed list for later use.
Key Takeaways: Unpin Without Losing the Feed
- Home tab > Pinned Feeds > X button: Removes the feed from the pinned list but also deletes it from saved feeds.
- Feeds tab > Saved Feeds > Edit: Lets you re-add any previously saved feed without searching again.
- Desktop web > Feeds page > Pin toggle: Unpins the feed from the home tab without removing it from saved feeds.
How Bluesky Handles Pinned and Saved Feeds
Bluesky separates feeds into two categories: pinned feeds and saved feeds. Pinned feeds appear as tabs at the top of your home screen. Saved feeds are stored in your feed list under the Feeds tab. Each feed can exist in both categories at the same time.
When you tap the X on a pinned feed from the home tab, Bluesky removes it from both the pinned list and the saved list. This is a single action that clears the feed entirely. The same thing happens if you use the Remove option from the feed’s three-dot menu on mobile.
The only way to keep a feed saved while removing it from the pinned area is to use a different path. On desktop, the Feeds settings page offers separate controls for pinning and saving. On mobile, you must re-add the feed after unpinning it. Understanding this distinction helps you avoid losing feeds you want to keep.
Steps to Unpin a Custom Feed Without Removing It on Desktop
The desktop web interface gives you direct control over the pin state without affecting the saved state. Follow these steps exactly.
- Open the Feeds page
Click the Feeds icon in the left sidebar. It looks like a stack of horizontal lines. This opens your full list of saved feeds. - Locate the custom feed you want to unpin
Scroll through the list of saved feeds. Each entry shows the feed name, description, and a pin icon on the right side. The pin icon appears filled in blue when the feed is pinned and outlined when it is not. - Click the pin icon to unpin
Click the blue filled pin icon next to the feed name. The icon changes to an outlined pin. This removes the feed from the home tab but keeps it in your saved feeds list. - Verify the feed is unpinned
Return to the home tab. The feed no longer appears as a tab at the top. Open the Feeds page again to confirm the feed still appears in your saved list.
This method works for all custom feeds, including feeds created by other users and feeds you created yourself. It does not affect any other pinned feeds.
Steps to Unpin a Custom Feed Without Removing It on Mobile
The mobile app does not have a separate pin toggle. You must unpin the feed, then re-add it to your saved feeds. This is a two-step process, but it preserves the feed for future use.
- Unpin the feed from the home tab
On the home tab, tap the feed tab you want to remove. Tap the three-dot menu icon at the top right of the feed. Select Remove from Pinned. The feed disappears from the home tab and from your saved feeds. - Open the Feeds tab
Tap the Feeds icon at the bottom of the screen. This shows your current saved feeds. The feed you just unpinned is no longer listed here. - Search for the feed again
Tap the search icon at the top of the Feeds tab. Type the name of the custom feed. The feed appears in the search results. - Save the feed again
Tap the feed name to open its detail page. Tap the Save button. The feed reappears in your saved feeds list. It does not repin to the home tab. - Confirm the feed is saved but not pinned
Return to the home tab. The feed does not appear as a tab. Open the Feeds tab to confirm the feed is listed under Saved Feeds.
This method works on both iOS and Android versions of the Bluesky app. The feed remains saved indefinitely unless you manually remove it again.
Common Issues When Unpinning Custom Feeds
The Feed Disappears From Saved Feeds After Unpinning
This happens when you use the X button on the home tab or the Remove option from the feed menu. Both actions delete the feed from saved feeds. To avoid this, use the desktop pin toggle method or the mobile re-add method described above.
The Pin Icon Does Not Appear on Desktop
The pin icon only shows on the Feeds page, not on the home tab. If you are looking at the home tab, you will not see a pin icon. Navigate to the Feeds page by clicking Feeds in the left sidebar. The pin icon appears next to each saved feed.
The Feed Keeps Reappearing After Unpinning
Some feeds, especially official Bluesky feeds like What’s Hot, may repin automatically after app updates. This is a known behavior. To keep them unpinned, repeat the unpin process after each update. Custom feeds from third-party creators do not have this issue.
Cannot Find the Feed After Unpinning on Mobile
If you unpinned a feed and then closed the app, the feed may still appear in search results. If it does not, the feed creator may have deleted or renamed it. You can try searching for the feed by its exact name or by the creator’s handle. If the feed no longer exists, you cannot re-add it.
| Item | Desktop Method | Mobile Method |
|---|---|---|
| Action performed | Click pin icon on Feeds page | Remove from pinned, then re-add via search |
| Feed stays saved | Yes | Yes, after re-adding |
| Steps required | 1 | 2 |
| Works for all custom feeds | Yes | Yes |
| Risk of losing feed | None | Low, if search fails |
You can now unpin any custom feed from your Bluesky home tab without permanently removing it from your saved feeds. On desktop, use the pin toggle on the Feeds page. On mobile, unpin the feed and then re-add it using the search function. For feeds you unpin frequently, consider keeping a bookmark or note of the feed’s exact name so you can find it quickly on mobile.