With more than 40 million registered users, Bluesky is quickly becoming a decentralized force to be reckoned with – and for good reason.
Under the new wave of Fediver platforms and decentralized networks, Bluesky is perhaps the easiest to use thanks to its clean interface and ever-growing community of all types of developers. From science to K-pop, there’s a place for everyone on the network.
If you are new Bluesky and the world of decentralized social media, here’s a quick summary: Founded by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, Bluesky is a decentralized social network based on an open source protocol called AT Protocol.
With the protocol, Bluesky’s mission is to “create an open foundation for the social internet so that we can all shape its future” because “social media is too important to be controlled by a few companies.”
Here is a great graphic by the artist Davis Bickford This explains the company’s vision:
To mark the occasion, we teamed up with @davis.social to create a comic that illustrates what Bluesky is all about. See if you can spot the Easter eggs! 👀
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[image or embed]
– Bluesky (@bsky.app) February 6, 2024 at 4:10 p.m
Originally an invite-only network, Bluesky opened its proverbial doors in February 2024 and welcomed more than a million new users in just one day.
🦋
Still, adding another platform to your social media mix is a big decision. With Buffer, we hope to make this a little easier for you with convenient scheduling, publishing, and cross-posting features.
Another helpful feature for those familiar with the idea of decentralized networks and the Fediverse: Bluesky is decentralized, but not decentralized technically Part of the Fediverse. This is because Bluesky’s AT protocol is different from ActivityPub, the open protocol used by various platforms such as Mastodon and Threads.
In short: Buffer also allows you to share your Bluesky content on Fediverse when you crosspost on Mastodon.
Sounds good? Whether you’re just getting started with Bluesky or ready to dive in, here’s how to connect your account to Buffer and start posting.
Connect your Bluesky account to Buffer
First things first: Before you can schedule or crosspost, you need to add Bluesky as a channel in Buffer. It only takes a few minutes.
- Sign up for Buffer (if you haven’t signed up yet, no problem – you can do that for free here).
- Sign in to Bluesky in a new tab.
- Navigate to Buffer publish.buffer.com. On the left side of the screen, click Connect Bluesky Click the button below your channel list.
- This will open the following dialog box:

- Leave the Buffer tab open and navigate to the Bluesky tab. Click the profile icon on the left to go to your profile page.
- You will find yours under your name at the top of the page Bluesky handle. Unless you customized your domain, it should look something like this: @YourName.bksy.social.
- Copy that into the dialog box you left open in Buffer.
- Now go back to Bluesky. Click the settings gear on the left to navigate there Settings Menu. Choose Privacy and security to find that App passwords Option.


- This will open a dialog box where you can create a new app password. You can stick with the default password name or create your own. (Note that This is not your login password — it’s more like a key that unlocks Bluesky for your Buffer account.)
- Your password will appear in the next window. Copy that and go back to Buffer where you can paste it into that Bluesky app password Crate. The window now looks something like this:

- Click carry on, and you’re done. Congratulations – your Bluesky account is now connected to Buffer.
Schedule and crosspost your Bluesky content
Here is the 30 second version:
- Open Buffer and click + New.
- Choose Bluesky (and all other channels)
- Design your text, images or video.
- Choose when you want to post.
- Check it in your Buffer calendar at any time.
There are many ways to create a new post in Buffer. We’ll start with that + New Click the button at the top right of “publish.buffer.com” – it’s the quickest way to get started. (You can also create posts by clicking + icon next to any channel or by clicking on calendar or queue slots.)
The process is similar for each option you choose.
- Log in to Buffer and then click Publish Tab above.
- Click on + New Top right button.
- In the Composer window, make sure you select “Bluesky” at the top of your channel list. To crosspost, also select the other channels you want to post to.

- Add your text or media to the main Composer window. If you’re cross-posting, you can customize content for each platform by clicking in the boxes that correspond to each channel you select.
- When you’re ready to post, select your preferred option:
- Still available – Published in the next available slot in each platform’s custom queue
- Prioritize – Bring your contribution to the front of the queue
- Now – publish immediately
- Set the date and time — publish at a specific time

- To move your posts, go to your calendar in Buffer and drag the post to a new spot or hover over the post and click Edit.
And that’s it. Your post is scheduled and ready to be published on the platforms you choose at the times you choose. One less thing to worry about.
Getting started with Bluesky
If you’re new to the platform (or looking to level up), we have a number of resources to make your job a little easier. Here is my recommended reading:
Let’s connect on Bluesky!
Bluesky is an exciting new network and I would love to connect with you there. You can find me here And Buffer here.
I hope this guide has made things easier. If you have any questions during setup, our support team is available to help you at any time.
FAQs about Bluesky
What happens if I self-host my Bluesky account – can I still use Buffer?
You can; We support custom servers in Buffer, so connect your account.
What is self-hosting?
Self-hosting means that you host your Bluesky account on a server that you control, rather than Bluesky’s default servers. Unlike other social networks, you can host an instance of Bluesky yourself. Think of the difference like this:
- Hosted: Using the default Bluesky instance (similar to using wordpress.com).
- Self-hosted: Run Bluesky on your own server for complete privacy and control (similar to a custom domain).
So with Bluesky, most people use the Bluesky hosted instance that everyone gets when they sign up. However, if you would prefer to host Bluesky yourself on your own server, you can do so. Some people prefer this for better privacy and overall control.
Does Bluesky have integrated scheduling?
No. Bluesky does not currently offer native scheduling. If you want to schedule posts in advance, connect your Bluesky account to Buffer, choose a time and we’ll publish it for you.
Can I schedule Bluesky threads in Buffer?
Yes. In the Buffer Composer, click start thread, Add each post and then choose when you want it to go live. Buffer publishes the entire thread sequentially and on time.
Can I post my Bluesky content to other platforms using Buffer?
Yes. In the Buffer Composer, select Bluesky along with any other channels you want. Customize each version if necessary, choose your times, and Buffer will publish for you on any platform.
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