How to Enable DMs on Bluesky

Setting up DMs on Bluesky is surprisingly simple once you find the right toggle, but the platform's unique approach can leave new users searching. This guide provides a clear walkthrough for enabling your Direct Messages, customizing your privacy settings, and using them effectively, all without any confusing jargon.

Understanding Bluesky DMs: What Makes Them Different?

Direct Messages on Bluesky rolled out in May 2024, bringing a much-requested feature for private conversations to the decentralized platform. While they function much like DMs on other social networks at first glance, there are a few key things to know about how they work under the hood and what limitations currently exist.

First, it's important to understand that the Bluesky team's long-term goal is to make DMs fully secure with end-to-end encryption (E2EE). However, at this time, messages are not yet E2EE. This means they aren't fully shielded from potential access in the way messages on Signal or WhatsApp are. It's a key distinction to remember, especially for sensitive conversations. Think of the current version as a solid first step on a longer development journey.

The biggest difference you'll notice in your settings is the language. Instead of a simple "DMs On/Off" button, you'll see a toggle to "Subscribe to DMs." This reflects the technical reality of Bluesky's decentralized network - you're subscribing to your own DM service to activate it. For the average user, the effect is the same: flip the switch, and your messaging works. The terminology just hints at the more complex technology at play.

As a new feature, DMs on Bluesky currently have some limitations, which will likely change over time:

• You can only send text and links, sending photos, videos, or other media files is not yet supported.
• There is no support for group conversations, all DMs are one-to-one.
• Advanced features like pinning conversations, muting specific chats, or read receipts are not built in yet.

Keeping these points in mind helps manage expectations and allows you to use the feature for what it's best at right now: straightforward, private text conversations.

How to Enable DMs on Bluesky: A Step-by-Step Guide

Activating your Direct Messages is a one-time setup that takes less than a minute. Whether you're using the mobile app or the desktop website, the process is nearly identical.

Step 1: Get to Your Settings Menu

• On the mobile app (iOS and Android): Tap your profile picture in the bottom-right corner of the navigation bar. On your profile page, tap the three-line "hamburger" menu in the top-left corner. This will slide out the main menu.
• On the desktop website: Look at the navigation menu on the left side of your screen. Simply click on "Settings," which has a small gear icon next to it.

Step 2: Find the "Subscribe to DMs" Option

Once you're in the main menu, you'll see a list of configuration options. Scan the list for "Subscribe to DMs." This is the master switch that controls whether the entire DM feature is active on your account. It's usually located between "App Passwords" and "Home Feed Preferences."

Step 3: Tap the Toggle to Turn It On

Next to "Subscribe to DMs," you will see a toggle switch. Tap or click it to enable the service. When the toggle is active - typically turning blue or green - your Direct Messages are officially on. That's it! The Chat icon (a speech bubble) will now appear on your main navigation bar, giving you access to your inbox.

You can turn this off at any time by revisiting the same setting and tapping the toggle again. Doing so will completely disable DMs, removing the Chat icon from your app and preventing you from sending or receiving messages.

Controlling Who Can DM You: Setting Your Privacy

Enabling DMs is just the first step. The more important decision is choosing who is allowed to start a conversation with you. Mismanaging these settings is how your inbox can quickly become filled with spam or unwanted messages. Bluesky gives you clear, granular control over your DM privacy.

To access these controls, go to Settings and tap on Direct Messages. Here, you'll find three simple options that define your inbound message policy.

1. Everyone (Completely Open DMs)

What it means: Absolutely anyone on Bluesky can send you a Direct Message, whether you follow them or not.

Who should use this: This setting is ideal for brands, public figures, businesses, and journalists who want to be as accessible as possible. If your DMs are open for customer service inquiries, business pitches, or news tips, setting them to "Everyone" removes any barrier to communication. A content creator open to collaborations might also choose this option.

The trade-off: It's the setting most vulnerable to spam and unsolicited messages. Be prepared to actively manage and filter your inbox if you choose this level of openness.

2. Users You Follow (The Balanced Approach)

What it means: Only accounts that you are personally following can send you a Direct Message. If someone you don't follow tries to message you, they won't see the option to do so on your profile.

Who should use this: This is the recommended setting for most personal users. It strikes a perfect balance between being reachable and maintaining privacy. It effectively creates a "trusted" list of contacts - if you find someone's posts interesting enough to follow them, you're likely open to a private conversation. It puts you in complete control over who can message you, as all you need to do is unfollow an account to revoke their DM privileges.

3. Disabled (No One)

What it means: No one can initiate a new DM conversation with you. Note that this doesn't turn off DMs entirely - you can still start conversations with others. It specifically blocks incoming requests.

Who should use this: If you want to use DMs only as an outbound tool and prefer not to receive any unsolicited messages, this is the setting for you. It's a great "quiet" mode for when you're overwhelmed or just want to use Bluesky for public posts without dealing with an inbox. Think of it as putting a "No Soliciting" sign on your digital front door.

Sending and Managing Your DMs: Hands-On Basics

Once your DMs are enabled and configured, using them day-to-day is very straightforward.

Start a New Conversation

There are two primary ways to kick off a new chat:

1. From a user's profile: This is the most common method. When you visit someone's profile page, you'll see a button with a speech bubble or message icon next to their "Follow" button (assuming your privacy settings allow for it). Tap this icon, and a new message window will pop right up.
2. From the Chat Tab: In your main navigation bar, tap the "Chat" icon. Inside your inbox, you will see a 'New Message' icon (it often looks like a feather or quill). Tap this, and then search for the username of the person you want to talk to. Select their name from the list to open a new conversation.

Remember, if you go to someone's profile and don't see the message icon, it means their privacy settings don't allow you to DM them - likely because they've restricted DMs to only people they follow.

Managing Your Inbox

All of your one-to-one conversations are listed chronologically in the Chat tab, with the most recent chats at the top. Messages from people you don't follow (if your settings are "Open to Everyone") usually go into a separate "Message Requests" folder or are marked to draw your attention. This helps you prioritize conversations with known contacts over those from strangers, keeping the main inbox cleaner.

Tips for Using Bluesky DMs for Brands and Creators

DMs aren't just for casual chats, they're a powerful tool for brand building, networking, and community management. Here are a few strategies to use them effectively:

Announce Your DM Status in Your Bio

Use your profile bio to set clear expectations. A simple line like "DMs open for business inquiries" or "For customer support, DM here" guides your followers and potential clients on how to best contact you. This simple call-to-action can turn your profile into a direct lead generation tool.

Build Genuine Connections

The overall vibe on Bluesky is still very community-oriented. Use DMs to connect with peers in your industry, compliment another creator's work, or ask a question privately. Unlike the broadcast nature of a public reply, a DM feels personal and is more likely to build a lasting professional relationship. For example, if you admire an artist on a custom feed, send them a DM to tell them, rather than hope they see your public reply.

Offer Light Customer Support

For small businesses or solopreneurs, DMs can be an incredibly efficient channel for handling simple customer questions. It's more personal than an email form and allows for quick, informal resolutions. However, remember the lack of end-to-end encryption. For any interaction that involves sensitive personal or financial information, always direct the user to a more secure channel like encrypted email or a dedicated support portal.

Run DM-Based Engagements

Get creative by running promotions or Q&,As through DMs. For example, you could post, "First 10 people to DM me their favorite post of mine get a discount code!" or "I'm answering questions privately for the next hour - DM me anything about my creative process." This creates a sense of exclusivity and drives direct interaction with your most engaged followers.

Final Thoughts

Enabling DMs on Bluesky is as simple as flipping a switch in your settings, while its privacy controls give you the power to curate your inbox however you see fit. By choosing whether you want to hear from everyone, just the people you follow, or no one at all, you can create the messaging experience that works best for your brand or personal use.

As your presence on Bluesky grows, managing DMs there, on top of conversations everywhere else, can start to feel overwhelming. This is exactly why we built the unified inbox into Postbase. It pulls all your direct messages and public comments from Instagram, X, Facebook, and more into a single, organized feed. Instead of wasting time bouncing between platforms trying not to miss anything important, you can manage it all from one place, making community engagement feel organized and intentional.

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