Banned on Bluesky by mistake?

Updated 21 October 2026

Why acting early matters: Bluesky's terms say you must appeal within two weeks of the suspension, termination or restriction. Late appeals, or appeals without enough detail, may not be reviewed. The longer an account is down, the more followers, customers and conversations move on. See what is at stake

If Bluesky suspended you for something you didn't do, appeal within two weeks and show the mistake with evidence. Bluesky's terms set the two weeks, and Bluesky says every appeal gets human review. Name the cause: a hacked login, a wave of reports, a spam filter or a mix-up. If you live in the EU, you also have a right to clear reasons and a dispute body.

Common mistakes on Bluesky

A hacked account. Someone got into your account and posted spam or abuse. Signs: posts you don't recognise, a changed email, or apps you didn't connect.

A wave of reports. A heated thread, a quote post that went far, and many people report you at once. Reports start a review. They should not decide it.

An automated flag. Posting many links fast, or the same reply many times, can look like spam. Bluesky's 2025 transparency report says automated takedowns are nearly always permanent, so they need a clear appeal.

Context lost. You quoted abuse to call it out, or used a reclaimed word about yourself. A reviewer saw only the words.

Mistaken identity. You were taken for an impersonator, or another account with your name broke the rules.

A label, not a ban. A third-party labeler marked your posts. That is not Bluesky's decision. Open the label to see where the appeal goes.

How to show it was a mistake

1. Act within two weeks. Use the appeal button in the app or email [email protected].
2. Name the cause in one sentence. "My account was hacked on 9 October and the spam posts were not mine."
3. Add evidence. Screenshots of the security emails, the original thread, or proof you own your domain handle. For a quote post, include the post you were answering.
4. Show what you fixed. New email password, revoked app passwords, removed connected apps.
5. Keep it short and calm. The app says you can appeal once per decision, so put everything in one message.

Bluesky says a successful appeal undoes the action and restores your account standing. That clears the strike, which matters if strikes later add up.

Secure your account now

• Change the password of the email linked to Bluesky.
• Revoke app passwords and remove third-party apps you don't trust.
• Never give your login or a code to someone in your messages who offers to "fix" the ban.

Your rights if you live in the EU

Under the Digital Services Act, Bluesky must give you a clear and specific statement of reasons: the facts, the rule, whether automated tools were used and how to challenge it. If a machine flagged you, the notice should say so. That fact can help your case.

The DSA sets at least six months for appeals on platforms it covers, and says complaints must not be handled by automated means alone. Bluesky's terms say two weeks, so appeal within two weeks to be safe. You can still use the EU steps after that.

Bluesky's terms say you can take the decision to any certified dispute body. No body names Bluesky yet, so ask a general body first. The dispute body finder helps. You can also ask [email protected] for a free copy of your data under the GDPR. It can show the reports behind the decision. Court stays open.

Outside the EU, the in-app appeal is your main route.

What not to do

• Don't open a new account while you appeal. It is likely to count as evading the ban, even if the ban was wrong.
• Don't ask friends to flood Bluesky with complaints. One clear appeal is better.

If the appeal is turned down, read Bluesky appeal denied. For limits on your posts, read Bluesky posts labelled or restricted. The Bluesky hub covers every problem.