So, you’ve been exploring Bluesky and Mastodon, maybe even ditching the old X (aka Twitter)? That’s cool. Did you know that both platforms have built-in RSS feeds? These are super useful for following specific users without having to constantly check the sites. It’s particularly handy for keeping tabs on a few key accounts using your favorite RSS reader.
Getting Bluesky Updates with RSS
Okay, let’s get started with Bluesky.
- First, log into your Bluesky account on your browser.
- Next, go to the profile of the user you’re interested in following.
- Now, this is the trick. In your browser’s address bar, add
openrss.org/to the very beginning of the URL. Then copy this entire modified address and hit Enter.
- You’ll now be taken to the Open RSS feed page. Copy the URL from the address bar again or from the box displayed.
- Now, open your RSS reader app, like Feedly, and log in. Look for something like ‘Follow sources’ or an ‘Add Feed’ button.
- Paste the URL you copied into the box provided. Press Enter or select the profile when it appears.
- Click on the Bluesky profile when it pops up, and then hit the ‘Follow’ button.
- You might see another ‘Follow’ button; click it and select a folder where you want to save this feed.
- That’s it! The Bluesky profile should now show up on the left panel of your reader inside the folder you picked. You’ll now get updates in your RSS reader from this account, and you can add other accounts following these same steps.
Getting Mastodon Updates with RSS
The process for Mastodon is very similar to the one for Bluesky.
- First, log in to your Mastodon account and go to the user’s profile you want to follow.
- Here’s the easy part: in the address bar, just add
.rssto the very end of the URL. Now, copy the entire thing.
- Open up your RSS reader and paste the copied URL. It should then find the Mastodon profile you just added.
- Select the user’s profile and click on ‘Follow’ to add it to a folder inside your reader.
- The Mastodon account you’ve added will now be visible in your RSS reader, just like any other source. You can quickly check for updates from the account you have added by simply clicking on it. Add other accounts you want to follow by repeating the same steps.
Important Things to Keep in Mind
- You can add a whole bunch of RSS feeds to most readers, so feel free to add multiple Bluesky and Mastodon accounts.
- It’s a bit of a pain to add profiles manually, and unfortunately, there’s currently no way to add multiple profiles at once.
- The most practical way to use RSS for Bluesky and Mastodon is to just pick a handful of your favorite accounts. This will keep you updated without much effort, and you don’t even have to log into each platform separately.
- Keep in mind, that your RSS reader will display most key updates but it may not show everything a user has posted. If you’re looking for more in-depth information, it’s still a good idea to check the Bluesky or Mastodon website directly.