PostEaseThe short answer
Bluesky direct messages, or DMs, are private one-to-one messages inside the Bluesky app. Bluesky launched them on 22 May 2024. You open them from the Chat icon, at the bottom of the screen on mobile or in the sidebar on desktop, or at bsky.app/messages.
By default, only people you follow can message you, and you can change that to no one or everyone. Bluesky’s privacy policy, last updated in August 2025, says DMs are stored unencrypted and “can be accessed for Trust & Safety purposes,” so they are private from other users, not from Bluesky.
Who can message you
From Bluesky’s launch post, the settings in the DM screen:
| Setting or situation | What happens |
|---|---|
| Default | Only people you follow can message you |
| Change it | Allow messages from no one, only people you follow, or everyone |
| Blocked accounts | Cannot message you; you can block from inside the DM screen |
| Muted accounts | Can still message you |
| Can’t message someone? | They may allow messages only from people they follow, or from no one |
Starting a conversation
Open Chat, then tap the plus icon on mobile or New chat at the top right on desktop, and search for the person you want to message. The same DM screen holds your settings: who can message you, and whether new messages play a notification sound. If something in a conversation breaks the rules, you can report the message to Bluesky’s moderators from inside the chat, or block the sender there.
Privacy and moderation
What Bluesky says about who can see a DM:
| Question | What Bluesky says |
|---|---|
| Are DMs encrypted? | No: stored unencrypted, and accessible for Trust & Safety purposes |
| What if I report a DM? | Moderators review the reported message and surrounding messages for context |
| Can Bluesky open DMs otherwise? | In rare cases, to investigate broader abuse such as spam or coordinated harassment, with access limited and tracked |
| Penalties | Temporary or permanent loss of DM privileges, or a full account takedown |
How DMs fit the AT Protocol
Most of Bluesky runs on the open AT Protocol, but DMs do not. Bluesky’s developer documentation lists chat as a centralized service, at api.bsky.chat, reached through your account’s server. At launch, Bluesky said DMs were text only and listed media, group messages and end-to-end encryption as plans; check the app for what has shipped since.
Using DMs as a creator
A few settings decide how reachable you are:
- If you want collaboration requests, allow DMs from everyone and say so in your bio.
- If DMs bring spam, go back to people you follow, and block from inside the chat.
- Keep anything sensitive out of DMs, since Bluesky says they are not encrypted.
- Keep up with public replies too: PostEase’s inbox collects Bluesky replies with your other channels’ comments, though not DMs.
Questions
Who can send me a DM on Bluesky?
By default, only people you follow. In the DM settings you can allow messages from no one, people you follow, or all Bluesky users.
Are Bluesky DMs encrypted?
No. Bluesky’s privacy policy says direct messages are stored unencrypted and can be accessed for Trust & Safety purposes.
Can someone I muted still DM me on Bluesky?
Yes. Muted accounts can still message you; blocked accounts cannot.
Why can’t I message someone on Bluesky?
They have probably set their DMs to people they follow, or to no one.
Sources
- Bluesky, Just shipped: Bluesky Direct Messages, May 2024.
- Bluesky, Privacy Policy, August 2025.
- Bluesky, API Hosts and Auth, checked October 2026.