4 Tips to Remove Followers on Bluesky

Let's imagine you view your Bluesky profile and you see 1500 followers on your follower's list, but then, you realise that some of these followers are people you’d rather not want to have on your list. Some are not even active, they do not like, share or engage with your posts. 

Whether they are unwanted strangers, bots, or just people you don’t vibe with, removing followers on Bluesky can help you keep your account the way you want it. But then, can you remove a follower on Bluesky? 

Dive in as we face this elephant question together...

Can you remove followers on Bluesky?

No, you can not remove a follower on Bluesky. Perhaps I would say - you can not reduce the number of followers on your Bluesky follower's list. 

For instance, let's do a little maths. Let's say you have 1500 followers on your follower's list, there is no way to remove those followers to 1400. 

Even if you decide to block 100 followers, the 100 followers will be blocked and they won't be able to see your feeds, reply, like, chat, repost, quote, comment on your posts again, BUT your follower's count will still show that you have 1500 followers, instead of 1400.

In fact even if you decide to block all the 1500 followers, your follower's count will still display that you have 1500 followers, this means you can not clear you follower's list!

To me, this simply means that block does not erase the fact that they were once following you, their account still technically “follows” you, but because they’re blocked, they won’t see your posts in their feed.

Does blocking removes a follower on Bluesky?

No, blocking does not remove a follower on Bluesky. What blocking does is that it prevents the blocked user from interacting with your posts, viewing your profile, or following you in the future. However, it does not automatically remove them from your follower list.

If your intention is to stop someone from interacting with your posts, viewing your profile, or following you in the future, then blocking will do the job perfectly.

Why you can't remove followers on Bluesky

You can’t directly remove a follower on Bluesky because the platform doesn’t have a built-in “Remove Follower” button like some other social media sites.

Bluesky works differently because it’s decentralized, meaning there isn’t one central system controlling everything. Instead, users have more control over their own experience. However, that also means you can’t just kick someone off your follower list with a single click.

Even if you block someone, your followers count will still show the total number of followers you had, but they won’t be able to see your posts or interact with you. When you click on the followers list to view the followers, you will see a message the says:

No results found. You do not have any followers.

The best way to handle unwanted followers right now is to block or mute them so they don’t bother you. Maybe in the future, Bluesky will add a proper remove option.

Bluesky remove follower: 5 things you need to know

Unlike other social media platforms, Bluesky doesn’t currently have a “Remove Follower” button. This can be frustrating if you want to control who follows you. But why doesn’t Bluesky allow this feature? 

Here are five key reasons:

1. Bluesky is built on a decentralized network

Bluesky runs on the AT Protocol, which gives users more control over their experience but works differently from centralized platforms like Twitter or Instagram. Since there’s no single authority managing everything, features like removing followers aren’t as straightforward to implement.

2. No private accounts (yet)

Most social platforms let you switch to a private account, where only approved followers can see your posts. However, Bluesky currently doesn’t have this option, meaning you can’t manage followers the same way you would on other apps.

3. Blocking doesn’t remove followers

On Bluesky, blocking someone stops them from seeing your posts and interacting with you, but it doesn’t automatically remove them from your follower list. They may still appear as a follower unless they manually unfollow you.

Tip: Check out how to see who blocks you on Bluesky.

4. Limited moderation features

Since Bluesky is still developing, many moderation tools—such as removing followers—haven’t been introduced yet. The platform is focusing on user-controlled moderation, but this currently relies on tools like blocking, muting, and reporting rather than direct follower management.

5. Bluesky prioritizes user autonomy

Bluesky’s design philosophy leans towards giving users freedom rather than enforcing strict platform-wide rules. Unlike centralized platforms that allow forced removal, Bluesky expects users to handle their follower lists through blocking, muting, or custom moderation lists instead.

4 tips to remove followers on Bluesky

Bluesky doesn’t currently have a “remove follower” button, which can be frustrating if you want to clean up your follower list. However, there are some workarounds you can try. Here’s how you can manage unwanted followers effectively:

1. Ask them to unfollow

If the follower is someone you know, the simplest approach is to ask them directly. Send them a message or comment on one of their posts (if appropriate) and politely request that they unfollow you. Many people will respect your request, especially if you explain why.

Example message:

"Hey [Name], I’m trying to keep my Bluesky followers limited to close connections. Would you mind unfollowing me? No hard feelings!"

This won’t work in all cases, but it’s the easiest option if you have a good relationship with the person.

2. Block the follower

Blocking is the most effective way to stop someone from interacting with you. While blocking doesn’t immediately remove them from your follower list, it makes you invisible to them. They won’t see your posts, tag you, or engage with your content. Eventually, they may unfollow or stop engaging altogether.

How to block:

• Go to their profile.
• Click the three-dot menu.
• Select Block account.
• Confirm block

This method works best for unwanted followers who you don’t want to interact with at all.

Need a little help? Learn more about Bluesky blocking and how it works. 

3. Report the account (If necessary)

If the follower is a spam account, bot, or someone harassing you, reporting them is a good option. If Bluesky takes action against their account, they could be suspended or removed from the platform entirely—automatically removing them from your follower list.

When to report:

• The account is sending spam or inappropriate messages.
• The follower is harassing or bullying you.
• It’s a fake or bot account.

To report, go to their profile, click the three-dot menu, and select Report.

4. Create a new account (last resort option)

If you have too many unwanted followers and no way to remove them, you might consider creating a new Bluesky account. This is a drastic step, but it allows you to start fresh and be more selective with who follows you.

Before creating a new account:

• Inform your close friends or followers about the switch.
• Avoid sharing your new profile with people you don’t want following you again.

Final Thoughts

While Bluesky doesn’t have a direct way to remove followers, these four tips can help you manage your audience. Blocking and reporting are the most effective ways to stop unwanted followers from engaging with you, while asking someone to unfollow might work for more personal situations. Hopefully, Bluesky will introduce a “Remove Follower” feature soon! 

Would you find these solutions helpful, or do you have a different way of handling unwanted followers? Let’s discuss in the comment section below.