Bluesky is rapidly evolving its feature set. Hot on the heels of the Instagram-like Flashes app integration, the Bluesky mobile app (v1.99) has received significant multimedia and messaging upgrades.
The most prominent change is the increased video upload limit. Previously capped at 60 seconds, users can now upload videos up to three minutes long. This puts Bluesky in closer competition with Instagram Reels, which also supports three-minute videos (up from 90 seconds earlier this year). TikTok, however, still leads the pack with its 10-minute video limit.
alt text: Screenshot of the Bluesky app showing the video upload interface and a three-minute video length.
This extended video length aligns with Bluesky’s ongoing beta test of a Trending video feed. The move also echoes recent comments by Instagram chief Adam Mosseri, acknowledging creators’ desire for longer videos to better tell their stories.
Another key update enhances messaging management. A new “Chat Requests” inbox filters messages from non-mutual or unfollowed accounts. Users can then choose to accept or reject these requests, mirroring X’s approach to managing direct messages from unknown accounts. This feature helps mitigate spam and maintain a cleaner messaging experience.
alt text: Screenshot of the Bluesky app displaying the Chat Requests inbox in the messaging section.
Muting accounts has also been streamlined. A “Mute account” option now appears directly in the three-dot menu on individual posts, providing quicker access to this control alongside the existing block and report options. These features complement Bluesky’s existing protections against spam content and impersonator accounts.
The v1.99 update, including these new features, began rolling out on March 7th according to Google Play Store logs and is now widely available for Bluesky users.
