# How to Read Comments on Bluesky: Open Replies, Sort Them and Find Hidden Ones

> How to read comments on Bluesky. Open a post's replies, switch between threaded and linear view, sort replies by newest or most liked, and find hidden or blocked replies.

Canonical: https://scheduleforyou.com/blog/how-to-read-comments-on-bluesky
Last updated: 2026-10-28

Category: Bluesky. 

To read comments on Bluesky, **tap the post** (or the speech-bubble reply count under it). That opens the post's thread, with the replies, which are Bluesky's version of comments, listed underneath. Tap any reply to open the conversation that branches from it. The number next to the speech bubble is how many replies the post has.

## Step by step

1. **Find the post** in your feed, on a profile or in search.
2. **Tap the post text or the reply icon.** The thread opens with the original post at the top.
3. **Scroll down** to read replies. Replies to replies are indented or shown as "View more replies".
4. **Tap a reply** to focus on it and see the full chain above and below it.
5. **Go back** with the arrow at the top left.

On bsky.app in a browser it works the same way: click the post to open its thread.

## Sort replies and change the view

Bluesky sorts replies with popular ones first by default, which means recent replies with more likes rise to the top. You can change that:

- In a thread, tap the **sort or options control** near the top of the replies to choose an order, or
- Go to **Settings, Content and media, Thread preferences** to set your default.

| Option | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| Hot (default) | Recent replies with the most likes first |
| Newest | Latest replies first |
| Oldest | Replies in the order they were posted |
| Most liked | Highest like count first |
| Threaded view | Shows replies nested under the reply they answer |
| Linear view | One reply after another, not nested |

Threaded view is easiest for long conversations, since you can see who's answering whom. Menu names vary a little between app versions.

## Why some comments are missing

If the reply count says 40 and you only see 30, some replies are filtered:

- **Hidden by the author.** The person who started the thread can hide replies. They move to a "hidden replies" section at the bottom of the thread, which you can open.
- **From accounts you muted or blocked**, or accounts that blocked you. Blocked replies show as "Blocked post" or don't appear at all. See [who blocked you on Bluesky](https://scheduleforyou.com/blog/who-blocked-me-on-bluesky).
- **Labeled content.** Replies with a moderation label you've set to hide won't show; ones set to warn appear behind a "show" button.
- **Muted words.** Replies containing words or tags you've muted are hidden.
- **Deleted.** The reply count can lag for a while after someone deletes a reply.

Scroll to the end of the thread and look for **Show more replies** or **Hidden replies** to see what's been tucked away.

## See replies to your own posts

Open **Notifications** and switch to the **Mentions** tab to see replies, mentions and quotes without likes and follows in the way. You can also limit who can reply to your posts: when writing a post, tap the reply settings ("Anyone can interact") and choose followers, people you follow, people you mention, a list, or nobody.

## Reply to comments quickly

The fastest way to grow on Bluesky is to answer replies in the first hour after posting, since engagement then helps posts surface in feeds like Discover. If you schedule posts, pick times when you'll be around to reply. Schedule For You publishes to Bluesky on schedule and can add a first reply to your own post right after it goes live, useful for a link or extra context; see the [Bluesky scheduler page](https://scheduleforyou.com/bluesky). For more growth tactics, read [how to get followers on Bluesky](https://scheduleforyou.com/blog/how-to-get-followers-on-bluesky).

## Frequently asked questions

### Does Bluesky have comments?
Yes. They're called replies. Tap a post to open it and read the replies underneath.

### Can you see Bluesky comments without an account?
Usually yes, on bsky.app, since posts are public. An account can choose to discourage apps from showing it to logged-out visitors, and in that case you need to sign in.

### Why can't I reply to a post on Bluesky?
The author limited who can reply, for example to followers or mentioned accounts only, or one of you has blocked the other.

### How do I hide comments on my Bluesky post?
Open the reply, tap the three-dot menu and choose **Hide reply for everyone**. It moves to the hidden replies section of your thread. You can also limit who can reply before or after posting.

## Related

- [All guides](https://scheduleforyou.com/blog)
- [Pricing](https://scheduleforyou.com/pricing)