Bluesky DMs: A Short Guide

Bluesky DMs have been around for a while but now your messages are more secure too. Thanks to a collaboration with Germ, a startup that brings end-to-end encrypted messaging natively into the Bluesky app, private conversations on Bluesky just got a major upgrade. 

Germ DM is the first private messenger that can be launched directly within Bluesky. Here’s everything you need to know, from the basics to the latest updates.

How Do Bluesky DMs Work?

Bluesky DMs are private one-to-one messages you can send directly within the app. By default, only people you follow can DM you, but you can change that in your settings.

Here’s how to get started:

1. On mobile: Tap the chat icon at the bottom of your screen.
2. On desktop: Click the chat bubble in the sidebar, or go to bsky.app/messages.
3. Tap “New Chat” and search for the person you want to message.
4. Write your message and hit send.

Bluesky DM Settings

You have three options for who can slide into your DMs: no one, only people you follow, or all Bluesky users. You can also toggle notification sounds on or off from the same settings screen.

To adjust your settings:

1. Open the DM section
2. Tap the settings icon in the top right corner
3. Choose your preferred privacy level

A few things worth knowing: blocked users cannot DM you, but muted users still can. You can also block someone directly from within a DM conversation, and report messages to moderators if needed. 

Can You Send Images in Bluesky DMs?

That’s not an option yet; at least not natively. The current version of Bluesky DMs supports text and emojis only. Images, video, and other media are planned for a future update. It’s one of the most requested features on the platform, and Bluesky has confirmed it’s coming but there’s no confirmed release date yet.

If you need to share an image with someone, your best workaround for now is posting it publicly and sharing the link, or using an external tool.

What About Privacy and Encryption?

Bluesky’s standard DMs are not end-to-end encrypted, which means in rare cases, the Bluesky moderation team can access messages to investigate patterns of abuse like spam or coordinated harassment. It’s not ideal, but Bluesky has committed to adding E2EE messaging down the line.

In the meantime, that’s exactly the gap that Germ fills.

Germ is a startup co-founded by Tessa Brown, a former Stanford communications scholar, and Mark Xue, a former Apple privacy engineer who worked on FaceTime and iMessage. Their app uses Messaging Layer Security (MLS) – a new encryption standard approved by the Internet Engineering Task Force – built on top of the AT Protocol that also powers Bluesky.

The result? Messages that can’t be decrypted by anyone: not Germ, not Bluesky, not anyone. And since Germ is now natively integrated into Bluesky, you don’t even need to leave the app to use it. Just tap the Germ badge on someone’s profile and you’re in.

Bluesky DMs for Social Media Managers

If you’re managing a brand or client on Bluesky, DMs are worth paying attention to. Here’s why:

• Community building: Bluesky attracts a tech-savvy, engaged audience. Sliding into DMs to connect with niche communities, journalists, or creators can be more effective here than on more saturated platforms.
• Customer conversations: If your brand is active on Bluesky, DMs give followers a direct line to you – keep your settings open to all users if you want to be accessible.
• Creator outreach: Looking to collaborate with creators in your niche? Bluesky DMs are a less noisy channel than Instagram or X for outreach.

And with Germ now integrated, you can have sensitive conversations (e.g. influencer briefs, pricing discussions, or client communications) without worrying about who else might be reading.

Managing Your Bluesky Presence with Metricool

Speaking of managing Bluesky, if you’re not already using Metricool to handle your Bluesky content, it’s worthwhile giving it a try. With Metricool, you can:

• Schedule Bluesky posts in advance alongside all your other platforms; one calendar, everything in one place.
• Analyze your Bluesky performance: track follower growth, engagement, and which posts are hitting.
• Manage multiple brands on Bluesky without switching between accounts.

As Bluesky keeps growing and adding features like native DMs and encrypted messaging, having a solid content strategy in place from the start puts you ahead of the curve. The platform is still relatively uncrowded compared to Instagram or TikTok, which means organic reach is still very much alive.

Try Metricool for free and start scheduling your Bluesky content.

What’s Next for Bluesky DMs?

Bluesky has a clear roadmap for messaging: image, media support and group DMs are all on the way. The Germ integration shows that the open AT Protocol ecosystem can move fast when the community gets involved and more third-party messaging tools are likely to follow.

If you’re building a presence on Bluesky now, getting familiar with DMs and keeping an eye on how they evolve, is well worth your time. The platform is growing fast, and the communities forming there are exactly the kind of engaged audiences that brands and creators should be paying attention to.