Published by the Zolyp team ·
What does fediverse sharing do?
The fediverse is a network of independent servers, run by different people and organisations, that share posts with each other. Threads connects to it with ActivityPub, the open protocol from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which servers such as Mastodon and WordPress also support.
With sharing on, people on those servers can search for and follow your Threads profile, see your posts, interact with them and reshare them. On Threads you can see who follows and likes you from other servers, and follow some of their users. Their usernames include their server, for example someone@fediverseserver.com.
Sources: Instagram Help Centre: About Threads and the fediverse, checked 15 October 2026; Instagram Help Centre: Turn on sharing to the fediverse on Threads, checked 15 October 2026
How do you turn on fediverse sharing?
Meta calls it a beta, available in certain areas. You need a profile created with an Instagram account, to be 18 or older, a public profile and a location outside the European region. Then, in the app:
- Tap Profile or your profile picture in the bottom right.
- Tap Menu in the top right.
- Tap Account, then tap Fediverse sharing.
- Follow the on-screen prompts explaining how sharing works.
- Tap Turn on sharing at the bottom.
- On threads.com: click More, then Settings, then Account, then Fediverse sharing, review the prompts and click Turn on sharing
- Fediverse sharing then appears in the top left of your profile. Click it to see your fediverse username
Source: Instagram Help Centre: Turn on sharing to the fediverse on Threads, checked 15 October 2026
Which posts are shared, and which aren't?
Only posts made after you turn sharing on are shared, including posts made through the Threads API. Threads waits 15 minutes before sharing, so you still have time to edit, and shared posts show Fediverse sharing in the top right. A post isn't shared if it:
- Includes a poll
- Limits who can reply and quote
- Has approvals for replies turned on
- Contains attachments that aren't supported, or copyrighted audio that breaks Meta's licensing agreements
- Is a ghost post
Sources: Instagram Help Centre: Start a new thread on Threads, checked 15 October 2026; Instagram Help Centre: Turn on sharing to the fediverse on Threads, checked 15 October 2026; Instagram Help Centre: Turn approvals on or off for replies to your post on Threads, checked 15 October 2026; Instagram Help Centre: Share a ghost post on Threads, checked 15 October 2026
What should you know before turning it on?
- Information shared to other servers is outside Meta's control and follows those servers' policies
- If you delete or archive a post, Threads asks other servers to delete it, but can't guarantee they will
- Your Threads follower count only counts Threads followers. Fediverse followers are listed separately
- You can't yet reply to or share replies from other servers, but you can like them
- You can ask Threads to block a fediverse user under Privacy, then Blocked fediverse users. The other server may not act on it
- Some servers won't receive your posts, because of moderation rules on either side
Sources: Instagram Help Centre: Threads and the fediverse, checked 15 October 2026; Instagram Help Centre: Turn on sharing to the fediverse on Threads, checked 15 October 2026
How do you turn fediverse sharing off?
Turning it off doesn't delete your Threads profile or posts. Threads asks other servers to delete your content, and replies you see from other servers are removed. In the app:
- Tap Profile or your profile picture in the bottom right.
- Tap Settings in the top right.
- Tap More settings, then tap Fediverse sharing.
- Tap Turn off sharing at the bottom.
- Review the prompt, then tap OK.
- On threads.com: click More, then Settings, then More settings, then Fediverse sharing, and click Turn off sharing
- Making your profile private, deactivating or deleting it also turns sharing off
- You can turn it on again 30 days after you turned it off
Source: Instagram Help Centre: Turn off sharing to the fediverse on Threads, checked 15 October 2026
Why isn't fediverse sharing working?
- There's no Fediverse sharing option. Check you meet all four requirements: Instagram-created profile, 18 or over, public, outside the European region
- One post didn't appear on Mastodon. Check for a poll, limited replies, reply approvals or an unsupported attachment
- Older posts are missing. Only posts made after you turned sharing on are shared
- You can't turn it back on. You have to wait 30 days after turning it off, going private or deactivating
- A particular server never sees your posts. Meta blocks servers that break its guidelines and publishes the list
Sources: Instagram Help Centre: Turn on sharing to the fediverse on Threads, checked 15 October 2026; Instagram Help Centre: Turn off sharing to the fediverse on Threads, checked 15 October 2026; Instagram Help Centre: Threads and the fediverse, checked 15 October 2026
Keeping the posts coming
Disclosure: this is our product. Zolyp plans, writes and designs short Threads posts in your brand's voice and publishes them once you approve each one. There's a 3-day free trial, no card required.
Common questions
Is Threads part of Mastodon?
No. Threads is Meta's app, but it uses the same ActivityPub protocol as Mastodon, so with fediverse sharing on, Mastodon users can follow you and see your posts.
Can I follow Mastodon users from Threads?
Yes, with fediverse sharing on. For now you can only follow fediverse users who have followed, liked or replied to Threads users who share to the fediverse.
Why can't I turn on fediverse sharing on Threads?
It needs a public profile created with Instagram, age 18 or over and a location outside the European region. It's also a beta available only in certain areas.
Do my old Threads posts go to the fediverse?
No. Only posts you make after turning sharing on are shared.
If I delete a Threads post, is it deleted on Mastodon?
Threads asks other servers to delete it, but Meta can't guarantee they will, so it may stay visible there.