Observed Signal · Jun 9, 2026 · Technical Release · Source: onlinemarketing.de · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Bluesky Raises Photo Limit to 10 with New Galleries
Bluesky rolled out an update (v1.123) that increases the per-post photo limit from four to ten and adds a carousel-style gallery view for posts containing five or more images. The release includes numbered indicators for gallery position and improved swipe handling to reduce accidental menu openings, aiming for a smoother photo-browsing experience. The article frames the change as part of Bluesky's broader growth strategy: the platform, built on the AT Protocol and marketed as a decentralized, ad-free alternative, now offers features closer to Instagram, Threads and X while remaining smaller (reported >40 million users vs. Threads’ >400 million). The update improves creator and user UX for image-led content and signals incremental product maturity for the social network.
Product-level UX change on a growing social platform improves image-centric posting and browsing; relevant to publishers, creators and platform competition but limited immediate industry impact given Bluesky's smaller scale compared with major walled gardens.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Bluesky increased the photo limit per post from 4 to 10.
- The update is identified as version v1.123 and introduces a carousel gallery for posts with five or more images.
- New UI elements include photo numbering and improved swipe behavior to reduce accidental menu openings.
- Bluesky is described as using the AT Protocol and positioning itself as a decentralized, ad-free alternative to major social platforms.
- The article reports Bluesky has over 40 million users and compares that to Threads with over 400 million users.
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Related Market Signals & Shifts
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Bluesky boosts photo upload quality
Bluesky released app version 1.121, increasing photo upload and rendering quality. The platform doubled the per-photo upload limit from 1MB to 2MB and raised maximum render resolution from 2,000px to 4,000px. It also replaced its image grid with a swipeable carousel that supports mixed aspect ratios without cropping, though some users have requested an option to choose between grid and carousel. The update positions Bluesky to be more competitive with other social networks that emphasize photo presentation, such as X and Meta’s Threads.
Bluesky Adds 10-Minute Video Uploads
Bluesky announced it has increased its video upload limit to 10 minutes (up from three minutes), raised the maximum file size to 300MB, and improved upload speeds by about 2x–3x. The change aligns Bluesky with other social apps that support longer-form short videos and will allow third-party apps running on the AT Protocol (e.g., Bluescreen, Reelo, Skylight) to serve longer videos as well. The article compares Bluesky’s update to limits on competing social platforms and notes Bluesky’s active user base had declined by more than 25% year-over-year as of July, according to Similarweb data. The update appears aimed at increasing engagement and competitiveness for the decentralized social network.
Bluesky adds 10-minute videos and Discover opt-out
Bluesky announced two feature updates: users can now upload videos up to ten minutes long (previously three minutes), with maximum file sizes raised to 300 MB and uploads claimed to be two-to-three times faster. Separately, Bluesky introduced an account-level opt-out setting for the algorithmic Discover feed that prevents posts from being recommended broadly; the setting does not make posts private and may be read by other apps using the AT Protocol but is not guaranteed to be honored by them. The changes affect creators and other apps built on the AT Protocol.
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