Bluesky Outage: Issues Resolved Following a Major Disruption

On Thursday evening, Bluesky faced a significant outage that lasted approximately one hour, leaving users unable to access their feeds across various platforms.

User Experiences During the Outage

During the outage, users reported about the inability to load feeds on both desktop and mobile applications. Many experienced a persistent spinning loading circle on their desktops, while the mobile app allowed users to log in but failed to display content. Colleagues at The Verge confirmed they were facing similar issues, indicating a widespread problem.

Status Updates from Bluesky

At 6:55 PM ET, Bluesky provided an update via its status page, indicating “major PDS networking problems” and stated that they were investigating a significant outage affecting their hosted PDS instances. By 7:38 PM ET, the platform reported that a likely root cause had been identified, and they were implementing a fix across their PDS fleet.

Restoration of Services

By 7:54 PM ET, Bluesky’s Chief Technology Officer, Paul Frazee, announced that services were “back,” while acknowledging that the team was still addressing the consequences of the outage. The Bluesky status page later confirmed that all systems had returned to normal operation.

Previous Outage Challenges

This incident follows a previous setback in November, where users faced slow-loading feeds and delays in notifications due to downtime experienced by one of Bluesky’s internet providers. That outage coincided with what Bluesky referred to as their “highest traffic day ever,” showcasing the impact of service disruptions during peak usage times.

Community Reaction and Industry Impact

The recent outage sparked discussions among users and tech enthusiasts about the reliability of social media platforms. As more individuals and businesses rely on platforms like Bluesky for communication and information sharing, ensuring robust uptime becomes increasingly critical.

Conclusion: Service Back to Normal

As of now, Bluesky has effectively rolled out its fix, and services appear to be operating as expected. Users can now return to enjoying uninterrupted access to their feeds. As Bluesky continues to grow and refine its infrastructure, the hope remains that future outages can be minimized, ensuring a seamless experience for all users.