Bluesky Now Lets You Post Videos Up to 10 Minutes Long
Bluesky announced on Tuesday, August 26, 2026, that it is increasing its video upload limit from three minutes to ten minutes. Users can now upload videos with a maximum file size of 300MB, and Bluesky stated that upload speeds are now 2x–3x faster than before (TechCrunch).
The previous three-minute limit had been in place since version 1.99 of the Bluesky app, introduced in March 2025. That itself was a raise from an earlier, shorter cap. The jump to ten minutes brings Bluesky's video limit on par with TikTok's limit for videos recorded directly within its app. For context, Threads allows five-minute uploads, while X permits 140-second clips for free users and 3–4-hour videos up to 16GB for paying subscribers (TechCrunch).
The change was made possible by increasing the maximum file size that Bluesky's servers will accept from 300MB. Bluesky runs on an open system called the AT Protocol, which means it is not controlled by a single company. Instead, different apps and servers can all connect to the same network. Think of it like email: you can send a message from Gmail to Outlook because they share the same underlying system. In the same way, apps built on the AT Protocol, including Bluescreen, Reelo, and Skylight, will also be able to serve the longer videos (TechCrunch).
The broader context here is less about the technical details and more about trajectory. A ten-minute cap with a 300MB limit is modest compared to dedicated video platforms like YouTube, but it is a meaningful step for a social network that spreads its data across many different servers rather than storing everything in one central place. The 2x–3x upload speed improvement, if it holds up in everyday use, addresses one of the friction points that has kept video from taking off on the platform.
What remains an open question is whether longer video capacity will help reverse a declining usage trend. Bluesky's active user base dropped by over 25% year-over-year as of July 2026, according to Similarweb data (TechCrunch). Earlier TechCrunch reporting on that decline noted Bluesky's expanding focus beyond its core app as a factor. Whether richer media uploads can bring back users who have drifted away is something the numbers in coming quarters will have to answer.
For developers, the way this change was made is worth flagging. Because the file size limit was raised at the network level, any app built on the AT Protocol gets the new limit automatically, as long as the server operator has updated. This makes the upgrade different from a typical feature launch on a closed platform. Apps like Reelo and Skylight, which serve different communities, gain the capability as a side effect of the infrastructure change rather than through individual deals.
For Bluesky specifically, the move tightens the gap with Threads on video length while remaining well short of X's premium tier. The competitive positioning matters less than the signal it sends about priorities: the team is investing in media richness and upload performance at a moment when user retention is under pressure. Whether that investment arrives in time to change the usage curve, or simply improves the experience for those who remain, will depend on factors well beyond the video limit itself.
