Bluesky now supports 10-minute videos
Bluesky has significantly increased its video length limit to 10 minutes, a sharp rise from the three-minute cap introduced only last year and the original 60-second limit. The change also brings a larger maximum file size and faster upload speeds, positioning Bluesky more competitively against rival platforms as it seeks to boost engagement amid a recent decline in active users.
Videos can now be up to 300MB in size, and Bluesky says uploads should be two to three times faster than before. Because Bluesky runs on the decentralized AT Protocol, other apps built on the network, such as Bluescreen, Reelo and Skylight, will also benefit from the longer video limit. This brings Bluesky in line with TikTok's 10-minute cap, ahead of Threads' five-minute limit and well beyond X's 140-second limit for free users, though X's paid users can upload much larger files. Similarweb data cited by TechCrunch showed Bluesky's active user base fell 25% year-on-year as of July, making the upgrade a potentially important move for retaining and attracting users.
- Bluesky raises video limit from 3 minutes to 10 minutes
- Max file size now 300MB; uploads 2-3x faster
- Comes as Bluesky's active users dropped 25% year-on-year
New here? Start with this
Bluesky is a social media service where people post messages and other content, including videos. It runs on the AT Protocol, a network that also supports other apps, so changes to shared features can affect more than Bluesky itself.
Video limits shape what people can share and how long they can keep viewers watching. Bluesky competes with services such as TikTok, Threads and X, which have different limits; its video changes may affect how attractive it is to users and creators as it seeks to maintain its audience.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Bluesky is right to expand video features to remain competitive. Users expect modern social platforms to support longer video content, and with TikTok, Threads and others already at this level, matching the 10-minute standard is essential for retaining creators and audiences. The platform's user decline makes this upgrade strategically important, whilst the decentralised AT Protocol means the improvement benefits not just Bluesky but all apps in its ecosystem. Offering feature parity is compatible with Bluesky's longer-term differentiation on decentralisation and user control.
The case against
By prioritising conventional video features to match competitors, Bluesky may be abandoning its distinctive positioning. The platform's appeal lay in offering structural alternatives to traditional social networks—decentralisation, user sovereignty, protocol-level control—rather than in video length metrics. The significant user decline suggests that feature matching won't solve fundamental network effects problems; resources spent on chasing competitors' video capabilities might be better invested in developing the genuine differentiation that made Bluesky compelling. Without a clear alternative value proposition, Bluesky risks becoming just another platform fighting competitors on their own terms.