If you have a Bluesky account, Surf has you covered. In fact you can connect Mastodon and Bluesky accounts if you have both. Here’s what to do if you get stuck.
First time launch or signed out of Surf
If you are signed out of Surf or launching it for the first time, you will see the options to log in to either Bluesky or Mastodon. In this article we will focus on Bluesky login, but don’t worry, you can add a Mastodon account later.
Open Surf, then select “Bluesky”
Then you have your choice of adding your Bluesky handle or the email that is associated with your Bluesky account, then your password. Signing in with an email/password can be easier if you have a password manager, but we have both options.
Choose “Connect” after filling the fields.
If you get an error message, you most likely have 2FA enabled. In that case, we recommend using an “app password” instead. You can create one here.
If you need a Bluesky app password
Open Bluesky and go to Settings:
•On the desktop, find it on the left side of the screen.
•In the Bluesky app, tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner.
Navigate to Privacy & Security > App Passwords, or go directly to the app passwords page here.
Click “Add App Password” and give it a recognizable name (e.g., “Surf”) so you know which app it’s for.
Decide whether to check “Allow access to your direct messages.” (Only allow this if you want Surf to show DMs once the beta supports it)
Click “Next,” then copy the generated app password and use it to log in to your other app, like Surf
**If you ever need to revoke access, click the red trash icon next to the app password and select Delete.
Link a Mastodon account
Once you are signed into Surf with a Bluesky account, you can also link a Mastodon account.
1. First select “Settings” (gear icon) in the top left of Surf
2. Then select “Manage Accounts”.
3. Now select “Link Account” and go through the steps to sign into Mastodon in your browser (you will be brought back to Surf after completing the sign in and authorization).
Switching primacy of your linked Bluesky and Mastodon account in SurfSurf shows a primary account when you have a Bluesky and Mastodon account linked to Surf, and you can switch between them in Settings.
1. First select “Settings” (gear icon) in the top left of Surf
2. Tap the account you want to be set as primary. The “Primary” label will follow your preference.
