Most Fediverse server types including Mastodon have options to show three different timelines: Home, Local or Federated. They might have slightly different names depending on the server type, but they’re usually something like this.
- Home is the normal timeline that you see by default. It shows you all the posts from all the people you follow in chronological order. This is what you see when you log in to your account.
- Local (also known as Community or Live Feed: This Server) shows all the public posts made by all the people on your server. On larger servers this can be a so-called firehose that is too random and unfiltered. However, on smaller servers this can be a really interesting feed to read, especially if the server is well moderated. Many people on small servers discover new accounts to follow through the Local feed.
- Federated (also known as Live Feed: All) shows all public posts that your server has noticed. Click here for a guide to which posts and accounts your server will notice. On larger servers Federated is an absolute nightmare to comprehend as there are so many posts on so many different topics.
Where can I see trending posts and hashtags?
Trends are in their own section, click here for the guide to trends.
Can I create my own custom timelines on Mastodon?
Yes. The Lists feature lets you make your own themed timelines with whatever accounts you choose.
How do I view different timelines on Mastodon?
By default you will see your Home timeline.
To see other timelines on the Mastodon website or the Mastodon web app, click the 🌎 Live Feeds link at the right of the screen, then select the tab at the top labelled This Server for the Local feed or All for the Federated feed. The Other Servers feed shows the Federated feed minus posts from the Local feed.
On third party Mastodon apps there will be various interfaces and icons for viewing Local and Federated timelines.
On the official Mastodon app, click the magnifying glass and then scroll to the Community tab, which will show you the Local feed. The official Mastodon app doesn’t show the Federated feed at all, but you can see it by using a third party app, the web app or your server’s website instead.
I can’t see any Local or Federated timelines on my server?
They’re in the Live feeds section of your server’s website, Local is the same as “Live feeds: This server” and Federated is the same as “Live feeds: All”.
The timelines are scrolling way too quickly, I can’t keep up with them! Help!
If you’re logged in through your Mastodon server’s website, you can optionally use “slow mode” to stop all automatic scrolling on feeds. When slow mode is activated, the feed will only show new posts when you manually click a special link at the top of the feed. To switch it on:
- Log in through your server’s website
- Go to ⚙️ Preferences
- Tick the box marked Slow Mode, then click the button marked Save Changes
To deactivate slow mode, do exactly the same thing but UN-tick the Slow Mode box and click Save Changes.
Is there any way to view all the different timelines on the same screen?
If you’re using Mastodon through a computer, the multicolumn advanced web interface lets you view all your timelines at once on the same screen.
How do I see another server’s Local timeline?
Click here for more info on how to do this.
The Local and Federated timelines on my server are just full of junk!
You’re possibly on a massive server that isn’t well moderated.
