Redirect Mastodon Account to Another Account

Redirecting a Mastodon account lets you tell followers and the wider fediverse that you’ve moved to a different profile, automatically forwarding your followers and making your old profile show a notice pointing to the new one. This is useful when you change servers, rebrand, or consolidate accounts. Before you start, make sure you have access to both the old and new accounts, and that the new account is on a server that supports the move API (most do).

What You’ll Need

• Access to the old account’s settings (you must be logged in).
• Access to the new account’s settings (you must be logged in).
• The full handle of the new account (e.g., @username@server.example).
• Both accounts must be on Mastodon (or a compatible platform like Pleroma or Akkoma) that supports account migration.

Step-by-Step

1. Log into the new account (the one you’re moving to). Go to Preferences → Account → Migration (or Move from another account).
2. In the Migration section, enter the full handle of the old account (e.g., @oldusername@oldserver.example). This tells the new server that you want to claim followers from that account.
3. Click Create alias (or Add alias). This step is required – it creates a link between the two accounts. You’ll see a confirmation message.
4. Now log out and log into the old account.
5. Go to Preferences → Account → Migration (or Move to another account).
6. Enter the full handle of the new account (e.g., @newusername@newserver.example).
7. Click Move followers (or Move to this account). You’ll be prompted to enter your old account’s password to confirm.
8. Wait for the process to complete. It can take a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the servers involved. Your old profile will now show a notice that you’ve moved, and your followers will receive a request to follow the new account.

Common Mistakes

• Skipping the alias step – If you don’t create an alias on the new account first, the move will fail with an error like “This account is not aliased.”
• Entering the wrong handle – Make sure you use the full handle with the @ and the server domain. A common error is forgetting the domain or using a display name instead of the handle.
• Moving to an account that already has followers – While allowed, it can cause confusion. It’s better to move to a fresh account or one you intend to merge.
• Not being logged in to both accounts – You need to be logged in to both, but you can’t be logged in to both at the same time in the same browser. Use different browsers or incognito windows.

Tips

• Before moving, consider posting a final post on the old account with a link to your new profile, so followers who don’t automatically follow still know where to find you.
• Update your profile bio and header on the new account to reflect your identity, so followers recognize you.
• After the move, you can keep the old account as a redirect, or you can delete it later if you want. If you delete it, the redirect notice disappears, so it’s often better to keep it.
• If you’re moving to a different server, check that the new server allows migration (most do). Some smaller servers may have disabled it.

Troubleshooting

• Error: “Account is not aliased” – You didn’t create the alias on the new account first. Go back to the new account, add the old account as an alias, then try the move again.
• Followers not moving – Sometimes the move takes time. Wait at least 24 hours. If still nothing, check that both servers are federating properly (you can test by searching for the old account from the new server).
• Old profile still shows no notice – The redirect notice appears after the move is processed. Refresh the page. If it still doesn’t show, try logging out and back in.
• Can’t find the Migration option – Some mobile apps don’t expose this setting. Use the web interface on a desktop browser.
• Move fails with a generic error – Try again after a few minutes. If it persists, contact your server admin for help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my old posts be transferred to the new account?

No, only your followers are moved. Your posts, media, and profile data stay on the old account. You can export your archive from the old account and import it to the new one if you want to keep your posts.

Will my followers be automatically unfollowed from the old account?

No, they will receive a notification and a follow request to the new account. They can choose to follow or not. The old account remains as a redirect.

Can I move to an account on a different server?

Yes, as long as both servers support account migration and are federated. This is the most common use case.

How long does the move take?

It can take from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the servers’ load and federation speed. Be patient.

Can I move back to the old account later?

Yes, you can repeat the process in reverse, as long as you still have access to both accounts. The old account will need to be aliased to the new one again.

Does this work on Pleroma or Akkoma?

Yes, these platforms support the same migration protocol, so the steps are similar. The exact menu names may differ slightly.

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