First of all, it’s worth saying that most people do not need multiple accounts. The Fediverse is designed in such a way that people on different servers can interact seamlessly, as if they were all on one network. For most people one account is enough, because it lets you interact with people on the whole network. However, there are situations where having more than one account is useful.
So, why have multiple accounts?
Lots of possible reasons:
- Separate personal and work accounts.
- Specialist accounts that focus on particular topics, separate from a general account.
- Some server types are built for particular kinds of content, such as PeerTube for video, Pixelfed for photos, OwnCast for live streaming, BookWyrm for book reviews etc.
- Temporary accounts to try out another server before possibly moving main account there.
What are “alt accounts” or “alts”?
“Alt accounts” or “alts” just mean alternative accounts owned by the same person. They may be permanent or temporary.
Can I be signed into several accounts at once?
Yes, all the official and third party apps support being logged into multiple accounts simultaneously, and you can also be signed into several accounts at once on the web browser and web apps.
Apps normally have an account switching button in the corner of the screen which you can press to select which account you want to use. Alternatively, you can use several different apps if you prefer. The official Mastodon apps have a switcher in the bottom right corner of the screen, hold it down to add an account or switch between accounts.
If you’re using accounts through the web browser and your accounts are on different servers, you can be signed into multiple servers at once and switch between them by keeping each one open in a separate tab. You can use the same email address when signing up for accounts on different servers.
Should I sign up for multiple accounts on the same server or different servers?
If you’re going to have multiple accounts, it’s highly recommended that you sign up on different servers. Having accounts on separate servers brings significant advantages:
- If a server breaks down, accounts on other servers will still work. It is extremely unlikely that several servers would break down at exactly the same time, so if you have multiple accounts you will always have at least one working account.
- Web browser and web app users can be signed into all of their accounts at once if they are on separate servers.
- By having accounts on different servers, you can use the same email address for all of them.
It’s the independence of each server that makes it good to have accounts on separate servers. It means any kind of problem that hits one server will not affect your other accounts.
Can I sign up for multiple accounts on the same server if I want to?
Yes, you can, but it will be putting all your eggs in one basket. If that server goes down, it means you lose all access to the Fediverse. It also makes it more difficult to log in on web browsers and web apps, as you will probably have to keep signing in and out.
How should I promote my other accounts?
A common way to promote your other accounts is to mention them in your account profile page. It’s also highly recommended that you follow your other accounts, so that their content will federate more widely.