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New section: migrating accounts

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Noëlle 2022-11-06 13:03:30 -05:00
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@ -129,6 +129,39 @@ If you've already registered on an instance but you're not sure if it's a good f
You can also try the instance picker on [joinmastodon.org](https://joinmastodon.org/communities) or the wizard at [instances.social](https://instances.social/), although these have *lots* of instances listed and you might be overwhelmed. Take it slow and easy.
## I've found another instance I like better. Can I move my account?
Yes and no.
There are two ways to accomplish this: you can **redirect** your account or **migrate** your account.
If you **redirect** your account, your old account will have a redirection notice added to it, and you won't be able to fully use it (I believe this mostly means you won't be able to post from it anymore). You'll still be able to export your account's data, and you can reactivate your account at any time. Users who go to your old account's profile will be told that they can find you at your new account. Nothing else will be transferred automatically. You can do this by going to `[your server]/settings/migration/redirect/new` (for example, elekk.xyz/settings/migration/redirect/new). There's also a link on the account migration page. All you have to do is put in the name of the account you're redirecting to and Mastodon will handle the rest.
(You can manually move a bunch of your information over if you redirect your account. See steps 4-6 below.)
If you **migrate** your account, all the same things will happen as redirecting your account. **In addition**, all of your followers will be moved to your new account (so nobody has to find and re-follow you). You *can*, in addition, manually move your follows, lists, blocks, mutes, domain blocks, and bookmarks over, but the system won't automatically do that for you.
**In neither case will your posts move over. You'll be starting with an empty post history on your new account.**
Here are the steps for **migrating** your account, including optional steps. (It looks like a lot of steps, but I've split some things up to make the instructions easier to follow.)
1. Create your **new** account. This can be on the same instance you're on now, or on a different instance.
2. On your **new** account, click `Preferences` in the right-hand Getting Started panel, then go to `Account > Account Settings`. At the bottom of that page, under the `Moving from a different account` header, click "**create an account alias**".
3. Type in the `username@instance` of the **old** account (for example, `noelle@elekk.xyz`) and click "**Create Alias**".
4. (Optional) On your **old** account, in Preferences, go to `Import and export > Data export`.
5. (Optional) You'll see a list of account... statistics, I guess? Next to "Follows", "Lists", "You block", "You mute", "Domain blocks", and "Bookmarks", you'll see `⬇️CSV`. Click that for each thing you want to move over to your new account; this will download a list of each of those in a standardized format. Make a note of where the downloads go.
6. (Optional) On your **new** account, in Preferences, go to `Import and export > Import`. For each of the files you just downloaded (except Lists, which doesn't have an import function yet):
* * Use the drop-down menu at the top (under `Import type`) to select the appropriate kind of thing to import.
* * Under `Data`, click the "**Browse...**" button to pull up a file selector, and select the CSV file you just downloaded.
* * Select "**Merge**", if it's not already selected.
* * Click "**Upload**".
7. On your **old** account, in Preferences, go to `Account > Account Settings`. Near the bottom of that page, under the `Move to a different account` header, click "**configure it here**".
8. Enter the `username@instance` of your **new** account, along with the password for your **old** account. This verifies that you're the owner of the account (in case you forgot to log out and someone else is using the computer). Then click "**Move Followers**".
And you're done! Please note that it might take a while to migrate everything over and to import everything you've uploaded, especially if you're moving to or from a large or old server.
Special thanks to [Ted](https://peoplemaking.games/@esdin) for helping me make sure I got this right!
## How do I mention someone who's not on my instance?
Mastodon usernames take the form @*username*@*instance*. My account on mastodon.social is @<span>noelle</span>@mastodon.social; my account on elekk.xyz is @<span>noelle</span>@elekk.xyz. If you're mentioning someone on a different instance, you have to type the whole thing (although the toot input box will help you auto-complete the username if it's a name the instance knows already).
@ -389,7 +422,10 @@ Because [Mastodon is open source](https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon), you can
## I have other questions.
Ask around! People are usually pretty happy to answer questions and help out. Also, [FediThing](https://tech.lgbt/@FediThing) has [an excellent website](https://fedi.tips/) that covers the Fediverse from a different perspective, and you might find your answer there.
Ask around! People are usually pretty happy to answer questions and help out. Also, you might benefit from checking out one of these other guides, which have a different perspective:
* [FediThing](https://tech.lgbt/@FediThing) has [an excellent website](https://fedi.tips/).
* [Ted](https://peoplemaking.games/esdin) maintains a [tips and FAQ document](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gln7Lg92Vz3TbIjz6qZkpdPOxDAe63jof5snpR4xAa0/).
If you really get stuck, ask me: https://elekk.xyz/@noelle