How to connect Mastodon to Postozo
Paste a few details from Mastodon and start scheduling. This guide shows where to find each detail, each screen in Postozo, and how to fix common errors.
What you need before you start
- A Mastodon account on any server.
- An access token from an application you create in your server settings.
Mastodon connects with details you copy from Mastodon (a key, token or app password). Postozo checks them with Mastodon before saving and stores them encrypted.
Connect Mastodon step by step
Step 1. Open Add Channel
Sign in to Postozo. On the Calendar, press Add Channel at the top of the channel list. A window opens with a tile for every network. Find the Mastodon tile and press it. Each tile also has a How to connect link that opens this guide.
If the tile says Coming soon on this server, the server you use has not added its Mastodon app keys yet. Ask the person who runs your Postozo server. On postozo.com this is done for you.
Step 2. Fill in your Mastodon details
A form opens. It asks for 2 details: Server, Access token. Under each field, press Where do I find this? to see the exact steps. We copy those steps below.
Server
- Look at your full handle, for example @anna@mastodon.social.
- The part after the second @ is your server.
- Type it with https:// in front, for example https://mastodon.social.
Access token
- On your Mastodon server website, open Preferences, then Development.
- Press New application and name it Postozo.
- Tick only these scopes: write:statuses, write:media and read:accounts.
- Press Submit, open the new application and copy "Your access token".
Step 3. Press Connect
Postozo checks the details with Mastodon before it saves anything. If something is wrong, the form stays open and shows what to fix. Nothing is saved until the check passes. The details are stored encrypted.
Step 4. Check the new channel
Back on the Calendar, the new channel shows in the channel list on the left, with a small Mastodon badge on its picture. A message at the bottom says it is connected. You can now pick it in the post editor.
Step 5. Set your preferences
Press the 3 dots next to the channel to open its menu. From here you can set Preferences (default settings for every new post on this channel, like Visibility, Content warning), edit time slots, move the channel to a customer, reconnect, turn it off or delete it.
Common errors and how to fix them
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| "That server did not accept the access token" | Copy "Your access token" again from Preferences, Development, and check the server address. |
| Posts with images fail | The application needs the write:media scope. Edit the application, tick it, and connect again with the new token. |
| A red message under a field | The value does not have the right format. The message says what it should look like. |
| "We could not reach Mastodon right now" | Mastodon did not answer. Wait 1 minute and press Connect again. |
| "Your plan allows N channels" | You reached the channel limit of your plan. Remove a channel you do not use, or upgrade in Billing. |
How to reconnect
If the Mastodon details stop working (for example you deleted the key or changed the password), Postozo marks the channel with a warning and pauses its posts. Press the 3 dots next to the channel, then Reconnect channel. The same form opens. Paste the new details and press Reconnect. The channel keeps its posts, time slots and preferences.
How to disconnect Mastodon
Press the 3 dots next to the channel, then Delete. Postozo removes the channel and deletes its stored details right away. Upcoming and draft posts for that channel are removed too. Posts that are already live stay on Mastodon. You need the admin or owner role in your workspace to delete a channel.
To cut access on the network side as well, delete the key, token or app password you created there.
Want to pause instead? Choose Disable Channel in the same menu. Its posts wait until you turn it back on.
What you can post on Mastodon
Usually max 500 characters (depends on the server). Up to 4 images or 1 video. Follow-up comments become replies.
Read more on the Mastodon channel page.
First 3 things to do after connecting Mastodon
- Choose the default Visibility under Preferences, and use a Content warning for posts that need one.
- Check your server's character limit. Most allow 500, some allow more, and Postozo follows the usual 500.
- Add alt text to each image in the media library. Postozo sends it to Mastodon as the image description, for people who use screen readers.
What you can do once Mastodon is connected
Read from the same code that publishes to Mastodon, so it always matches the app.
| Mastodon | |
|---|---|
| Text per post | Up to 500 characters |
| Pictures or videos per post | Up to 4 |
| A post must have | Text, media or both |
| Settings in the post editor | Visibility and Content warning |
| First comment or thread | Yes |
| Analytics | No, Mastodon does not share statistics with apps |
| Auto actions | No |
| Bulk upload | Yes, name the channel in the channels column |
| Client reports | Yes, with posts but no network numbers |
Connect a client's Mastodon without their password
Working for a client? Send them a client connect link instead of asking for their details. On the link page they pick Mastodon and fill in Server and Access token themselves. Postozo checks the details with Mastodon, and the channel lands under their customer in your workspace. You never see what they typed.
More connection guides
Which server address do I type?
The part after the second @ in your handle, with https:// in front.
How long is the post limit?
Most servers allow 500 characters. Postozo reads your server limit when you connect.
Does connecting Mastodon cost extra?
No. There is no extra charge per network. Each connected account counts as 1 channel toward the channel limit of your plan.
What if the Mastodon tile says Coming soon on this server?
The server you use has no Mastodon app keys yet. The server admin adds them in Admin, Networks. Press Notify me on the tile and you get 1 email when it opens.
Can a client connect their own Mastodon account?
Yes. Send them a client connect link. They connect Mastodon themselves and the channel lands under their customer.
Connect Mastodon now
Create your Postozo account and add your first Mastodon channel in a few minutes.
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