FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Unsure about anything Colibri-related? You'll probably find an answer here.
What is the AT Protocol?
The AT Protocol (Authenticated Transfer Protocol) is an open, decentralized network originally created by the team behind Bluesky. It lets you truly own your identity and data - your account, posts, and social graph aren’t locked into any single platform. With over 40 million users, it’s a growing foundation for the next generation of social apps. You can learn more at atproto.com.
Why is Colibri built on the AT Protocol?
We believe your community shouldn’t be held hostage by any single company. Building on the AT Protocol means your data is portable, your identity is yours, and Colibri can’t lock you in. If you ever want to move, your data comes with you.
Where is my data stored?
Your data is stored on the personal data server that hosts your profile. On the AT protocol, each user has their own profile that isn’t specific to any app or service. You can use it to log in anywhere! Because of this, you need a single source of truth that handles logins and data storage for you. The server that does this for you is called your personal data server, or PDS.
If you’ve previously signed up to Bluesky, they will currently be hosting your PDS for you. But it’s easy to migrate to a self-hosted PDS as well! Tools like PDS MOOver can help you migrate your data to your own servers when you are ready to.
Can I use my Bluesky account with Colibri?
Yes! Since Colibri is built on the same AT Protocol that powers Bluesky, you can sign in with your existing Bluesky handle. No need to create a new account - your identity carries over seamlessly. Just log in and you’re ready to go.
Can I use my private PDS account?
Absolutely. If you’re running your own Personal Data Server, Colibri works with it out of the box. Just sign in with your handle or DID and we’ll connect to your PDS directly. You stay in full control of where your data lives - that’s the whole point of the AT Protocol.
Do you host a PDS if I want a new account or move my data over to you?
We do! You can sign up with us via the Log-in Page or use a tool like PDS MOOver to migrate. Our PDS is also hosted at colibri.social. If you want to move to our PDS, send a message to @colibri.social on Bluesky.
Do my messages show up as posts on Bluesky?
No, they don’t. While we store data the same way Bluesky does, we use a different “collection”, meaning your data will stay confined to Colibri. You can use a tool like atproto.at to inspect your profile and all related data.