Photo
One photo with a caption.
Schedule Pixelfed posts
Yes. Refract schedules Pixelfed photos and albums to your account on any Pixelfed server, with alt text and a caption that fits your server's limit, usually 500 characters.
Step by step
How to schedule Pixelfed posts with Refract.
- In Accounts, select Connect account and pick Pixelfed. You connect an account on any Pixelfed server.
- Select New post, pick your Pixelfed account under Post to, and choose A note under Start from: the point, one detail and what to do.
- Select Write versions (the button counts them, like Write 3 versions). Refract writes the Pixelfed version in your voice and within Pixelfed’s limits, for 1 AI credit.
- Read the Pixelfed version and edit it if you like. Checks lists anything Pixelfed would refuse, with a fix for each. Pixelfed also needs a photo or video, set in its tab.
- Open the When menu: Add to queue takes your next free posting time, or choose Pick date and time, Repeat or Publish now.
- Select Approve all and add to queue (or Approve all and schedule). Refract publishes the post at that time, and it shows in your Calendar.
Limits
Pixelfed limits and specs.
These are the rules the composer checks every Pixelfed post against while you write.
| Limit | Value |
|---|---|
| Text | Up to 500 characters |
| How text counts | Most letters and emoji count as one; a flag counts as two and joined emoji (like families) as more. |
| Links in the text | Clickable |
| Hashtags | Clickable |
| Photo or video | Required |
| Files per post | Up to 4 |
| Photos | Up to 4 |
| Photo size | Up to 15,000 KB each |
| Photo formats | JPEG, PNG |
| GIFs | Up to 4 |
| GIF size | Up to 15,000 KB each |
| Alt text | Yes, on every photo |
| Server limits | Each server sets its own. Refract reads yours when you connect, and once a day. |
Formats
What you can post on Pixelfed.
Album
Several photos in the order you drag them into.
Video
Where your server allows it.
Who can see it
Public, unlisted or followers only.
Native everywhere
Written for Pixelfed, from one note.
Every version starts from your note and follows Pixelfed’s rules in your voice. These are Refract’s defaults; turn any off, reword them or add your own in Voice and rules.
Pixelfed rules to start with
- The photo carries the postRefract default
- Caption of 1 or 2 sentencesRefract default
- Up to 5 hashtags, at the endRefract default
Studio
Video, ready for Pixelfed.
Edit video
Where your server takes video: trim a clip, crop it, pick a cover and add captions. The original file never changes.
Timing
Best time to post on Pixelfed.
There’s no single best time to post on Pixelfed for every account. The best time is when your own followers are around, and that depends on where they live and what they do all day.
Start with your audience’s time zone. If most of them live in one region, post in their morning, lunch break and evening, not yours.
Then post at the same times every week for a few weeks and compare. In Analytics, Top posts and each post’s numbers show which times worked: keep those and move the others.
In Refract, your posting times are set in Settings › Workspace, in the workspace’s time zone. Add to queue fills the next free one, the Calendar shows the open slots, and Repeat keeps a regular post on schedule.
Checks
What Refract checks for you.
Checks run while you write, with a fix for each one. They come from the same rules the server uses, so a post that passes here won’t be rejected later.
- Your server’s caption limit, counted as you type.
- A photo or video on every post, because Pixelfed needs one.
- Your server’s file size and album limits.
- Alt text on every image.
Connecting
Connecting Pixelfed.
01
Enter your server, for example pixelfed.social.
02
Sign in on your server and allow Refract.
03
Choose which workspace it belongs to.
You sign in on Pixelfed itself. Refract never sees your password.
Questions
Scheduling Pixelfed posts: questions.
Can I schedule Pixelfed posts for free?
Every plan starts with a 14-day free trial of every feature, with no card needed. Refract has no free plan: after the trial, plans start at $10 a month, in US dollars. See pricing.
Can I post to Pixelfed and other networks at once?
Yes. Pick your Pixelfed account and any others under Post to. From one note, Refract writes a version for each network, and you approve them together. You can connect ten networks today.
Does Refract work with any Pixelfed server?
Yes. You type your server's address and sign in there. Refract checks your caption and photos against that server's limits before it schedules, so posts don't fail at publish time.
Can I schedule videos to Pixelfed?
Yes, where your server allows video. Photos and albums work on every server, in the order you drag them into, each with its own alt text.
Does Refract post anything without my OK?
No. Versions written from a note wait until someone approves them. If your workspace asks for approval, contributors send posts for approval instead of scheduling them.
Related
More networks and guides.
Guides and tools
Your Pixelfed week, planned today.
Write one note and approve a version made for Pixelfed, next to every other network you use.