diff --git a/src/components/Admonition.tsx b/src/components/Admonition.tsx
index 8846bb208d..ed644cd374 100644
--- a/src/components/Admonition.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Admonition.tsx
@@ -7,13 +7,14 @@ import {CircleInfo_Stroke2_Corner0_Rounded as CircleInfoIcon} from '#/components
 import {CircleX_Stroke2_Corner0_Rounded as CircleXIcon} from '#/components/icons/CircleX'
 import {Warning_Stroke2_Corner0_Rounded as WarningIcon} from '#/components/icons/Warning'
 import {Text as BaseText, type TextProps} from '#/components/Typography'
+import {EmojiSad_Stroke2_Corner0_Rounded as EmojiSadIcon} from './icons/Emoji'
 
 export const colors = {
   warning: '#FFC404',
 }
 
 type Context = {
-  type: 'info' | 'tip' | 'warning' | 'error'
+  type: 'info' | 'tip' | 'warning' | 'error' | 'apology'
 }
 
 const Context = createContext<Context>({
@@ -29,12 +30,14 @@ export function Icon() {
     tip: CircleInfoIcon,
     warning: WarningIcon,
     error: CircleXIcon,
+    apology: EmojiSadIcon,
   }[type]
   const fill = {
     info: t.atoms.text_contrast_medium.color,
     tip: t.palette.primary_500,
     warning: colors.warning,
     error: t.palette.negative_500,
+    apology: t.atoms.text_contrast_medium.color,
   }[type]
   return <Icon fill={fill} size="md" />
 }
@@ -109,6 +112,7 @@ export function Outer({
     tip: t.palette.primary_500,
     warning: colors.warning,
     error: t.palette.negative_500,
+    apology: t.atoms.border_contrast_high.borderColor,
   }[type]
   return (
     <Context.Provider value={{type}}>
diff --git a/src/components/ProgressGuide/FollowDialog.tsx b/src/components/ProgressGuide/FollowDialog.tsx
index 3dd308e83e..18afa462af 100644
--- a/src/components/ProgressGuide/FollowDialog.tsx
+++ b/src/components/ProgressGuide/FollowDialog.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import {type ModerationOpts} from '@atproto/api'
 import {msg, Trans} from '@lingui/macro'
 import {useLingui} from '@lingui/react'
 
+import {popularInterests, useInterestsDisplayNames} from '#/lib/interests'
 import {logEvent} from '#/lib/statsig/statsig'
 import {isWeb} from '#/platform/detection'
 import {useModerationOpts} from '#/state/preferences/moderation-opts'
@@ -13,10 +14,6 @@ import {useGetSuggestedUsersQuery} from '#/state/queries/trending/useGetSuggeste
 import {useSession} from '#/state/session'
 import {type Follow10ProgressGuide} from '#/state/shell/progress-guide'
 import {type ListMethods} from '#/view/com/util/List'
-import {
-  popularInterests,
-  useInterestsDisplayNames,
-} from '#/screens/Onboarding/state'
 import {
   atoms as a,
   native,
diff --git a/src/lib/interests.ts b/src/lib/interests.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0d1618fffb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/interests.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+import {useMemo} from 'react'
+import {msg} from '@lingui/macro'
+import {useLingui} from '@lingui/react'
+
+export const interests = [
+  'animals',
+  'art',
+  'books',
+  'comedy',
+  'comics',
+  'culture',
+  'dev',
+  'education',
+  'finance',
+  'food',
+  'gaming',
+  'journalism',
+  'movies',
+  'music',
+  'nature',
+  'news',
+  'pets',
+  'photography',
+  'politics',
+  'science',
+  'sports',
+  'tech',
+  'tv',
+  'writers',
+] as const
+export type Interest = (typeof interests)[number]
+
+// most popular selected interests
+export const popularInterests = [
+  'art',
+  'gaming',
+  'sports',
+  'comics',
+  'music',
+  'politics',
+  'photography',
+  'science',
+  'news',
+] satisfies Interest[]
+
+export function useInterestsDisplayNames() {
+  const {_} = useLingui()
+
+  return useMemo<Record<string, string>>(() => {
+    return {
+      // Keep this alphabetized
+      animals: _(msg`Animals`),
+      art: _(msg`Art`),
+      books: _(msg`Books`),
+      comedy: _(msg`Comedy`),
+      comics: _(msg`Comics`),
+      culture: _(msg`Culture`),
+      dev: _(msg`Software Dev`),
+      education: _(msg`Education`),
+      finance: _(msg`Finance`),
+      food: _(msg`Food`),
+      gaming: _(msg`Video Games`),
+      journalism: _(msg`Journalism`),
+      movies: _(msg`Movies`),
+      music: _(msg`Music`),
+      nature: _(msg`Nature`),
+      news: _(msg`News`),
+      pets: _(msg`Pets`),
+      photography: _(msg`Photography`),
+      politics: _(msg`Politics`),
+      science: _(msg`Science`),
+      sports: _(msg`Sports`),
+      tech: _(msg`Tech`),
+      tv: _(msg`TV`),
+      writers: _(msg`Writers`),
+    } satisfies Record<Interest, string>
+  }, [_])
+}
diff --git a/src/screens/Onboarding/StepInterests/InterestButton.tsx b/src/screens/Onboarding/StepInterests/InterestButton.tsx
index 66e84bc098..d41e7837c0 100644
--- a/src/screens/Onboarding/StepInterests/InterestButton.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/Onboarding/StepInterests/InterestButton.tsx
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 import React from 'react'
 import {type TextStyle, View, type ViewStyle} from 'react-native'
 
+import {type Interest, useInterestsDisplayNames} from '#/lib/interests'
 import {capitalize} from '#/lib/strings/capitalize'
-import {useInterestsDisplayNames} from '#/screens/Onboarding/state'
 import {atoms as a, native, useTheme} from '#/alf'
 import * as Toggle from '#/components/forms/Toggle'
 import {Text} from '#/components/Typography'
 
-export function InterestButton({interest}: {interest: string}) {
+export function InterestButton({interest}: {interest: Interest}) {
   const t = useTheme()
   const interestsDisplayNames = useInterestsDisplayNames()
   const ctx = Toggle.useItemContext()
diff --git a/src/screens/Onboarding/StepInterests/index.tsx b/src/screens/Onboarding/StepInterests/index.tsx
index cba7c81734..3e51409757 100644
--- a/src/screens/Onboarding/StepInterests/index.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/Onboarding/StepInterests/index.tsx
@@ -2,97 +2,35 @@ import React from 'react'
 import {View} from 'react-native'
 import {msg, Trans} from '@lingui/macro'
 import {useLingui} from '@lingui/react'
-import {useQuery} from '@tanstack/react-query'
 
+import {interests, useInterestsDisplayNames} from '#/lib/interests'
 import {logEvent} from '#/lib/statsig/statsig'
 import {capitalize} from '#/lib/strings/capitalize'
 import {logger} from '#/logger'
-import {useAgent} from '#/state/session'
-import {useOnboardingDispatch} from '#/state/shell'
 import {
   DescriptionText,
   OnboardingControls,
   TitleText,
 } from '#/screens/Onboarding/Layout'
-import {
-  type ApiResponseMap,
-  Context,
-  useInterestsDisplayNames,
-} from '#/screens/Onboarding/state'
+import {Context} from '#/screens/Onboarding/state'
 import {InterestButton} from '#/screens/Onboarding/StepInterests/InterestButton'
-import {atoms as a, useBreakpoints, useTheme} from '#/alf'
+import {atoms as a} from '#/alf'
 import {Button, ButtonIcon, ButtonText} from '#/components/Button'
 import * as Toggle from '#/components/forms/Toggle'
 import {IconCircle} from '#/components/IconCircle'
-import {ArrowRotateCounterClockwise_Stroke2_Corner0_Rounded as ArrowRotateCounterClockwise} from '#/components/icons/ArrowRotateCounterClockwise'
 import {ChevronRight_Stroke2_Corner0_Rounded as ChevronRight} from '#/components/icons/Chevron'
-import {EmojiSad_Stroke2_Corner0_Rounded as EmojiSad} from '#/components/icons/Emoji'
 import {Hashtag_Stroke2_Corner0_Rounded as Hashtag} from '#/components/icons/Hashtag'
 import {Loader} from '#/components/Loader'
-import {Text} from '#/components/Typography'
 
 export function StepInterests() {
   const {_} = useLingui()
-  const t = useTheme()
-  const {gtMobile} = useBreakpoints()
   const interestsDisplayNames = useInterestsDisplayNames()
 
   const {state, dispatch} = React.useContext(Context)
   const [saving, setSaving] = React.useState(false)
-  const [interests, setInterests] = React.useState<string[]>(
+  const [selectedInterests, setSelectedInterests] = React.useState<string[]>(
     state.interestsStepResults.selectedInterests.map(i => i),
   )
-  const onboardDispatch = useOnboardingDispatch()
-  const agent = useAgent()
-  const {isLoading, isError, error, data, refetch, isFetching} = useQuery({
-    queryKey: ['interests'],
-    queryFn: async () => {
-      try {
-        const {data} = await agent.app.bsky.unspecced.getTaggedSuggestions()
-        return data.suggestions.reduce(
-          (agg, s) => {
-            const {tag, subject, subjectType} = s
-            const isDefault = tag === 'default'
-
-            if (!agg.interests.includes(tag) && !isDefault) {
-              agg.interests.push(tag)
-            }
-
-            if (subjectType === 'user') {
-              agg.suggestedAccountDids[tag] =
-                agg.suggestedAccountDids[tag] || []
-              agg.suggestedAccountDids[tag].push(subject)
-            }
-
-            if (subjectType === 'feed') {
-              // agg all feeds into defaults
-              if (isDefault) {
-                agg.suggestedFeedUris[tag] = agg.suggestedFeedUris[tag] || []
-              } else {
-                agg.suggestedFeedUris[tag] = agg.suggestedFeedUris[tag] || []
-                agg.suggestedFeedUris[tag].push(subject)
-                agg.suggestedFeedUris.default.push(subject)
-              }
-            }
-
-            return agg
-          },
-          {
-            interests: [],
-            suggestedAccountDids: {},
-            suggestedFeedUris: {},
-          } as ApiResponseMap,
-        )
-      } catch (e: any) {
-        logger.info(
-          `onboarding: getTaggedSuggestions fetch or processing failed`,
-        )
-        logger.error(e)
-
-        throw new Error(`a network error occurred`)
-      }
-    },
-  })
 
   const saveInterests = React.useCallback(async () => {
     setSaving(true)
@@ -101,164 +39,62 @@ export function StepInterests() {
       setSaving(false)
       dispatch({
         type: 'setInterestsStepResults',
-        apiResponse: data!,
-        selectedInterests: interests,
+        selectedInterests,
       })
       dispatch({type: 'next'})
       logEvent('onboarding:interests:nextPressed', {
-        selectedInterests: interests,
-        selectedInterestsLength: interests.length,
+        selectedInterests,
+        selectedInterestsLength: selectedInterests.length,
       })
     } catch (e: any) {
       logger.info(`onboading: error saving interests`)
       logger.error(e)
     }
-  }, [interests, data, setSaving, dispatch])
-
-  const skipOnboarding = React.useCallback(() => {
-    onboardDispatch({type: 'finish'})
-    dispatch({type: 'finish'})
-  }, [onboardDispatch, dispatch])
-
-  const title = isError ? (
-    <Trans>Oh no! Something went wrong.</Trans>
-  ) : (
-    <Trans>What are your interests?</Trans>
-  )
-  const description = isError ? (
-    <Trans>
-      We weren't able to connect. Please try again to continue setting up your
-      account. If it continues to fail, you can skip this flow.
-    </Trans>
-  ) : (
-    <Trans>We'll use this to help customize your experience.</Trans>
-  )
+  }, [selectedInterests, setSaving, dispatch])
 
   return (
     <View style={[a.align_start]} testID="onboardingInterests">
-      <IconCircle
-        icon={isError ? EmojiSad : Hashtag}
-        style={[
-          a.mb_2xl,
-          isError
-            ? {
-                backgroundColor: t.palette.negative_50,
-              }
-            : {},
-        ]}
-        iconStyle={[
-          isError
-            ? {
-                color: t.palette.negative_900,
-              }
-            : {},
-        ]}
-      />
+      <IconCircle icon={Hashtag} style={[a.mb_2xl]} />
 
-      <TitleText>{title}</TitleText>
-      <DescriptionText>{description}</DescriptionText>
+      <TitleText>
+        <Trans>What are your interests?</Trans>
+      </TitleText>
+      <DescriptionText>
+        <Trans>We'll use this to help customize your experience.</Trans>
+      </DescriptionText>
 
       <View style={[a.w_full, a.pt_2xl]}>
-        {isLoading ? (
-          <View
-            style={[
-              a.flex_1,
-              a.mt_md,
-              a.align_center,
-              a.justify_center,
-              {minHeight: 400},
-            ]}>
-            <Loader size="xl" />
+        <Toggle.Group
+          values={selectedInterests}
+          onChange={setSelectedInterests}
+          label={_(msg`Select your interests from the options below`)}>
+          <View style={[a.flex_row, a.gap_md, a.flex_wrap]}>
+            {interests.map(interest => (
+              <Toggle.Item
+                key={interest}
+                name={interest}
+                label={interestsDisplayNames[interest] || capitalize(interest)}>
+                <InterestButton interest={interest} />
+              </Toggle.Item>
+            ))}
           </View>
-        ) : isError || !data ? (
-          <View
-            style={[
-              a.w_full,
-              a.p_lg,
-              a.rounded_md,
-              {
-                backgroundColor: t.palette.negative_50,
-              },
-            ]}>
-            <Text style={[a.text_md]}>
-              <Text
-                style={[
-                  a.text_md,
-                  a.font_semi_bold,
-                  {
-                    color: t.palette.negative_900,
-                  },
-                ]}>
-                <Trans>Error:</Trans>{' '}
-              </Text>
-              {error?.message || _(msg`an unknown error occurred`)}
-            </Text>
-          </View>
-        ) : (
-          <Toggle.Group
-            values={interests}
-            onChange={setInterests}
-            label={_(msg`Select your interests from the options below`)}>
-            <View style={[a.flex_row, a.gap_md, a.flex_wrap]}>
-              {data.interests.map(interest => (
-                <Toggle.Item
-                  key={interest}
-                  name={interest}
-                  label={
-                    interestsDisplayNames[interest] || capitalize(interest)
-                  }>
-                  <InterestButton interest={interest} />
-                </Toggle.Item>
-              ))}
-            </View>
-          </Toggle.Group>
-        )}
+        </Toggle.Group>
       </View>
 
       <OnboardingControls.Portal>
-        {isError ? (
-          <View style={[a.gap_md, gtMobile ? a.flex_row : a.flex_col]}>
-            <Button
-              disabled={isFetching}
-              variant="solid"
-              color="secondary"
-              size="large"
-              label={_(msg`Retry`)}
-              onPress={() => refetch()}>
-              <ButtonText>
-                <Trans>Retry</Trans>
-              </ButtonText>
-              <ButtonIcon icon={ArrowRotateCounterClockwise} position="right" />
-            </Button>
-            <Button
-              variant="outline"
-              color="secondary"
-              size="large"
-              label={_(msg`Skip this flow`)}
-              onPress={skipOnboarding}>
-              <ButtonText>
-                <Trans>Skip</Trans>
-              </ButtonText>
-            </Button>
-          </View>
-        ) : (
-          <Button
-            disabled={saving || !data}
-            testID="onboardingContinue"
-            variant="solid"
-            color="primary"
-            size="large"
-            label={_(msg`Continue to next step`)}
-            onPress={saveInterests}>
-            <ButtonText>
-              <Trans>Continue</Trans>
-            </ButtonText>
-            <ButtonIcon
-              icon={saving ? Loader : ChevronRight}
-              position="right"
-            />
-          </Button>
-        )}
+        <Button
+          disabled={saving}
+          testID="onboardingContinue"
+          variant="solid"
+          color="primary"
+          size="large"
+          label={_(msg`Continue to next step`)}
+          onPress={saveInterests}>
+          <ButtonText>
+            <Trans>Continue</Trans>
+          </ButtonText>
+          <ButtonIcon icon={saving ? Loader : ChevronRight} />
+        </Button>
       </OnboardingControls.Portal>
     </View>
   )
diff --git a/src/screens/Onboarding/StepSuggestedAccounts/index.tsx b/src/screens/Onboarding/StepSuggestedAccounts/index.tsx
index 4bca81fedb..456b52e5ca 100644
--- a/src/screens/Onboarding/StepSuggestedAccounts/index.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/Onboarding/StepSuggestedAccounts/index.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {useMutation, useQueryClient} from '@tanstack/react-query'
 import * as bcp47Match from 'bcp-47-match'
 
 import {wait} from '#/lib/async/wait'
+import {popularInterests, useInterestsDisplayNames} from '#/lib/interests'
 import {isBlockedOrBlocking, isMuted} from '#/lib/moderation/blocked-and-muted'
 import {logger} from '#/logger'
 import {isWeb} from '#/platform/detection'
@@ -16,11 +17,7 @@ import {useModerationOpts} from '#/state/preferences/moderation-opts'
 import {useAgent, useSession} from '#/state/session'
 import {useOnboardingDispatch} from '#/state/shell'
 import {OnboardingControls} from '#/screens/Onboarding/Layout'
-import {
-  Context,
-  popularInterests,
-  useInterestsDisplayNames,
-} from '#/screens/Onboarding/state'
+import {Context} from '#/screens/Onboarding/state'
 import {useSuggestedUsers} from '#/screens/Search/util/useSuggestedUsers'
 import {atoms as a, tokens, useBreakpoints, useTheme} from '#/alf'
 import {Admonition} from '#/components/Admonition'
@@ -77,6 +74,8 @@ export function StepSuggestedAccounts() {
   })
 
   const isError = !!error
+  const isEmpty =
+    !isLoading && suggestedUsers && suggestedUsers.actors.length === 0
 
   const skipOnboarding = useCallback(() => {
     onboardDispatch({type: 'finish'})
@@ -171,13 +170,21 @@ export function StepSuggestedAccounts() {
             <Loader size="xl" />
           </View>
         ) : isError ? (
-          <View style={[a.flex_1, a.px_xl, a.pt_5xl]}>
+          <View style={[a.flex_1, a.px_xl, a.pt_2xl]}>
             <Admonition type="error">
               <Trans>
                 An error occurred while fetching suggested accounts.
               </Trans>
             </Admonition>
           </View>
+        ) : isEmpty ? (
+          <View style={[a.flex_1, a.px_xl, a.pt_2xl]}>
+            <Admonition type="apology">
+              <Trans>
+                Sorry, we're unable to load account suggestions at this time.
+              </Trans>
+            </Admonition>
+          </View>
         ) : (
           <View
             style={[
diff --git a/src/screens/Onboarding/state.ts b/src/screens/Onboarding/state.ts
index c738bf7bfa..e9877a3d6b 100644
--- a/src/screens/Onboarding/state.ts
+++ b/src/screens/Onboarding/state.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
 import React from 'react'
-import {msg} from '@lingui/macro'
-import {useLingui} from '@lingui/react'
 
 import {logger} from '#/logger'
 import {
@@ -22,7 +20,6 @@ export type OnboardingState = {
 
   interestsStepResults: {
     selectedInterests: string[]
-    apiResponse: ApiResponseMap
   }
   profileStepResults: {
     isCreatedAvatar: boolean
@@ -61,7 +58,6 @@ export type OnboardingAction =
   | {
       type: 'setInterestsStepResults'
       selectedInterests: string[]
-      apiResponse: ApiResponseMap
     }
   | {
       type: 'setProfileStepResults'
@@ -77,62 +73,6 @@ export type OnboardingAction =
         | undefined
     }
 
-export type ApiResponseMap = {
-  interests: string[]
-  suggestedAccountDids: {
-    [key: string]: string[]
-  }
-  suggestedFeedUris: {
-    [key: string]: string[]
-  }
-}
-
-// most popular selected interests
-export const popularInterests = [
-  'art',
-  'gaming',
-  'sports',
-  'comics',
-  'music',
-  'politics',
-  'photography',
-  'science',
-  'news',
-]
-
-export function useInterestsDisplayNames() {
-  const {_} = useLingui()
-
-  return React.useMemo<Record<string, string>>(() => {
-    return {
-      // Keep this alphabetized
-      animals: _(msg`Animals`),
-      art: _(msg`Art`),
-      books: _(msg`Books`),
-      comedy: _(msg`Comedy`),
-      comics: _(msg`Comics`),
-      culture: _(msg`Culture`),
-      dev: _(msg`Software Dev`),
-      education: _(msg`Education`),
-      food: _(msg`Food`),
-      gaming: _(msg`Video Games`),
-      journalism: _(msg`Journalism`),
-      movies: _(msg`Movies`),
-      music: _(msg`Music`),
-      nature: _(msg`Nature`),
-      news: _(msg`News`),
-      pets: _(msg`Pets`),
-      photography: _(msg`Photography`),
-      politics: _(msg`Politics`),
-      science: _(msg`Science`),
-      sports: _(msg`Sports`),
-      tech: _(msg`Tech`),
-      tv: _(msg`TV`),
-      writers: _(msg`Writers`),
-    }
-  }, [_])
-}
-
 export const initialState: OnboardingState = {
   hasPrev: false,
   totalSteps: 3,
@@ -142,11 +82,6 @@ export const initialState: OnboardingState = {
 
   interestsStepResults: {
     selectedInterests: [],
-    apiResponse: {
-      interests: [],
-      suggestedAccountDids: {},
-      suggestedFeedUris: {},
-    },
   },
   profileStepResults: {
     isCreatedAvatar: false,
@@ -212,7 +147,6 @@ export function reducer(
     case 'setInterestsStepResults': {
       next.interestsStepResults = {
         selectedInterests: a.selectedInterests,
-        apiResponse: a.apiResponse,
       }
       break
     }
diff --git a/src/screens/Search/Explore.tsx b/src/screens/Search/Explore.tsx
index 4624826180..dd5772895d 100644
--- a/src/screens/Search/Explore.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/Search/Explore.tsx
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import {useLingui} from '@lingui/react'
 import {useQueryClient} from '@tanstack/react-query'
 import * as bcp47Match from 'bcp-47-match'
 
+import {popularInterests, useInterestsDisplayNames} from '#/lib/interests'
 import {cleanError} from '#/lib/strings/errors'
 import {sanitizeHandle} from '#/lib/strings/handles'
 import {logger} from '#/logger'
@@ -41,10 +42,6 @@ import {ViewFullThread} from '#/view/com/posts/ViewFullThread'
 import {List} from '#/view/com/util/List'
 import {FeedFeedLoadingPlaceholder} from '#/view/com/util/LoadingPlaceholder'
 import {LoadMoreRetryBtn} from '#/view/com/util/LoadMoreRetryBtn'
-import {
-  popularInterests,
-  useInterestsDisplayNames,
-} from '#/screens/Onboarding/state'
 import {
   StarterPackCard,
   StarterPackCardSkeleton,
diff --git a/src/screens/Search/modules/ExploreInterestsCard.tsx b/src/screens/Search/modules/ExploreInterestsCard.tsx
index b5e7b7d2ed..012f1d6e1f 100644
--- a/src/screens/Search/modules/ExploreInterestsCard.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/Search/modules/ExploreInterestsCard.tsx
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@ import {View} from 'react-native'
 import {msg, Trans} from '@lingui/macro'
 import {useLingui} from '@lingui/react'
 
+import {useInterestsDisplayNames} from '#/lib/interests'
 import {Nux, useSaveNux} from '#/state/queries/nuxs'
 import {usePreferencesQuery} from '#/state/queries/preferences'
-import {useInterestsDisplayNames} from '#/screens/Onboarding/state'
 import {atoms as a, useTheme} from '#/alf'
 import {Button, ButtonIcon, ButtonText} from '#/components/Button'
 import {Shapes_Stroke2_Corner0_Rounded as Shapes} from '#/components/icons/Shapes'
diff --git a/src/screens/Search/modules/ExploreSuggestedAccounts.tsx b/src/screens/Search/modules/ExploreSuggestedAccounts.tsx
index 71bfd65472..ea91b1c355 100644
--- a/src/screens/Search/modules/ExploreSuggestedAccounts.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/Search/modules/ExploreSuggestedAccounts.tsx
@@ -5,13 +5,10 @@ import {msg} from '@lingui/macro'
 import {useLingui} from '@lingui/react'
 import {type InfiniteData} from '@tanstack/react-query'
 
+import {popularInterests, useInterestsDisplayNames} from '#/lib/interests'
 import {logger} from '#/logger'
 import {usePreferencesQuery} from '#/state/queries/preferences'
 import {BlockDrawerGesture} from '#/view/shell/BlockDrawerGesture'
-import {
-  popularInterests,
-  useInterestsDisplayNames,
-} from '#/screens/Onboarding/state'
 import {useTheme} from '#/alf'
 import {atoms as a} from '#/alf'
 import {boostInterests, InterestTabs} from '#/components/InterestTabs'
diff --git a/src/screens/Search/util/useSuggestedUsers.ts b/src/screens/Search/util/useSuggestedUsers.ts
index 9ca2c558a7..b1f9064096 100644
--- a/src/screens/Search/util/useSuggestedUsers.ts
+++ b/src/screens/Search/util/useSuggestedUsers.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 import {useMemo} from 'react'
 
+import {useInterestsDisplayNames} from '#/lib/interests'
 import {useActorSearchPaginated} from '#/state/queries/actor-search'
 import {useGetSuggestedUsersQuery} from '#/state/queries/trending/useGetSuggestedUsersQuery'
-import {useInterestsDisplayNames} from '#/screens/Onboarding/state'
 
 /**
  * Conditional hook, used in case a user is a non-english speaker, in which
diff --git a/src/screens/Settings/InterestsSettings.tsx b/src/screens/Settings/InterestsSettings.tsx
index 4ecaba2884..074a423ec4 100644
--- a/src/screens/Settings/InterestsSettings.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/Settings/InterestsSettings.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@ import {type NativeStackScreenProps} from '@react-navigation/native-stack'
 import {useQueryClient} from '@tanstack/react-query'
 import debounce from 'lodash.debounce'
 
+import {
+  type Interest,
+  interests as allInterests,
+  useInterestsDisplayNames,
+} from '#/lib/interests'
 import {type CommonNavigatorParams} from '#/lib/routes/types'
 import {
   preferencesQueryKey,
@@ -17,7 +22,6 @@ import {createGetSuggestedUsersQueryKey} from '#/state/queries/trending/useGetSu
 import {createSuggestedStarterPacksQueryKey} from '#/state/queries/useSuggestedStarterPacksQuery'
 import {useAgent} from '#/state/session'
 import * as Toast from '#/view/com/util/Toast'
-import {useInterestsDisplayNames} from '#/screens/Onboarding/state'
 import {atoms as a, useGutters, useTheme} from '#/alf'
 import {Admonition} from '#/components/Admonition'
 import {Divider} from '#/components/Divider'
@@ -160,7 +164,7 @@ function Inner({
         onChange={onChangeInterests}
         label={_(msg`Select your interests from the options below`)}>
         <View style={[a.flex_row, a.flex_wrap, a.gap_sm]}>
-          {INTERESTS.map(interest => {
+          {allInterests.map(interest => {
             const name = interestsDisplayNames[interest]
             if (!name) return null
             return (
@@ -178,7 +182,7 @@ function Inner({
   )
 }
 
-export function InterestButton({interest}: {interest: string}) {
+export function InterestButton({interest}: {interest: Interest}) {
   const t = useTheme()
   const interestsDisplayNames = useInterestsDisplayNames()
   const ctx = Toggle.useItemContext()
@@ -230,29 +234,3 @@ export function InterestButton({interest}: {interest: string}) {
     </View>
   )
 }
-
-const INTERESTS = [
-  'animals',
-  'art',
-  'books',
-  'comedy',
-  'comics',
-  'culture',
-  'dev',
-  'education',
-  'food',
-  'gaming',
-  'journalism',
-  'movies',
-  'music',
-  'nature',
-  'news',
-  'pets',
-  'photography',
-  'politics',
-  'science',
-  'sports',
-  'tech',
-  'tv',
-  'writers',
-]
diff --git a/src/state/queries/trending/useGetSuggestedUsersQuery.ts b/src/state/queries/trending/useGetSuggestedUsersQuery.ts
index 4ecee2986d..547d7f44fd 100644
--- a/src/state/queries/trending/useGetSuggestedUsersQuery.ts
+++ b/src/state/queries/trending/useGetSuggestedUsersQuery.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {
   aggregateUserInterests,
   createBskyTopicsHeader,
 } from '#/lib/api/feed/utils'
+import {logger} from '#/logger'
 import {getContentLanguages} from '#/state/preferences/languages'
 import {STALE} from '#/state/queries'
 import {usePreferencesQuery} from '#/state/queries/preferences'
@@ -38,7 +39,13 @@ export function useGetSuggestedUsersQuery(props: QueryProps) {
     queryKey: createGetSuggestedUsersQueryKey(props),
     queryFn: async () => {
       const contentLangs = getContentLanguages().join(',')
-      const interests = aggregateUserInterests(preferences)
+      const userInterests = aggregateUserInterests(preferences)
+
+      const interests =
+        props.overrideInterests && props.overrideInterests.length > 0
+          ? props.overrideInterests.join(',')
+          : userInterests
+
       const {data} = await agent.app.bsky.unspecced.getSuggestedUsers(
         {
           category: props.category ?? undefined,
@@ -46,15 +53,30 @@ export function useGetSuggestedUsersQuery(props: QueryProps) {
         },
         {
           headers: {
-            ...createBskyTopicsHeader(
-              props.overrideInterests && props.overrideInterests.length > 0
-                ? props.overrideInterests.join(',')
-                : interests,
-            ),
+            ...createBskyTopicsHeader(interests),
             'Accept-Language': contentLangs,
           },
         },
       )
+      // FALLBACK: if no results for 'all', try again with no interests specified
+      if (!props.category && data.actors.length === 0) {
+        logger.error(
+          `Did not get any suggested users, falling back - interests: ${interests}`,
+        )
+        const {data: fallbackData} =
+          await agent.app.bsky.unspecced.getSuggestedUsers(
+            {
+              category: props.category ?? undefined,
+              limit: props.limit || 10,
+            },
+            {
+              headers: {
+                'Accept-Language': contentLangs,
+              },
+            },
+          )
+        return fallbackData
+      }
 
       return data
     },