Bluesky Domain Handles

How do I change my Bluesky username to my domain name?

You can change your Bluesky username to your domain name and your old .bsky.social username will be reserved for you. There are two different ways to get your domain name ready to use as a Bluesky handle. The DNS Panel method requires you to change DNS settings for your domain, so you'll need to have access to your domain name's settings to use it. The second option is called No DNS Panel in the Bluesky settings. This second method doesn't require access to DNS settings, and instead requires uploading or creating files to the domain or subdomain that you want to use as your Bluesky username.

Bluesky Settings

From the Bluesky website or app, go to "Settings" → "Account" → "@ Handle"
This will bring up the Change Handle dialog.

Click the I have my own domain button.

You can use the DNS Panel method, or click the No DNS Panel button.

DNS Method

You can usually do this at your domain registrar(where you bought your domain name), but if you bought your domain at a registrar and changed the nameservers to point to a web host, you would need to manage the DNS settings at your web host. For example, if you bought your domain name at PorkBun and changed the nameservers to point to Dreamhost, you would need to use Dreamhost to manage your domain name settings. (How do I manage my domain settings at my provider?)

• Go to the DNS settings panel for the domain name you want to use. You need to make a text record using the values in the Bluesky settings.
  Type: TXT
  Host: _atproto
  Value/Answer: did=did:mydidtextstringhere (It's important to copy and paste your own text string from your Bluesky settings)

• Add or save these settings. This should make a DNS record that looks something like
  TXT _atproto.pixels.pink did=did:mydidtextstringhere

• This record sets me up to use a Bluesky handle like @pixels.pink

• To use a subdomain and make a handle like @shannon.pixels.pink, you need to add the subdomain part to the text record, like this.
  Type: TXT
  Host: _atproto.shannon Value/Answer:did=did:mydidtextstringhere (It's important to copy and paste your own text string from your Bluesky settings)

• This should make a DNS record that looks something like
  TXT _atproto.shannon.pixels.pink did=did:mydidtextstringhere

• After you've saved your DNS text record, go back to your Bluesky settings.

• In the Enter the domain you want to use field, enter the domain name or subdomain that you set up the text record for, like this: @shannon.pixels.pink

• Click the blue Verify DNS Record button.

  

• If your domain verifies, you will get a ✅ domain verified message. If it doesn't verify the first time, try again in a few minutes.

• If your domain is verified, you can click the update button to start using your domain name handle.

How do I manage my domain settings at my provider?

This varies, but here are some links that might help.

• Porkbun: How to connect your domain to Bluesky
• SquareSpace: Adding DNS Records
• Weebly: Manage Domain Records
• Dreamhost: Adding Custom DNS Records
• Wordpress.com: About DNS Records
• Wix: Managing DNS Records
• Shopify: Editing the DNS settings
• Namecheap: How do I set up host records for a domain?

No DNS Panel

To use the No DNS Panel method, you need to create or upload files at the domain or subdomain you want to use. I have tests and notes on using Bluesky handles from GitHub, Neocities, and more on my Bluesky Handles Tests page.

Using the @shannon.pixels.pink handle as an example, Bluesky will look for my text string at https://shannon.pixels.pink/.well-known/atproto-did

Create the folders and file on your web server at the domain or subdomain you want to use, or create them locally and upload them.

• Create a folder called .well-known, then inside of that, a folder called atproto-did, then inside of that, a file called index.html
• In the index.html file, copy and paste the did: text string from your Bluesky settings, adding nothing else to the file, and save it.

The . in front of the folder name in .well-known makes it a hidden folder. This can make it tricky to create locally and then upload. Depending on your web host, it might be easier to create the folders on your web host, or use a folder called well-known and rename it to .well-known after you upload it.

• Once you've added your text file, go back to the Bluesky settings panel. Be sure to fill in the settings like this: Enter the domain you want to use @shannon.pixels.pink



• Click the blue Verify DNS Record button.
• If your domain verifies, you will get a ✅ domain verified message. If it doesn't verify the first time, try again in a few minutes.
• If your domain is verified, you can click the update button to start using your domain name handle.

Tip: Your account's did: text string is the same with DNS method or No DNS panel and does not change. You can set up domains and subdomains with your did: text file and change your Bluesky username back to previously used ones, and they will still verify as long as the file is still there.

Where can I buy a domain name?

I suggest porkbun.com.

Why would I want to use a subdomain for my Bluesky handle if I have a domain name?

You may have a family, group, company, or team, and you want everyone to get a handle on the subdomain. 

Even if it's just you, you might have reasons to want a subdomain handle. If you have a domain name of your name, like shannonkay.com, but your usual online username is something else like bluecat74, you could use a subdomain to keep your screen name as part of your username, but also be verified with your domain and make your username @bluecat74.shannonkay.com. If you make a subdomain to use as a Bluesky handle, I recommend also making it go somewhere. Forward it to your main website, or put a profile page or link-tree-style page at that subdomain. 

You might also use a subdomain to create alternate accounts, like a work account, art account, or photos account, using different subdomains as usernames.

What is a handle?

Handle is just another word for a nickname or username. This term has sometimes been used since the early days of the internet, but handle has been used as a word for a nickname since before the internet.

The slang sense of "nickname" is first recorded 1870, originally U.S., from earlier expressions about adding a handle to (one's) name (1833), that is, a title such as Mister or Sir.

From Etymonline

Links

• Official doc: How to verify your Bluesky account
• NeoCities Bluesky Handles - Tutorial about using the "No DNS panel" method. For Neocities, but the method works elsewhere. You don't need it for Neocities anymore, now that they have the built-in panel. It's still a good explanation of how the method works.
• How to connect your domain to Bluesky - Bluesky Handle DNS guide from Porkbun
• A Domain-Hoarder’s Guide to Bluesky Custom Handles - Detailed discussion of the DNS process and how subdomain handles work.