Yay! You made the jump to the social media platform Bluesky. However, after setting up your account you’re noticing “Invalid Handle” warning. Here is how to fix that.
All Platforms Have Glitches
All of a sudden a lot of people have discovered how awesome Bluesky is. The challenge for any platform is when a lot of users onboard at the same time… the servers or something may have some glitches. We’ve seen products like Microsoft and Google have global outages. It happens, they fix it. Bluesky has posted a fix. You need to reauthorize the DNS in the settings.
But First, Why Bluesky
Check out my previous blog post with some tips on what makes Bluesky better.
- Ditch the Algorithm: Take control of your feed and see what YOU want to see.
- Custom Feeds: Create personalized channels for specific topics, grade levels, or teaching styles.
- Chronological Order: Never miss important updates from colleagues and organizations.
- No Ads (yet): Enjoy a distraction-free environment focused on learning and connection.
- Decentralized: Less censorship and more community control.
- Community Focused: Easily find and connect with like-minded educators.
- Data Ownership: Have greater control over your personal data and content.
- Direct Messaging: Connect with colleagues and students privately.
- Improved Discoverability: Find relevant accounts and communities through an enhanced Discover feed.
- Feedback Mechanisms: Help shape the platform by providing feedback on the content you see.
- Anti-Harassment Features: Detach quote posts, hide replies, and filter notifications for a safer experience.
- Starter Packs: Easily follow curated lists of educators and organizations.
- Lists: Organize accounts by topic or interest for easy access.
- Blocking Features: Protect your mental health and curate a safe space.
- Open Source: Transparency and community-driven development.
How to Get a Custom Domain Handle on Bluesky
You will notice most people’s Bluesky handles end in bsky.social. This is definitely the easiest way to sign up. However, mine is @alicekeeler.com because I own the domain alicekeeler.com and was able to verify that through my DNS records.
Purchase and Manage Domain Names in Bluesky
Bluesky has a partnership with namecheap. Read their blog post here on how to purchase your domain directly through Bluesky with namecheap.
- Go to https://account.bsky.app/signin and sign in with your bsky.social handle.
- Search for the desired domain name (probably ends in .com but doesn’t have to.)
Already Own a Domain?
I already owned alicekeeler.com and did not purchase directly through Bluesky’s partnership with namecheap. You might already have a domain you purchased with Go Daddy or Porkbun or some other place. Doesn’t matter. Here is Bluesky’s article on how to set up that domain as your username.
It looks like you’re trying to set up a custom domain as your handle on Bluesky! Here’s how to do it, tailored to your blog post:
How to Set Your Domain as Your Bluesky Handle
Acquire your domain:
Find your Bluesky DID:
- In the Bluesky app, go to Profile > Settings > Advanced > Change my handle.
- Select “I have my own domain” to reveal your unique
did=string. Copy this.
Add a TXT record to your domain’s DNS settings:
- Log in to your domain registrar (e.g., Namecheap)
- Find the DNS management settings for your domain (often under “Advanced DNS”).
- Add a new TXT record with these details:
- Host:
_atproto - Type:
TXT - Value: Paste your
did=string here. - TTL: Leave this as “Automatic”.
- Host:
Verify on Bluesky:
- Return to Bluesky’s “Change my handle” screen and tap “Verify”.
- Bluesky will check your DNS records. This might take a few minutes.
- Once verified, your Bluesky handle will be your custom domain!
Important Notes
- DNS Propagation: It can take some time for DNS changes to fully propagate across the internet. If verification fails initially, wait a bit and try again.
- Alternative Domain Providers: The steps for adding a TXT record will vary slightly depending on your domain provider. Refer to their documentation for specific instructions.
- Subdomains: If you want to set up subdomains (like
@emily.yourdomain.com), you can follow the advanced instructions in your blog post for using the.well-knownroute.
