How to get a custom handle on Bluesky
Your handle is your username on Bluesky. You can keep the default, use a domain you own, or take a free subdomain. Here is what each option needs, so you can pick the one that fits.
The default: name.bsky.social
Every account starts with a .bsky.social handle. It needs nothing from you, and it works. The catch is that it looks like every other account and says nothing about who runs it or what it is.
Your own domain
If you own a domain, Bluesky can use it as your handle. You prove it by adding a DNS record or by serving a small file on the domain. It is the most independent choice, but you pay a registrar for the domain and you manage the DNS yourself.
A name.bluesky.bot handle
No domain to buy and no DNS to edit. Bluesky.bot serves the file Bluesky checks and switches your handle for you. The trade-off: the domain belongs to the service, so the name is yours only while you keep it. See how to claim one or what it costs.
Questions, answered
- Can I change my handle later?
- Yes. You can change it at any time in Bluesky’s settings, and your followers, posts and identity stay the same. Only the name shown changes.
- Which option is best for a bot?
- A name that says “bot” helps people trust it, and having nothing to maintain helps you. That is what a name.bluesky.bot handle is for. If you already own a domain, using it is a good alternative.