About Custom Handles & Bluesky

Confused about Bluesky and custom handles? Let us explain.

What's Bluesky?

Just in case you've found your way here via Google, Bing or some other place and don't even know what Bluesky is, it's very simple: it's like Twitter (now absurdly renamed to 'X'). In fact, it's very much like what Twitter used to be. And at the time of writing, it's much nicer.

And "custom handles"?

Twitter, as you may be aware, gives its users identifiers that begin with @. Bluesky expands upon this by using domain names/subdomains for its naming system. There's an underlying ID framework at play that keeps track of everything, but as far as users are concerned their Bluesky handles are domain names. When a user signs up, they default to Bluesky's bsky.social domain. So, for example, @bluesky.bsky.social. And just like Twitter (X), most of the short and concise names are taken.

This is where custom handles come in. Any owner of a domain name can hook it in to Bluesky and use it as their handle, by configuring said domain in a way that only its owner is capable of. To that end, it works like a sort of self-verification. No need for blue ticks - Microsoft, for example, can easily just use microsoft.com and show all other users it is the real Microsoft.

As well as this, domain owners can do what we've done, which is open it up to other users and allow them to create a handle using a different domain. This is great for not only giving access to shorter and concise names, but allowing users to group themselves by shared interests.

So how do I sign up? Can I have any handle?

We offer multiple domains to choose from. You can select one during the sign up process on the front page. Simply use the form to submit your current Bluesky handle and then choose your new one. Once that's done, head into your Bluesky account and follow the instructions we've provided

What happens to my old handle?

It's available for someone else to use. Something to keep in mind if you're an early Bluesky user who managed to bag something like jon.bsky.social - if you give that up, you'll likely not be able to get it again.

And my old posts and mentions?

As briefly mentioned further up, beneath the domain handles, is an ID system that keeps track of users using dull, unmemorable codes. This is consistent and makes sure that anything you've been tagged in, is updated. The only potential pitfall is if you have a handle that's been referenced from outside of Bluesky, say on another website, then this link will no longer work. And we say link, because these handles are effectively web addresses - if you put a Bluesky handle into a browser address bar, it will take you to your page. And if you change your handle that will affect where the old one points.

So if I use a custom address, it also works as a web link?

Yes. We have made sure to also set up redirections on here, so that any custom name you choose, will, when used as a domain name in a web browser or as a link on a website, take people to your Bluesky profile page.

Can I have an additional or different handle? Do you recycle old ones?

We have an automatic process that periodically checks all the handles in our system to ensure they are in use. If handles are not in use, they will be flagged and checked a few more times before being removed from our database. At this point, they will be available for anyone else to use.

So, in effect, this enforces a one-name-per-person policy. Any names you create and don't use, will fall out of the system after being checked.

I have a problem with my handle/further questions.

Feel free to get in touch on Bluesky. The creator of this website can currently be contacted at: jay.teamlh.social. Alternatively, if your question is related to your personal info and how we use your data, please take a look at our privacy policy.