How to Fix an Invalid Handle on Bluesky

Seeing the Invalid Handle error flash across your screen on Bluesky can be frustrating, especially when you're trying to set up a professional-looking custom domain. This guide will walk you through exactly what causes this error and provide a simple, step-by-step process to fix it and get your custom handle working correctly without the technical headache.

What Does "Invalid Handle" Really Mean on Bluesky?

While the error message sounds like you've chosen a bad username, the "Invalid Handle" issue on Bluesky almost always relates to using a custom domain, not the standard .bsky.social handles. Essentially, Bluesky can't verify that you actually own the domain you're trying to use as your handle. It's a security and identity check to prevent people from impersonating brands or individuals by claiming domains they don't control.

Think of it like getting mail delivered. For the post office to deliver a package to your house, they need to confirm your address is real and belongs to you. In the digital world, Bluesky needs to confirm that yourname.com is a real domain and that you're the one who authorized it to be your social media handle. The "Invalid Handle" message is just Bluesky's way of saying, "I can't find proof that you own this address."

This verification happens through a tiny piece of data you add to your domain's settings, called a DNS record. If that record is missing, incorrect, or hasn't had enough time to become visible to the internet, you'll see the error.

Common Causes of the "Invalid Handle" Error

Before you get into the technical weeds, start with the simple stuff. Most errors happen because of a small mistake. Go through this checklist first:

• Typo in the Domain: It's the most common culprit. Did you type myawesomedomain.co instead of myawesomedomain.com? Double-check every single character.
• Missing a TLD: A TLD, or Top-Level Domain, is the bit at the end of a domain, like .com, .net, or .org. You must include it. Typing "mybrand" won't work, it has to be "mybrand.com."
• Using HTTP:// or WWW: Your handle shouldn't be a full URL. It should just be the domain itself. Enter yourdomain.com, not https://www.yourdomain.com.
• DNS Record Isn't Set Up (The Big One): If you're using a custom domain, you MUST add a specific verification record to your domain's settings. We'll cover exactly how to do this in the next section.
• DNS Record Is Incorrect: A small typo in the verification record will also cause the error. Copy-pasting is your friend here to avoid manual errors.
• DNS Hasn't Propagated: When you make a change to your domain's settings, it can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours for that change to be visible across the entire internet. You might just need to wait a bit longer.

The Step-by-Step Guide to Fixing Your Invalid Handle with a Custom Domain

If you've checked for typos and are sure you're entering the domain correctly, it's time to set up the DNS verification record. It sounds far more intimidating than it actually is. You're just adding one line of text to your domain provider's settings.

Step 1: Find Your Bluesky DID Code

First, you need a unique code from Bluesky, called a Decentralized Identifier, or DID. This code is your permanent, unique address on the network that proves you are you.

1. Log into your Bluesky account.
2. Go to Settings (the gear icon on the menu).
3. Click on "Change Handle" under the Advanced section.
4. Select the option "I have my own domain."
5. A pop-up will appear showing you the exact information you need for the DNS record. It will look something like this: did=did:plc:abcdefg1234567hijklmnop.

Keep this page open! The long string of letters and numbers after did:plc: is your personal DID. You will need to copy this value exactly.

Step 2: Log Into Your Domain Registrar

Your domain registrar is the company where you bought your domain name. This could be GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains, Cloudflare, Bluehost, or hundreds of others. Log into your account there.

Once logged in, search for the DNS management page for your domain. It might be called "DNS Management," "Advanced DNS," "Zone Editor," or something similar. This is the control panel for your domain's records.

You'll see a list of existing records, often with types like 'A', 'CNAME', and 'MX'. You are going to add a new one.

Step 3: Create the TXT Record for Verification

Bluesky uses what's called a TXT record for verification. "TXT" just stands for text - it's a record designed to hold text-based information for services outside your domain to read.

Click "Add Record," "Add New Record," or a similar button and select TXT as the record type. You will need to fill in three fields:

1. Host / Name: This part tells Bluesky where to look for the record. For Bluesky, you must enter:
   _atproto
   (Important Note: Some domain providers, like GoDaddy, will automatically add your domain name at the end. In this case, you only type _atproto. If you type _atproto.yourdomain.com, it might turn into _atproto.yourdomain.com.yourdomain.com and fail. When in doubt, just use _atproto.)
2. Value / Data / Content: This is where your unique Bluesky DID code goes. Go back to the Bluesky page from Step 1 and copy the entire value, starting with "did=..." Paste it here. It should look like this:
   did=did:plc:abcdefg1234567hijklmnop
   Only use your own DID code from your settings, the one above is just an example!
3. TTL (Time to Live): This setting tells other computers how long to cache (or remember) this information. You can usually leave this at the default setting (often 1 hour or 3600 seconds). If you have an option for a lower time, like 5 minutes (300 seconds), that's fine too.

Click Save or Add Record to save your changes.

Step 4: Verify Your Changes and Wait (a little)

The DNS system is not instant. The change you just made needs to "propagate" across the internet's servers. This can take anywhere from a minute to an hour, or in rare cases, up to 48 hours. Most modern DNS providers are much faster, so it will likely only take a few minutes.

You can use a free tool like dnschecker.org to see if your record is live. On that site:

• Enter _atproto.yourdomain.com (replace `yourdomain.com` with your actual domain).
• Select TXT as the record type.
• Click "Search."

If you see your `did=...` code pop up with green checkmarks from servers around the world, you're good to go! If you see red X's, you need to wait a little longer or double-check that you saved the record correctly in Step 3.

Step 5: Try Setting Your Handle Again on Bluesky

Once you've confirmed the TXT record is active (or have waited about 30 minutes), go back to Bluesky.

Go to your handle settings again, select "I have my own domain," and type in your domain (e.g., `yourdomain.com`). This time, Bluesky's servers should successfully find your new TXT record and verify your ownership. Your handle change will be accepted, and you're all set!

Troubleshooting Sticking Points

Even with perfect instructions, sometimes things don't work smoothly. Here are a couple of common issues and how to fix them.

• "I got a 'Domain Not Found' error on the DNS checker." This usually means one of two things: you just haven't waited long enough, or you botched the "Host" field in Step 3. Go back to your DNS settings and make absolutely sure it's set to `_atproto` and that it saved correctly.
• "It's been hours and it's still invalid." Carefully re-read Step 3. The most common error is a small typo. Go to your settings and meticulously compare what you have in the "Host" and "Value" fields to what Bluesky is telling you to use. Did you accidentally copy an extra space? Is one character wrong in your DID string? Go back and copy-paste it again just to be sure.
• "My default handle (`.bsky.social`) has an issue." The "invalid handle" error for default handles is very rare. This is almost always a simple typo or using disallowed characters. Handles can only contain letters (a-z), numbers (0-9), and dashes (-). You can't use underscores, periods (except for the `.bsky.social` part), or other special symbols.

Why Setting Up a Custom Domain Is a Genius Brand Move

Going through this five-minute process is about more than just a cool-looking handle. For creators, marketers, and brands, using a custom domain is a powerful strategic choice.

Your handle, yourbrand.com, immediately connects your Bluesky profile to your primary web presence. It adds a layer of authenticity and professionalism that a generic handle can't match. It transforms your social identity from a rented address on another platform's server into an asset that you own. It's portable, verifiable, and reinforces your brand every time someone sees it. This builds trust and makes your brand far more memorable, helping you stand out in a noisy social feed.

Final Thoughts

Fixing the "Invalid Handle" on Bluesky is almost always about correcting a small detail in your custom domain's TXT verification record. While it sounds technical, the process is straightforward: copy your unique code from Bluesky, paste it into your domain's settings, and give it a few minutes to update across the internet.

Once your professional handle is locked in and reflects your brand, the real work of building a presence begins. Keeping up a consistent stream of content, especially on a growing platform, is how you build an engaged audience. Many great ideas for posts sometimes get lost without a proper plan. Here at Postbase, we built our visual calendar specifically for this reason: to give creators and managers a clear, drag-and-drop view of their entire content strategy. It helps you spot gaps, plan weeks in advance, and turn your social media goals into a day-by-day publishing schedule.