Find out how to set your area as your deal with

What’s a customized area?

A customized area is a novel identify that identifies an internet site on the web. For instance, Bluesky’s area is blueskyweb.xyz.

Each gadget that connects to the web has a novel IP tackle that identifies it. Nevertheless it’s a lot simpler to recollect blueskyweb.xyz as a substitute of a sequence of numbers. The Area Title System (DNS) acts like a phonebook for the web and factors a site like blueskyweb.xyz to its IP tackle, so we don’t have to recollect the numbers ourselves.

Domains could be additional divided into subdomains. For instance, in case your area was instance.com however you had a weblog hosted at weblog.instance.com, then weblog is the subdomain.

Why does Bluesky use domains as handles, and why would I wish to use a site as my deal with?

Technically, it’s the AT Protocol that allows you to use domains as handles. Bluesky is a shopper utility constructed on high of the protocol, so it would additionally use domains as handles.

The AT Protocol was designed to make use of domains for a number of causes:

• Identification: Bluesky is only one utility constructed on high of the AT Protocol. Let’s say you set your deal with to instance.com on Bluesky. You’ll be capable to use that very same deal with throughout all functions constructed on the AT Protocol (and there’s a rising quantity!). Now, you not should listing 5 completely different usernames primarily based on what was accessible on the time you signed up for an app — simply use your area!

• Verification: Web sites have an extended historical past of verification already, so utilizing domains borrows their authority. For instance, a newsroom like NPR may set their deal with to be @npr.org. Then, any journalists that NPR desires to confirm may use subdomains to set their handles to be @identify.npr.org. Model accounts may set their deal with to be their area as properly, which firms like Vercel and Tailscale have already executed.

  

• Portability: Perhaps you wish to change to a distinct server. Then, there’s no want to modify your deal with from one thing server-specific if you happen to’re utilizing your area as your deal with.

Learn our beforehand printed weblog put up on domains as handles here for extra info.

I’m satisfied! How do I purchase a customized area?

If you happen to don’t have a customized area already, you should buy one from any ICANN-accredited area registrar or reseller. Word that this isn’t required to hitch Bluesky; you can use our server’s off-the-shelf naming (within the format of @identify.bsky.social) if you happen to favor.

You should utilize providers like Namecheap or Google Domains to register your area of selection. Domains are distinctive, so you should select one which hasn’t already been registered by another person. Throughout registration, you’ll seemingly pay an annual price and supply private info.

Your private info is used to populate the WHOIS listing, which is a searchable database that holds info on area possession. You may favor to maintain your info non-public for varied causes — in that case, most area registrars supply WHOIS privateness safety as a service.

How do I set this tradition area as my deal with?

Let’s use the Bluesky group’s @atproto.com account for instance. Word that the account makes use of the deal with @atproto.com, which verifies its identification as a result of it owns the web site atproto.com.

Word: if you happen to change your default Bluesky username (with the .bsky.social suffix) to a customized area, your outdated username will likely be accessible for another person to make use of. Nevertheless, any tags or mentions along with your outdated deal with will nonetheless level to your account.

The screenshots beneath will present you easy methods to set your customized area as your deal with in your cell app, however related steps apply to the desktop model.

1. Open the left aspect menu by clicking your profile image thumbnail. Click on “Settings” and scroll all the way down to the “Superior” part. Click on “Change my deal with.”

   

2. On the “Change my deal with” display, click on “I’ve my very own area.”

   

3. Now, you’ll have a display that appears like this. This contains info that you will want so as to add to your area registrar.

   

4. Navigate again to your area registrar, which is the corporate to procure your area from (Namecheap, Google Domains, and so forth.). The particular steps right here rely on which firm you used, however you’ll wish to navigate to DNS administration on your area. This is perhaps beneath an “Superior DNS” tab.

   

5. We wish to add a TXT (textual content) document to your area. Step 3 above accommodates all the info you’ll want so as to add to your area. The DID worth is public and never delicate info. (Learn extra about DIDs here.)

   • Set the area: _atproto
   • Set the sort: TXT
   • Set the worth area (additionally generally referred to as “knowledge”), besides use your individual DID worth: did=did:plc:[your value here]

6. After you add the TXT document, wait a few minutes for the change to propagate throughout the web. Then, simply click on “Confirm DNS Document.” You’re executed! Test your Bluesky profile to see if it has up to date. Keep in mind, DNS propagation may take a while.

7. Congratulations, you may have a customized area as your deal with now!