Bluesky .bsky Domain: Get a Shorter Online Identity

Bluesky Applies for .bsky Domain to Give Users Shorter, More Portable Online Identities

Bluesky has applied to create “.bsky,” a new internet domain ending that could let users replace longer handles such as @sarahp.bsky.social with shorter addresses like sarahp.bsky. The application is not yet approved, and the proposal reflects a broader ambition: making online identity more connected to the open web and less dependent on a single platform account. 

What Is the .bsky Domain Proposal?

A top-level domain, or TLD, is the final part of a web address, such as .com or .org. Bluesky’s application asks for .bsky to become a new TLD. If approved, it could allow the company to offer users shorter profile identifiers that also work as web addresses. 

For now, .bsky is a proposal, not a feature users can activate. Bluesky CEO Toni Schneider said the application is part of the company’s longer-term plans, and the review process is expected to take 18 to 24 months. 

How .bsky Could Change Bluesky Handles

Bluesky accounts currently use handles ending in bsky.social by default. Users can also verify a domain they already control and use it as their handle, connecting their account to a personal website, publication, or organization. 

A dedicated .bsky domain could make that experience more accessible. Instead of requiring every user to buy and configure an outside domain, Bluesky could potentially offer a concise address under its own extension. The company has described the idea as a way to give users shorter, cleaner online identities, though the precise service details remain unconfirmed. 

Why User-Owned Identity Matters

On many social platforms, a username is tied closely to the service that hosts it. A custom domain can offer a different model: an identity associated with an address its owner controls. Bluesky already supports domain names as handles, which can help people connect an account to a website and establish that they represent a particular organization or public identity. 

Bluesky is built on the AT Protocol, an open protocol intended to support social services beyond a single app. In that context, a recognizable domain could help make an online identity more portable and useful across the wider web. However, the .bsky application alone does not guarantee that handles will work across every service or that users will have full control over every aspect of their identity. 

What Users Can Do Today

Users do not need to wait for the .bsky application to be decided to use a custom domain as a Bluesky handle. Bluesky’s existing feature lets account holders set a domain they control as their username, with verification based on changes to the domain’s DNS settings.

• Use a domain you already own as your Bluesky handle.
• Follow Bluesky’s account settings to verify control of that domain.
• Consider a custom domain if you want a consistent identity connected to your website or professional presence.

This existing option is distinct from the proposed .bsky service. A custom domain requires the user to own and configure the domain, while the proposed TLD could create a new route to shorter Bluesky addresses if the application is approved and the service is launched. 

What Happens Next?

Bluesky’s request must go through ICANN’s evaluation process before .bsky can become an operating TLD. Approval is not guaranteed, and the process is expected to take 18 to 24 months. Until the review is complete and Bluesky shares implementation details, users should treat specific features, availability, and costs as unsettled. 

Conclusion

Bluesky’s .bsky application is a notable step in its effort to connect social profiles with web identities that are easier to recognize and potentially more portable. If approved, the domain could make handles shorter and extend Bluesky’s existing support for custom-domain identities. For now, .bsky remains a proposal, while users can already use a domain they control as their Bluesky handle.