Bluesky Handle Checker

By FreeUsername · Reviewed October 14, 2026 · Editorial policy

Bluesky handles look like web addresses: name.bsky.social by default, or a domain you own, such as yourname.com. This page checks the bsky.social version through Bluesky's public API, so it doubles as a Bluesky username search. If you own a domain, you can use that as your handle instead.

What we tested (October 2026)

How the check works: Our check asks Bluesky's public API for name.bsky.social. Custom domain handles are not covered.
Results across our 60 test handles: 11 Found, 49 Not found and 0 Blocked or Unknown. 9 of 10 common names such as johndoe showed as taken, against 2 of 50 random made-up handles (none of the 15 long ones). Average response: 0.1 s.
Logged-out view: A known profile loaded logged out on bsky.app.
Spot check on 14 October 2026: jay.bsky.social came back Found and a made-up qzvx7k2wplm.bsky.social came back Not found. bsky.bsky.social also came back Not found, although it is the kind of name Bluesky keeps reserved: the API sees accounts, not the reserved list. For domain handles, our separate domain check found bsky.app.
Method and full numbers: our October 2026 username study.

Bluesky handle rules

Minimum length	At least 3 characters.
Maximum length	For .bsky.social: up to 18 characters before the suffix (30 total). Custom domains: up to 30 characters in total.
Allowed characters (.bsky.social)	Letters, numbers and hyphens. Underscores, spaces, exclamation marks and periods are not allowed.
Reserved handles	Some handles are reserved for system use and return a "Reserved Handle" error.
Custom domains	Create the account with a .bsky.social handle first, then switch to your domain by adding a DNS TXT record.

Sources: Bluesky Support: suggested handle format, Bluesky Support: set your domain as your handle, AT Protocol: handle specification, Bluesky blog: how to set your domain as your handle. Last reviewed 2026-10-14. Platforms change their rules; the linked help pages are the final word.

How to search for someone on Bluesky by username

A Bluesky profile opens at bsky.app/profile/handle, for example bsky.app/profile/mia.bsky.social or bsky.app/profile/example.com for a domain handle. In the app, the search tab finds accounts by handle or display name. Type a name below and we ask Bluesky's public API whether name.bsky.social exists.

People who moved to a custom domain no longer answer at their old .bsky.social address, so try the domain too. This page does not search real names.

Custom domain handles

Any domain you control can be your Bluesky handle, including a subdomain such as mia.example.com. In the app, go to Settings, Account, Handle and choose I have my own domain. Bluesky then shows two ways to prove the domain is yours: a DNS TXT record with the host _atproto (or _atproto.mia for a subdomain) and the value did=did:plc:…, or a plain text file at https://yourdomain/.well-known/atproto-did that contains only your DID.

The Bluesky app allows up to 30 characters in total for a custom domain handle, stricter than the protocol limit of 253. Handles are not case-sensitive, and endings such as .local, .onion, .example and .invalid are not allowed.

Bluesky's domain tutorial says mentions of your old .bsky.social handle keep pointing to your account, and that the old handle stays reserved for you. Bluesky no longer sells domains itself, so buy one from any registrar first; our name checker shows which matching domains are still free.

Is a domain handle already in use? Our full search includes a check that opens bsky.app/profile/<domain>; type the full domain, such as example.com. Step-by-step instructions, including what to do when verification fails, are in our guide to getting a custom Bluesky handle with your own domain.

Bluesky handle checker: a search for @yourname showing whether the Bluesky handle is taken or available

How to check a Bluesky handle

Type just the first part, for example mia for mia.bsky.social. Avoid underscores and periods, which bsky.social handles do not accept.
We ask Bluesky's public AppView API (app.bsky.actor.getProfile) about <name>.bsky.social. It is an open API, so blocks are rare, but a deactivated or suspended account can still hold a name that looks free.
Manual check: open bsky.app/profile/<name>.bsky.social. An error saying the profile cannot be found suggests no account uses it.
For a domain handle, the question is whether you control the domain, not whether a name is free on Bluesky.

Bluesky handle taken? What you can do

Use a hyphen between words: mia-draws.bsky.social.
Skip the suffix entirely by verifying a domain you own, which also proves to followers that the account is really yours.
Organizations often use a subdomain, such as mia.example.com, to give staff handles under the company domain.
Report impersonating accounts in the app; Bluesky's community guidelines prohibit impersonation.

How to change your Bluesky handle

Open Settings, then Account, then Handle.
Type a new .bsky.social handle, or choose the option to use your own domain.
For a domain, add the TXT record Bluesky shows (host _atproto) at your DNS provider, then verify.
Save, then update the handle anywhere you have shared it.

Reserved and restricted names

Bluesky reserves some handles for system use, and those return a "Reserved Handle" error even though no profile exists. Impersonation is against Bluesky's community guidelines, and a verified domain handle is the simplest way to show you are who you say.

Tips

A domain handle stays yours as long as you keep the domain; renewing it on time matters.
Handles are case-insensitive, so mixing capitals in a domain does not create a new handle.
Bluesky is built on the open AT Protocol, so your handle also works in other apps that use it.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use an underscore in a Bluesky handle?

Not in a .bsky.social handle. Bluesky allows hyphens there, but not underscores, spaces, exclamation marks or periods.

How do I use my own website as my Bluesky handle?

Start with a .bsky.social handle, then in Settings choose to use your own domain and add the TXT record Bluesky gives you to your DNS.

How long can a Bluesky handle be?

Up to 18 characters before .bsky.social, or 30 characters in total for a custom domain.

Also check on other top platforms

Each platform has its own checker page with its own rules. Pick one to test the same name there.

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