If you run a Mastodon server or manage a brand account, you want visitors to know your profile is authentic. Mastodon offers a built-in verification system that uses a link on your profile and a matching link on your own website. This method does not require a third-party service or a blue checkmark payment. When set up correctly, your profile displays a green checkmark and a verified badge. This article explains how to enable domain-based verification on your Mastodon account.
Key Takeaways: Mastodon Account Verification via Domain Check
- Profile metadata fields: Add a link to your personal website or domain in your Mastodon profile metadata.
- rel=me attribute on external link: Place a backlink on your website pointing to your Mastodon profile with the rel=me attribute so Mastodon can confirm ownership.
- Green checkmark badge: After both links are set and the server processes the check, your profile shows a verified badge next to the website link.
How Mastodon Domain Verification Works
Mastodon verification is not a platform-wide approval system. Instead, it relies on a mutual link between your Mastodon profile and a website you control. When you add a link to your website in your profile metadata, Mastodon checks whether that website contains a link back to your Mastodon profile. The backlink must include the rel=me attribute in its HTML. If both conditions are met, Mastodon confirms the link and displays a green checkmark next to it on your profile.
This method works for any domain you own or manage, including personal blogs, company pages, or project sites. The verification is visible only on the Mastodon instance where your account resides. Other instances that federate with your server see the same verified badge when they view your profile.
Prerequisites for Domain Verification
Before starting, ensure you have the following items ready:
- A Mastodon account on any instance that allows profile metadata editing. Most instances do.
- Access to edit the HTML of a website you own or control. This can be a static site, a CMS like WordPress, or a hosted service like GitHub Pages.
- The ability to add a link element or an anchor tag with the rel=me attribute to that website.
Steps to Verify Your Mastodon Account With a Domain Check
Follow these steps to set up the mutual link and receive the verified badge on your Mastodon profile.
- Open your Mastodon profile settings
Log in to your Mastodon instance. Click the Preferences icon in the top menu bar. Select Profile from the left sidebar. - Add a metadata field for your website
In the Profile section, scroll to the Metadata area. Click Add row. In the Label field, type a descriptive name such as Website or Personal Site. In the Content field, enter the full URL of the domain you want to verify. For example,https://example.com. Click Save Changes at the bottom of the page. - Copy your Mastodon profile URL
Navigate to your public profile page. The URL typically looks likehttps://instance.name/@username. Copy this URL exactly as it appears in the browser address bar. - Edit your website to add a backlink with rel=me
Open the HTML source of your website. Locate the section where you want the link to appear, such as the footer or an About page. Add an anchor tag that points to your Mastodon profile URL and includes the rel=me attribute. Example:<a href="https://instance.name/@username" rel="me">Mastodon Profile</a>. Save and publish the change. - Wait for Mastodon to recheck the link
Mastodon checks the link periodically. The verification update may take a few minutes to several hours. You can force a recheck by revisiting your profile settings page and clicking the Save Changes button again, even if you made no other changes. - Confirm the verified badge
Visit your public Mastodon profile. Next to the website link you added, a green checkmark icon should appear. The link text also shows as verified. If the badge does not appear, verify that the backlink on your website is publicly accessible and contains the exact rel=me attribute.
Common Issues and Things to Avoid With Domain Verification
Mastodon Profile Link Does Not Show a Green Checkmark
The most frequent reason is a missing or incorrect rel=me attribute on the backlink. Open your website source and confirm the anchor tag includes rel="me" with no extra spaces. Also ensure the URL in the anchor tag matches your Mastodon profile URL exactly. Case and trailing slashes matter.
Website Link Contains Redirects That Break Verification
Mastodon follows HTTP redirects when checking the backlink. If your website redirects from http to https or uses a redirect chain, the verification may still work. However, if the redirect leads to a different domain or a page without the backlink, verification fails. Use a direct link with no redirects when possible.
Multiple Links in Profile Metadata Confuse the Verification
You can add multiple metadata fields with different URLs. Mastodon checks each link independently. To avoid confusion, use only one verified domain per metadata field. If you add the same domain twice, Mastodon may pick the first one and ignore the second.
Website Is Not Indexed or Blocked by robots.txt
Mastodon does not require the website to be indexed by search engines. But the page must be publicly accessible without a login wall. If your site uses a robots.txt file that blocks Mastodon user agents, the verification check may fail. Allow access to the page containing the backlink.
Mastodon Domain Verification vs Other Verification Methods
| Item | Domain Verification (rel=me) | Third-Party Verification Services |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Often paid or subscription-based |
| Technical requirement | Edit HTML of a website you control | API integration or OAuth setup |
| Badge visibility | Green checkmark on the same instance and federated views | Custom badge or icon, may not federate |
| Maintenance | Requires both links to remain active | Depends on service uptime |
| Privacy impact | No data shared with third parties | May collect profile data |
Domain verification is the only officially supported method for Mastodon accounts. It does not require any external service or payment. The green checkmark is recognized across the fediverse because it relies on the same rel=me standard used by other decentralized platforms.
Now you can verify your Mastodon account using a domain you control. Start by adding your website link in your profile metadata and placing the rel=me backlink on your site. After the check completes, your profile will display a green verified badge. For multiple domains, repeat the process for each domain in a separate metadata field. This method gives you full control over your online identity without depending on any central authority.