migrating a did:web to a new pds

🦌@aviva.gay
217 words2 min read

mini tutorial on migrating a did:web from one pds to another. this assumes you already have a did:web. ‌ start by using pds moover to migrate records to the new account. turn off "migrate plc record" under advanced settings.

the PDS MOOver advanced options, with an arrow pointing to a deactivated "Migrate PLC Record" saying "turn this off!". All other boxes are left set, as is the default.

you want to see the following:

pds moover screenshot: "Migration of your repo is complete! But the PLC operation was not done so your old account is still the valid one."

now to update your did document.

‌goat account login --pds-host "https://old pds . lame"
// ^ username and password, log into your old pds
goat account deactivate
// ^ turn off old account
goat account login --pds-host "https://new pds . swag"
// expect to see something like:
// 2026/03/14 22:56:03 INFO password login to inactive account status=deactivated username=deckbelcher.com
goat account check-auth
// ^ should be your new pds! prob its deactivated.
goat account plc recommend
// use these values with the following changes:
// strip did:key: from verificationMethods.atproto → publicKeyMultibase
// update the service endpoint to match new url

upload your new did doc, and check that it looks as expected!

‌goat account activate

now log in!