How to Connect and Transfer Domains in Squarespace

A domain name is the URL or web address where visitors find your site. Having a clear and professional domain name is essential for building your brand identity and making it easy for visitors to remember and access your site. Squarespace offers two types of domains: Built-in Domains and Custom Domains. Here’s everything you need to know to get started:

Built-in Domains

This is the domain that comes with your Squarespace website. It typically looks something like "yoursiteid.squarespace.com."

Key Features of Built-in Domains:

• Always Active: Your built-in domain never expires. This ensures that you always have consistent access to your site's backend, which is especially helpful for maintenance, updates, or making changes to your website without worrying about domain management.

• Customizable: You can change the Site ID to make the domain more recognizable (e.g., "mybrand.squarespace.com").

To customize your built-in domain:

1. Go to Settings > Domains in your Squarespace dashboard.

2. Find your Site ID and edit it to your preference.

Custom Domains

Custom domains allow you to create a unique and professional web address for your site, like "mybusiness.com." Having a custom domain enhances your site’s credibility, making it look more professional and trustworthy to visitors. It also makes your site easier to remember, which can improve traffic and ensure that your audience can find you effortlessly.

Key Features of Custom Domains:

• You can set one as your Primary Domain (e.g., "mybusiness.com").

• You can have multiple secondary domains (e.g., "mybusiness.co") that redirect to your primary domain.

When your site is ready to go live, you’ll need to connect a custom domain.

How to Get a Custom Domain

1. Purchase Through Squarespace:

• Squarespace offers a free custom domain for the first year if you have an annual subscription. This can save you money while simplifying the domain setup process, making it a great option for new users who want to get started quickly without additional costs.

• Go to Settings > Domains and search for an available domain. Choose one that’s simple and clear.

2. Use a Domain You Already Own:

• If your domain is hosted by a third-party provider (e.g., GoDaddy, Wix), you can connect or transfer it to Squarespace.

Option A: Connect a Domain

To point your domain to Squarespace:

1. Go to Settings > Domains in Squarespace and select "Use a Domain I Own."

2. Enter your domain name and follow the steps:

• Integrated Providers: For GoDaddy, DreamHost, or Crazy Domains, Squarespace provides a seamless connection process.

• Manual Setup: For other providers, you’ll need to update your DNS records:

• Replace all A Records with Squarespace’s A records.

• Replace all CNAME Records with Squarespace’s CNAME records.

3. Save your changes in your domain provider’s account. DNS updates can take up to 48 hours to fully propagate.

Squarespace DNS Settings

Update DNS Settings (Third-Party)

Option B: Transfer a Domain

To transfer your domain to Squarespace:

1. Go to Settings > Domains and select "Use a Domain I Own."

2. Click Transfer and follow the prompts.

3. Obtain the transfer code from your current domain provider and enter it in Squarespace.

4. Follow any additional steps to finalize the transfer. Note: Transfers can take several days to complete due to the need for domain verification and propagation across servers. This process ensures that your domain is securely transferred and fully functional with your new Squarespace site.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Setting Up a Domain’s DNS

1. Type in your domain name in Squarespace’s domain settings.

2. If your provider is recognized, follow the integrated connection steps.

3. If not, you’ll see A and CNAME records that need to be updated manually.

4. Log in to your third-party domain provider’s account (e.g., Wix, GoDaddy).

5. Replace the existing A Records with the A Records provided by Squarespace.

6. Replace the CNAME Records with the CNAME Records from Squarespace.

7. Save your changes.

8. Wait for the updates to propagate (this can take as little as an hour or up to 48 hours).

Important Notes on Transfers

• It’s faster to point your domain to Squarespace first if you need your site live quickly. Once that’s done, you can initiate the transfer.

• During the transfer process:

• Obtain the transfer code from your current provider.

• Enter the code in Squarespace’s transfer settings.

• Follow the instructions from your current host to complete the transfer.

Troubleshooting Tips

• DNS Propagation: If your site isn’t live after updating DNS, wait up to 48 hours before troubleshooting further.

• Need Help? Squarespace support is always available to guide you through domain setup and management.

With these simple steps, you’ll have your Squarespace site up and running with a custom domain that’s perfect for your brand!