how to link squarespace to domain

3 min read 23-01-2025

Connecting your Squarespace website to your own custom domain name (like yourname.com instead of yourname.squarespace.com) is a crucial step in establishing a professional online presence. It makes your website look more credible and memorable. This guide will walk you through the process, step-by-step.

Before You Begin: Gathering Your Essentials

Before you start linking your domain, you'll need a few things:

A registered domain name: This is the address you want your website to use (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com). You can purchase a domain from various registrars like GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains, or even Squarespace itself.
Your Squarespace website: Naturally, you need an active Squarespace website to connect the domain to.
Access to your domain registrar's account: You'll need login credentials to update your domain's DNS records.

Step-by-Step Guide: Linking Your Domain to Squarespace

Here's a comprehensive walkthrough of the process:

Step 1: Pointing Your Domain's DNS Records to Squarespace

This is the most important part. You'll be updating the DNS records at your domain registrar to tell the internet where to find your Squarespace website. The exact steps will vary slightly depending on your registrar, but the general process is as follows:

Log in to your domain registrar's account: This is where you bought your domain (GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.).
Locate your DNS settings: This is often labeled as "DNS Management," "DNS Records," or something similar. The location varies based on your registrar. Look for a section on DNS or Name Servers.
Add or update the necessary DNS records: Squarespace will provide you with specific DNS records (usually A records and CNAME records) you need to add or modify. You can usually find these within your Squarespace account under "Domains" or "Settings." These records will typically include:
- A Record: Points your domain's root to Squarespace's servers.
- CNAME Record: Points your www subdomain to Squarespace.
- Potential additional records: Depending on your Squarespace plan and setup, you may need additional records (e.g., TXT records for verification).
Save your changes: Once you've added or updated the DNS records, be sure to save your changes.

Important Note: The changes to your DNS records can take some time to propagate (anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours). Be patient and wait for the changes to fully take effect before proceeding.

Step 2: Connecting Your Domain in Squarespace

Now, you need to tell Squarespace which domain you want to connect.

Log in to your Squarespace account.
Navigate to Domains: Find the "Domains" section in your Squarespace account settings. The exact location may vary depending on your Squarespace version.
Connect your domain: Follow the instructions within Squarespace to connect your domain. You'll typically enter your domain name and then Squarespace will guide you through the verification process. This often involves adding a TXT record provided by Squarespace to your domain's DNS records (as mentioned above).

Step 3: Verification and Confirmation

After adding the DNS records and connecting your domain in Squarespace, you need to verify that everything is working correctly.

Check your Squarespace dashboard: Once Squarespace confirms that your domain is correctly connected, you should see it listed as connected in your Squarespace domains section.
Visit your website: Try accessing your website using your custom domain. If it loads correctly, the process is complete!

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Domain not connecting: Double-check your DNS records for typos and ensure they match exactly what Squarespace provided. Ensure sufficient time has passed for DNS propagation.
Website not loading: Ensure your DNS records are properly updated and have propagated. Check your Squarespace settings to ensure the domain is correctly linked within your account. Contact Squarespace support if necessary.

Choosing Between www and Non-www

You may need to decide whether to use www.yourdomain.com or yourdomain.com. Both options work; most Squarespace users prefer to use the www version to keep things simple. You can typically configure this within your Squarespace settings.

By following these steps, you can successfully link your Squarespace website to your custom domain, creating a polished and professional online presence. Remember to be patient with the DNS propagation time and don't hesitate to reach out to Squarespace support if you run into any issues.