Squarespace Domain Name Connection Service (DNS)

Yes, in theory you can connect any domain name to a Squarespace site. You do not have to have purchased your domain name from Squarespace directly. So, if you've already got a domain name in mind, good news! You can connect that up to your site!

No! In fact I recommend you leave your domain name wherever it was originally registered instead of 'transferring' the registration of the domain to Squarespace. Transferring your domain name from wherever it's currently managed (e.g. GoDaddy) can take up to 2 weeks in some cases whereas connecting it typically takes a few hours and in rare cases 1-2 days.

There are a few things to consider before connecting your domain name to your new Squarespace site. Below are a few of our top suggestions for things to consider:

1. Have you upgraded your site to a paid plan? Squarespace sites must be on a paid plan for you to remove the password and set your site 'live' once the domain has been connected.

2. Is it okay if the site is temporarily offline? The process of disconnecting a domain name from one provider and connecting it to Squarespace can take some time. Even if everything is done correctly, it's normal for a few things to not quite be 100%. For example, Squarespace can take a while to generate a 'SSL Certificate' meaning the site can show as 'insecure' temporarily.

3. Do you have emails linked to your domain name? If you already have emails setup on your custom domain (e.g. info@domain.com) it's important to make sure you follow exactly the right process. If you delete MX records for example, your emails will stop working and anyone emailing you will receive a bounce back.

4. Do you have any other 3rd party systems connected to your domain name? If you have custom software that's linked to your domain name, it's important to ensure that this does not become disconnected (by way of DNS records being removed) when you connect your domain name to your Squarespace site. If you're not sure what you're doing, consult a professional.

In most cases, a domain name will transition over to your new site within a few hours. In rare cases this can be as long as 24-48 hours and SSL certificates (the 'padlocks' that show your site is secure) can take up to 72 hours to generate with Squarespace. We recommend you plan accordingly just in case the worst were to happen.

Think of a DNS record as a 'setting' on your domain name that tells your visitor's computer what website to load when they enter your web address into their browser. DNS records are responsible for all of the functions of your domain name such as your website, your custom business email address and any other 3rd party systems that may be connected such as email campaign tools or phone systems.

Sadly, yes. Squarespace has been doing a fantastic job of making it easier to connect a domain name to your website but it's still a technical process with lots going on behind the scenes. If you're ensure about what you're doing and already have a site connected to an existing domain, we suggest reaching out to an expert.

Yes! We have connected hundreds of domain names to sites for our clients - both as one-off tasks and also as part of website build projects. We've recently launched a new service that makes it easy for anyone to hire an expert to connect an existing domain name to a Squarespace site.

If you've added all of the required DNS records to connect your Squarespace site to your domain, your website's SSL certificate may still be processing. With Squarespace site's this can take some time (in rare cases up to 72 hours). Unfortunately there's not much that can be done to hurry this process along but as long as you've got all of the correct DNS records in place, you should be set! If you're not sure, review your records or speak to an expert who can check on your behalf.