Article summary
Most people reading this already have a Squarespace site with a custom domain attached to it. You've set up a new site with a Studio Mesa template (or any other template), and you're ready to make the switch. The process depends on where your domain is registered: directly through Squarespace, or through a third-party provider like GoDaddy or Namecheap. Both paths take about 15 minutes. There will be a window where your site may not load while DNS loads.
If Your Domain Is Registered Through Squarespace
This is the simplest scenario. Squarespace has a built-in "Move Domain" feature that handles everything internally.
Steps
Open your Squarespace dashboard and go to the old site (the one currently using the domain).
Navigate to Settings → Domains.
Under Domains Managed by Squarespace, click the domain you want to move.
Scroll down to Move Domain to Another Site.
Select your new site from the list.
Open the new site and click Confirm to finalize.
That's it. The domain, its billing, and its permissions all transfer to the new site. SSL stays active. DNS records update automatically.
Requirements
The new site must be on a paid plan (or at least have billing information attached).
You need site owner or Administrator permissions on both sites.
If the new site is on a different Squarespace account, you'll need to be added as a contributor with Administrator permissions first.
If the new site doesn't appear in the dropdown, it's likely on a trial without billing info, or it's on a Mobile Start plan. Switch to a standard plan and add payment details before attempting the move.
Google Workspace
If you have a Google Workspace email subscription attached to your domain, it should move automatically with the domain. Verify it's working after the transfer.
If Your Domain Is Registered Through a Third Party
If your domain lives with GoDaddy, Namecheap, Hover, or any other registrar, the process is different. You'll disconnect the domain from your old Squarespace site and reconnect it to the new one.
Step 1: Disconnect From the Old Site
Open the old site in your Squarespace dashboard.
Go to Settings → Domains.
Click the connected domain.
Click Disconnect (or Remove).
The domain is now unlinked from the old site. Your DNS records at your registrar are still intact, but they're pointing to a site that no longer claims the domain.
Step 2: Connect to the New Site
Open the new site in your Squarespace dashboard.
Go to Settings → Domains → Use a Domain I Own.
Enter your domain name.
Select your domain provider from the dropdown. If yours isn't listed, select Other and click Connect domain.
If your provider supports automatic connection (some do for GoDaddy, for example), you'll be prompted to log in and authorize the connection. Follow the prompts.
If your provider uses manual DNS connection, Squarespace will display the DNS records you need. Since your domain was previously connected to Squarespace, your A records should already be correct. You'll most likely only need to update the verification CNAME, which is a unique code that ties the domain to your specific site.
Step 3: Update the Verification CNAME
At your domain registrar, find the CNAME record with a host value that looks like a random string of letters and numbers. Update its value to point to verify.squarespace.com. The host value itself will be different for your new site. Copy the exact code from your Squarespace DNS settings panel.
The second CNAME (host: www, pointing to ext-cust.squarespace.com) and your A records should still be correct from the previous connection. Don't change those unless Squarespace's DNS checker flags them.
Leave your MX records alone. These handle email delivery. Deleting them will break any email addresses tied to your domain.
Step 4: Wait for Propagation
DNS changes can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours to fully propagate. During this time, your site may be intermittently unavailable. You can track progress in Settings → Domains → View DNS settings and click Refresh Records. Green means good. Red means something needs fixing.
Step 5: Set as Primary Domain
Once the connection shows "Connected," go to Settings → Domains on the new site and set your custom domain as the primary domain. This redirects all traffic, including the .squarespace.com URL, to your custom domain.
What About Registering a New Domain?
If you're starting fresh and don't have a domain yet, you can register one directly through Squarespace:
Go to Settings → Domains → Get a Domain.
Search for availability and purchase.
The domain connects automatically.
Annual Squarespace plans include a free domain for the first year. SSL is included.
Troubleshooting
"This domain is already connected to another Squarespace site." You didn't fully disconnect the domain from the old site. Go back to the old site's domain settings and disconnect it first.
DNS Error after 48 hours. Open DNS settings on the new site and check which records are flagged in red. The most common issue is a stale verification CNAME pointing to the old site's code instead of the new one.
Site loads but shows "Not Secure." SSL certificates are provisioned automatically once the domain is connected. Give it a few hours. If it persists, confirm your A records and CNAME records match what Squarespace expects. Deprecated or outdated records can block SSL activation.
Old site still loads at the domain. If you moved a Squarespace-registered domain but the old site's content still appears, try setting the old site to Private in its settings. This forces the content to stop serving.
Squarespace's Official Documentation
Squarespace maintains detailed guides for both scenarios:
Moving a Squarespace domain between sites (for Squarespace-registered domains)
Moving a third-party domain between Squarespace sites (for GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.)
If you hit a wall with your specific registrar, those docs include provider-specific instructions and a sample message you can send to your registrar's support team.
Related Reading
The Complete Guide to Squarespace SEO — what to do after your domain is live so search engines find you.
25 Best Practices for Building Sites with Squarespace — a checklist for getting your new site launch-ready.
What's Included in Every Studio Mesa Template — walks through what you get when you install a template.
Start Building
Moving your domain is usually the last step before your new site is live. Whether your domain is managed by Squarespace or a third-party registrar, the process is straightforward once you know which path to follow. Get the domain connected, set it as primary, and you're done.
Article summary
Most people reading this already have a Squarespace site with a custom domain attached to it. You've set up a new site with a Studio Mesa template (or any other template), and you're ready to make the switch. The process depends on where your domain is registered: directly through Squarespace, or through a third-party provider like GoDaddy or Namecheap. Both paths take about 15 minutes. There will be a window where your site may not load while DNS loads.
If Your Domain Is Registered Through Squarespace
This is the simplest scenario. Squarespace has a built-in "Move Domain" feature that handles everything internally.
Steps
Open your Squarespace dashboard and go to the old site (the one currently using the domain).
Navigate to Settings → Domains.
Under Domains Managed by Squarespace, click the domain you want to move.
Scroll down to Move Domain to Another Site.
Select your new site from the list.
Open the new site and click Confirm to finalize.
That's it. The domain, its billing, and its permissions all transfer to the new site. SSL stays active. DNS records update automatically.
Requirements
The new site must be on a paid plan (or at least have billing information attached).
You need site owner or Administrator permissions on both sites.
If the new site is on a different Squarespace account, you'll need to be added as a contributor with Administrator permissions first.
If the new site doesn't appear in the dropdown, it's likely on a trial without billing info, or it's on a Mobile Start plan. Switch to a standard plan and add payment details before attempting the move.
Google Workspace
If you have a Google Workspace email subscription attached to your domain, it should move automatically with the domain. Verify it's working after the transfer.
If Your Domain Is Registered Through a Third Party
If your domain lives with GoDaddy, Namecheap, Hover, or any other registrar, the process is different. You'll disconnect the domain from your old Squarespace site and reconnect it to the new one.
Step 1: Disconnect From the Old Site
Open the old site in your Squarespace dashboard.
Go to Settings → Domains.
Click the connected domain.
Click Disconnect (or Remove).
The domain is now unlinked from the old site. Your DNS records at your registrar are still intact, but they're pointing to a site that no longer claims the domain.
Step 2: Connect to the New Site
Open the new site in your Squarespace dashboard.
Go to Settings → Domains → Use a Domain I Own.
Enter your domain name.
Select your domain provider from the dropdown. If yours isn't listed, select Other and click Connect domain.
If your provider supports automatic connection (some do for GoDaddy, for example), you'll be prompted to log in and authorize the connection. Follow the prompts.
If your provider uses manual DNS connection, Squarespace will display the DNS records you need. Since your domain was previously connected to Squarespace, your A records should already be correct. You'll most likely only need to update the verification CNAME, which is a unique code that ties the domain to your specific site.
Step 3: Update the Verification CNAME
At your domain registrar, find the CNAME record with a host value that looks like a random string of letters and numbers. Update its value to point to verify.squarespace.com. The host value itself will be different for your new site. Copy the exact code from your Squarespace DNS settings panel.
The second CNAME (host: www, pointing to ext-cust.squarespace.com) and your A records should still be correct from the previous connection. Don't change those unless Squarespace's DNS checker flags them.
Leave your MX records alone. These handle email delivery. Deleting them will break any email addresses tied to your domain.
Step 4: Wait for Propagation
DNS changes can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours to fully propagate. During this time, your site may be intermittently unavailable. You can track progress in Settings → Domains → View DNS settings and click Refresh Records. Green means good. Red means something needs fixing.
Step 5: Set as Primary Domain
Once the connection shows "Connected," go to Settings → Domains on the new site and set your custom domain as the primary domain. This redirects all traffic, including the .squarespace.com URL, to your custom domain.
What About Registering a New Domain?
If you're starting fresh and don't have a domain yet, you can register one directly through Squarespace:
Go to Settings → Domains → Get a Domain.
Search for availability and purchase.
The domain connects automatically.
Annual Squarespace plans include a free domain for the first year. SSL is included.
Troubleshooting
"This domain is already connected to another Squarespace site." You didn't fully disconnect the domain from the old site. Go back to the old site's domain settings and disconnect it first.
DNS Error after 48 hours. Open DNS settings on the new site and check which records are flagged in red. The most common issue is a stale verification CNAME pointing to the old site's code instead of the new one.
Site loads but shows "Not Secure." SSL certificates are provisioned automatically once the domain is connected. Give it a few hours. If it persists, confirm your A records and CNAME records match what Squarespace expects. Deprecated or outdated records can block SSL activation.
Old site still loads at the domain. If you moved a Squarespace-registered domain but the old site's content still appears, try setting the old site to Private in its settings. This forces the content to stop serving.
Squarespace's Official Documentation
Squarespace maintains detailed guides for both scenarios:
Moving a Squarespace domain between sites (for Squarespace-registered domains)
Moving a third-party domain between Squarespace sites (for GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.)
If you hit a wall with your specific registrar, those docs include provider-specific instructions and a sample message you can send to your registrar's support team.
Related Reading
The Complete Guide to Squarespace SEO — what to do after your domain is live so search engines find you.
25 Best Practices for Building Sites with Squarespace — a checklist for getting your new site launch-ready.
What's Included in Every Studio Mesa Template — walks through what you get when you install a template.
Start Building
Moving your domain is usually the last step before your new site is live. Whether your domain is managed by Squarespace or a third-party registrar, the process is straightforward once you know which path to follow. Get the domain connected, set it as primary, and you're done.
Article summary
Most people reading this already have a Squarespace site with a custom domain attached to it. You've set up a new site with a Studio Mesa template (or any other template), and you're ready to make the switch. The process depends on where your domain is registered: directly through Squarespace, or through a third-party provider like GoDaddy or Namecheap. Both paths take about 15 minutes. There will be a window where your site may not load while DNS loads.
If Your Domain Is Registered Through Squarespace
This is the simplest scenario. Squarespace has a built-in "Move Domain" feature that handles everything internally.
Steps
Open your Squarespace dashboard and go to the old site (the one currently using the domain).
Navigate to Settings → Domains.
Under Domains Managed by Squarespace, click the domain you want to move.
Scroll down to Move Domain to Another Site.
Select your new site from the list.
Open the new site and click Confirm to finalize.
That's it. The domain, its billing, and its permissions all transfer to the new site. SSL stays active. DNS records update automatically.
Requirements
The new site must be on a paid plan (or at least have billing information attached).
You need site owner or Administrator permissions on both sites.
If the new site is on a different Squarespace account, you'll need to be added as a contributor with Administrator permissions first.
If the new site doesn't appear in the dropdown, it's likely on a trial without billing info, or it's on a Mobile Start plan. Switch to a standard plan and add payment details before attempting the move.
Google Workspace
If you have a Google Workspace email subscription attached to your domain, it should move automatically with the domain. Verify it's working after the transfer.
If Your Domain Is Registered Through a Third Party
If your domain lives with GoDaddy, Namecheap, Hover, or any other registrar, the process is different. You'll disconnect the domain from your old Squarespace site and reconnect it to the new one.
Step 1: Disconnect From the Old Site
Open the old site in your Squarespace dashboard.
Go to Settings → Domains.
Click the connected domain.
Click Disconnect (or Remove).
The domain is now unlinked from the old site. Your DNS records at your registrar are still intact, but they're pointing to a site that no longer claims the domain.
Step 2: Connect to the New Site
Open the new site in your Squarespace dashboard.
Go to Settings → Domains → Use a Domain I Own.
Enter your domain name.
Select your domain provider from the dropdown. If yours isn't listed, select Other and click Connect domain.
If your provider supports automatic connection (some do for GoDaddy, for example), you'll be prompted to log in and authorize the connection. Follow the prompts.
If your provider uses manual DNS connection, Squarespace will display the DNS records you need. Since your domain was previously connected to Squarespace, your A records should already be correct. You'll most likely only need to update the verification CNAME, which is a unique code that ties the domain to your specific site.
Step 3: Update the Verification CNAME
At your domain registrar, find the CNAME record with a host value that looks like a random string of letters and numbers. Update its value to point to verify.squarespace.com. The host value itself will be different for your new site. Copy the exact code from your Squarespace DNS settings panel.
The second CNAME (host: www, pointing to ext-cust.squarespace.com) and your A records should still be correct from the previous connection. Don't change those unless Squarespace's DNS checker flags them.
Leave your MX records alone. These handle email delivery. Deleting them will break any email addresses tied to your domain.
Step 4: Wait for Propagation
DNS changes can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours to fully propagate. During this time, your site may be intermittently unavailable. You can track progress in Settings → Domains → View DNS settings and click Refresh Records. Green means good. Red means something needs fixing.
Step 5: Set as Primary Domain
Once the connection shows "Connected," go to Settings → Domains on the new site and set your custom domain as the primary domain. This redirects all traffic, including the .squarespace.com URL, to your custom domain.
What About Registering a New Domain?
If you're starting fresh and don't have a domain yet, you can register one directly through Squarespace:
Go to Settings → Domains → Get a Domain.
Search for availability and purchase.
The domain connects automatically.
Annual Squarespace plans include a free domain for the first year. SSL is included.
Troubleshooting
"This domain is already connected to another Squarespace site." You didn't fully disconnect the domain from the old site. Go back to the old site's domain settings and disconnect it first.
DNS Error after 48 hours. Open DNS settings on the new site and check which records are flagged in red. The most common issue is a stale verification CNAME pointing to the old site's code instead of the new one.
Site loads but shows "Not Secure." SSL certificates are provisioned automatically once the domain is connected. Give it a few hours. If it persists, confirm your A records and CNAME records match what Squarespace expects. Deprecated or outdated records can block SSL activation.
Old site still loads at the domain. If you moved a Squarespace-registered domain but the old site's content still appears, try setting the old site to Private in its settings. This forces the content to stop serving.
Squarespace's Official Documentation
Squarespace maintains detailed guides for both scenarios:
Moving a Squarespace domain between sites (for Squarespace-registered domains)
Moving a third-party domain between Squarespace sites (for GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.)
If you hit a wall with your specific registrar, those docs include provider-specific instructions and a sample message you can send to your registrar's support team.
Related Reading
The Complete Guide to Squarespace SEO — what to do after your domain is live so search engines find you.
25 Best Practices for Building Sites with Squarespace — a checklist for getting your new site launch-ready.
What's Included in Every Studio Mesa Template — walks through what you get when you install a template.
Start Building
Moving your domain is usually the last step before your new site is live. Whether your domain is managed by Squarespace or a third-party registrar, the process is straightforward once you know which path to follow. Get the domain connected, set it as primary, and you're done.