Choosing the right option for moving your Squarespace domain

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Choosing the right option for moving your Squarespace domain

Last updated May 15, 2024 16:57

Change where your custom domain leads visitors by moving, connecting, forwarding, or pointing the domain.

If you have a Squarespace-managed domain, there are a few ways to change where it leads visitors. The best way to do that depends on what type of site you want it to lead to.

If you want to direct traffic to…

The homepage of a Squarespace site - Move or connect it
A third-party site, or a page other than the homepage on any site - Forward or point it
Somewhere else - Review our list of other options

This guide will help you choose the best option.

Tip: If you have a third-party domain, visit Moving a third-party domain between Squarespace sites instead.

Move or connect a domain

If you want your domain to go to a Squarespace site, you can move it. This merges your domain's billing and permissions with the site's. If your domain is currently parked, you can choose to connect it instead; this keeps the domain's billing and permissions separate.

Use the table below to understand the differences between moving and connecting and decide which option is best for you.

	Move	Connect
What visitors see	The site you moved your domain to.	The site you connected your domain to.
Eligibility	Any domain can be moved to a Squarespace website.	Only parked Squarespace domains can be connected to a Squarespace site.
Use if...	You want your domain and website subscriptions to have the same billing and permission information You want the same contributors to have access to your domain and website.	You want to use different payment methods to pay for your domain and your website You want team members to manage your domain without granting them access to your website
How to set it up	Use the steps in Moving a Squarespace domain between Squarespace sites.	Use the steps in Connecting a Squarespace domain to a Squarespace site.

Forward or point a domain

Tip: This is an advanced step. We recommend moving or connecting if possible.

You can forward or point a domain to direct it to a site or page. Whether you should forward or point your domain depends on what you want visitors to see when they go to your domain:

Forward - Visitors see the new site, and the URL changes to the second site’s URL
Point - Visitors see the new site, but the URL doesn't change

	Forward	Point
What visitors see	The new site. The URL changes to the new site’s URL.	The new site. The URL doesn't change.
What you need	The domain or subdomain name A target URL, either on the same Squarespace site or any non-Squarespace site	The domain or subdomain name A target URL to enter as a CNAME OR an IP address to enter as an A record, from any non-Squarespace site
How to set it up	Use the steps in Forwarding a Squarespace domain.	Use the steps in Pointing a Squarespace domain.

Point a subdomain

To point a subdomain to another Squarespace site, follow our steps for setting up the correct records on both sites. It’s not possible to point a domain or subdomain to a different page of the same Squarespace site.

Other moving options

If the options above don't match what you want to do, use the table below to understand other methods of redirecting your domain's traffic.

If you want to...	Try this instead
Use the same site with a different domain name	Follow our steps to change your primary domain and maintain your online following
Move the domain to a different platform because you're leaving Squarespace	Transfer the domain away from Squarespace to your new provider
Forward traffic from an inactive or changed URL to an active page	Create a URL redirect
Direct a primary domain to a different page on your site	Set a new homepage
Direct a subdomain to the homepage on the same site	Create a subdomain and set it as the primary domain
Direct a domain/subdomain to a specific page on a different site	Follow our steps to forward your domain using a preset
Forward or point a domain/subdomain you registered through a third party	Follow your provider's documentation
Forward traffic from an active domain, and all of its URL slugs, to a new domain	Follow our steps to set up path forwarding
Rebrand your site with a new domain	If you keep your old domain linked to your site, it will automatically redirect to your new domain. To learn more, visit Maintaining your online following after changing your domain.

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Choosing the right option for moving your Squarespace domain

Change where your custom domain leads visitors by moving, connecting, forwarding, or pointing the domain.

Move or connect a domain

Forward or point a domain

Point a subdomain

Other moving options

Report malware

Report phishing or pharming

Report spam

Report Whois contact inaccuracy

Change where your custom domain leads visitors by moving, connecting, forwarding, or pointing the domain.

Move or connect a domain

Forward or point a domain

Point a subdomain

Other moving options

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