Transferring a Network Solutions domain to Squarespace

To manage all aspects of your site in one place, move your domain billing and settings from Network Solutions to Squarespace.

Last updated September 11, 2023

If you have a domain with Network Solutions, you can transfer it to Squarespace by following this guide. When you transfer your domain, you can manage all of your domain settings and billing from your Squarespace account. You may also find Network Solutions' guide helpful as you work on the transfer.

Before you begin the transfer, consider reviewing:

Step 1 - Log into Network Solutions and verify domain contact information

Networks Solutions will send your authorization code to your primary contact, and Squarespace will send the transfer verification to your Whois contact. To ensure a smooth transition, set the domain's primary contact and Whois contact as the same person, then let that person handle the transfer. Ensure that the email address listed for both is accurate and accessible.

Log into Network Solutions to verify both email addresses:

  1. Go to Network Solutions, then log into your account.
  2. In the top-right corner, click your account icon, then click My Profile & Security.
  3. Under Profile, ensure the email address shown is correct.
  4. To change any information, click Edit
  5. Use a public Whois website, like Tucows or ICANN's lookup, to verify the domain's administrative contact email address. It may take up to 24 hours for changes to the domain's information to update on the public Whois website.
  6. If the email address shown is incorrect, follow Network Solutions' instructions to update your Whois contact information.   

Step 2 - Unlock domain and request authorization code

To complete the transfer, you'll need to unlock the domain, and request the authorization code:

  1. In the sidebar, click Domain Names.
  2. Find the domain you're transferring, then click Manage in the Actions column. 
  3. Click Transfer or Move Domain, then ensure your domain is unlocked by confirming that the toggle is set to Domain Unlocked. If it's locked, click the toggle to unlock the domain. 
  4. Click Request Auth Code, then click Continue Transfer
  5. Check the box acknowledging Network Solutions' transfer terms, then click Continue Transfer.
  6. Complete the survey questions, then click Save

Network Solutions will send your authorization code to the contact email address you confirmed in your User Profile. You’ll enter this code later, so ensure that you have access to the email. 

Step 3 - Start the transfer and enter the authorization code

Begin the transfer process in your Squarespace site’s Domains panel:

  1. Open the Domains panel for the Squarespace site you're transferring to..
  2. Click Use a domain I own.
  3. Enter the full domain name you’re transferring in the Enter domain field, then click the arrow.
  4. Click Transfer domain.
  5. In the Authorization code field, paste the authorization code, then click Save and continue.

Step 4 - Review and confirm the registration details

In the Registration panel, confirm the contact information associated with the domain is correct. These fields automatically populate with registration information we detect from your WHOIS records with your original registrar. For help formatting these fields, visit Domain contact information.

To review and edit the registration details:

  1. Ensure that the address shown in the Email Address field is correct, as this is how we’ll notify you that your transfer is complete.
  2. Make any necessary changes to the information. Your changes will update on your WHOIS records when your transfer is complete.
  3. When everything looks correct and all required fields are complete, click Save and Continue.

Step 5 - Enter or review your payment information

In the Payment Information panel, the card attached to your site appears as the payment method. If your site is on a trial, you'll enter your credit card information. When everything looks correct, click Save and continue.

If you have any trouble entering your credit card information, ensure you're using a payment method we accept.

Step 6 - Review your order

In the Review Order panel, you'll see the details for the transfer. By transferring your domain to Squarespace, you’ll be charged for one additional year of domain registration with Squarespace. Pricing is based on your domain’s TLD, and may be free if you’re eligible.

To confirm the transfer:

  1. Review the payment information.
  2. Confirm the total charge for one year of domain registration.
  3. Review the terms near the bottom of the panel, including your domain’s new expiration date.
  4. If everything looks correct, click Confirm and Purchase.
  5. You'll see a message confirming you've initiated the transfer. Click Done to return to your Domains panel.

Step 7 - Accept the transfer from Network Solutions

After you've entered your authorization code, Network Solutions sends an email to the domain's primary contact. You can use the email to approve or deny the transfer, or you can wait five days for Network Solutions to approve the transfer automatically.

Step 8 - Check the transfer status and fix issues

Next, return to the Domains panel to confirm the transfer is in progress. If there's an issue with the domain, an error message will display.

To check the status of your transfer:

  1. In the Domains panel, you'll see a "Transfer in progress" message under your domain.
  2. Click your domain, then click Refresh status to see the current status.

Transfer status error messages

If your domain displays an error message, you can clear it depending on the message:

  • Domain is locked - This message displays if the domain is locked, which blocks the transfer. To fix the issue, log into Network Solutions, then unlock the domain. After unlocking the domain, this message will clear.
  • Authorization code needed - This message displays if Network Solutions rejected the authorization code you entered in Step 3. To fix the issue, ensure the authorization code is correct, enter it in the error message's text field, then click Submit. We suggest copying and pasting the code for accuracy. After entering the correct authorization code, this message will clear.

Step 9 - Review DNS settings (optional)

While you wait for the transfer to complete, you can review your domain's DNS settings:

  1. In the Home menu, click Settings, then click Domains.
  2. Click the domain that's pending transfer, then click Edit DNS.
  3. To delete records you no longer need, click the red trash can.
  4. To create a new custom record for your domain, click Add record

As you review the DNS records, keep in mind:

  • While the domain is transferring, the DNS Settings panel can only display MX, TXT, A, CNAME, and SRV records. These records are imported from your domain provider. You can compare the records in the Squarespace DNS Settings panel to your provider's settings to determine if any are missing.
  • If you have a custom email address attached to your domain, leave the MX records in place.

Step 10 - Wait for the transfer to complete

Network Solutions should release the domain to Squarespace. If your domain transfer is still pending after 15 days, and you’ve correctly followed all steps above, contact Network Solutions for more details. This timing is out of Squarespace’s control.

While your transfer is in progress, we don't recommend changing your DNS settings or adding a Google Workspace email account. Wait until your domain is fully transferred before adding any new integrations.

When the domain is fully transferred, you'll receive a "Thank you" email from customercare@squarespace.com, and the domain will appear in the Domains panel with a green label. 

Troubleshooting failed transfers

If your domain fails to transfer, you’ll get an email from Squarespace. This can happen if you entered wrong information in the registration field, Network Solutions rejected the transfer, or for other reasons. For a full list of scenarios, see our FAQ

Tip

Cancel or remove the transfer

If your domain transfer is pending, you may be able to cancel it. For more information, visit Canceling a domain transfer.

If the transfer failed and you need to try again, you can remove the current transfer before starting over.

Next steps

After the domain transfer is complete, you can: 

Getting more help

For more help with transferring from Network Solutions, contact their support team. You can also visit their documentation.

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Transferring a Network Solutions domain to Squarespace