Uploading and managing files

Upload, reuse, rename, and delete files on your site through our link editor.

Last updated June 28, 2024

You can upload, reuse, rename, and delete files from any link editor.

  • File uploads must be 20 MB or smaller.
  • Files added elsewhere, like gallery block images or CSS files, aren't stored in the link editor.

Note

When you upload files through our link editor, visitors click a link to open or download the file. To display files directly on the page with other site content, visit Displaying files on your site.

To let visitors upload files on your site via a form block, visit Form fields explained.

Watch a video

If you aren't sure how to add a link, visit the guide for the type of link you want to add, then return to this guide for details on file management:

Upload a new file

To upload a new file:

  1. In the link editor, select File from the drop-down menu.
  2. Click the upload icon to select a file from your computer. If you want to link to a file you've already uploaded to your site, you can search for it, or select it from the Recently uploaded list. A checkmark appears beside your selected file.
  3. Switch the Open link in new tab toggle on to have the file open in a new tab. Keep in mind, some file types may open in a new tab when visitors click the link regardless of this setting.

If the upload button doesn't work, this is usually caused by an issue with your browser or device. We recommend following our browser troubleshooting steps and trying again.

To link to a file you uploaded previously:

  1. In the link editor, select File from the drop-down menu.
  2. Select the file in the Recently uploaded list, or if it doesn't appear there, search for it and select it. A checkmark appears beside your selected file.

Edit a file name

To edit the name of a file you uploaded:

  1. In the link editor, hover over the file and click the pencil icon.
  2. Edit the file name in the field.
  3. Press Enter.

Delete a file

To delete a file, hover over the file in the link editor and click the trash can icon.

Note

After you delete a file from your site, it remains in our content delivery network service provider (CDN) as a static asset, linked to its URL. To learn more about fully deleting files from your site, visit Image and file URLs in Squarespace.

Opening files

When visitors click file links, the file opens in their browser. After choosing a file, switch the Open link in new tab toggle on to make the file open in a new tab. Some file types, like .docx files, download automatically rather than opening in the browser, regardless of this setting.

The file name displays on the browser tab, and if they download the file, it saves to their computer using the file name.

Files_Name.gif

Download your files

While it's not possible to download all files from your site at the same time, you can download each file to your computer individually. To download files:

  1. Go to a page where you've linked a file. It doesn't matter if you're logged in or not if the page is public.
  2. Right-click or control + click the file link, then click Save link as.... Depending on your browser, this text may be slightly different, like Download linked file.
  3. If a download window appears, choose where the file downloads on your computer, then click Save to confirm.

Common file types

You can upload most types of files to your site. Here are some common file types you might use:

  • .zip files - You can only add one file to each link. To link to multiple files at once, you can zip the files together and upload the .zip file as long as it's under 20 MB.
  • .pdf files - .pdf form functions won't work on forms uploaded to Squarespace.
  • .docx files - Visitors can only download .docx files, even if you enable Open link in new tab.

File uploads elsewhere

Apart from linking to files, you can also add files in other areas of your site. You'll upload these files separately, and they won't appear in the file manager of the link editor.

  • Images - Images uploaded to galleries, blocks, banners, or backgrounds display directly on your site rather than as linked files.
  • Site logo - Your site logo displays in place of your site title.
  • Favicon or browser icon - Favicons display in browser tabs.
  • Audio - Audio files uploaded to audio blocks play directly on your site. You can use these to set up podcasts.
  • CSS files - Image and font files uploaded to the custom CSS editor can be used in custom CSS.

Developer asset uploads

If you use the Squarespace Developer Platform, you can upload and sync all your template files through a Github connection. To learn more, visit our Developer documentation.

FAQ

Can I change the file's URL?

No. Our content delivery network (CDN) assigns URLs automatically, and they can't be changed. To learn more, visit Image and file URLs in Squarespace.

Can I protect my files from appearing in search engine results?

If you upload a file to a password-protected page, search engines can't access the page or index the file. However, if the page is indexed before setting the password, the file's CDN URL won't be password-protected, and search engines can still index the file, even after setting a page password.

To keep files secure, we recommend removing the file, then re-uploading it after setting a page password.

Can I add passwords to files?

While you can add a password to a page where you've uploaded a file, it's not possible to password-protect an uploaded file directly.

Why is my file downloading instead of opening in the browser?

Whether a file opens or downloads may depend on an individual browser's settings. Some files, like .docx files, may always download, even if Open link in new tab is enabled.

Footer Image
  • Get help from our community

  • Get help from our community on advanced customizations.

  • Hire a Squarespace Expert

  • Stand out online with the help of an experienced designer or developer.