If you purchased a domain from DreamHost and want to keep it registered with them, you can connect it to your site using DNS Connect.

Before you begin, review our requirements for connecting a third-party domain. You may also find DreamHost's guide helpful while working on the connection.

Tip: If your domain is eligible, we recommend transferring it instead of connecting it. Learn more about the differences between transferring and connecting or get started with a transfer.

Step 1 - Start the connection in Squarespace

To connect your domain, start in the Domains panel:

1. Open the Domains panel.
2. Click Use a domain I own.
3. Enter the full domain name you’re connecting in the Enter domain field, then click the arrow.
4. Click Connect domain.

Note: If you see a message that says "This domain is already connected to another Squarespace site," check your other Squarespace sites to find where the domain is connected. After finding the site, disconnect the domain.

5. Select DreamHost from the drop-down menu, if it's not already selected.
6. Click Connect domain.
7. In the message that appears, click Continue.
8. A new panel will open with the records to create in your DreamHost account. Keep this panel open for your reference.

Step 2 - Log into DreamHost

Open a new browser window or tab to access your DreamHost account:

1. Go to DreamHost, then log into your account.
2. In the sidebar, click the Domains drop-down menu, then select Manage Domains.
3. To edit your DNS records, you'll need to switch from full hosting to DNS Only hosting. If you see DNS Only in the Web Hosting column for your domain, move on to Step 3 of this guide. For more information on setting your domain to DNS Only, visit DreamHost's guide.
4. Before adjusting your hosting, ensure that under Security you see HTTPS Not Secure.
5. If you see HTTPS Secure instead, click that text, then click Remove Certificate. Click Manage Domains to return to the screen where you'll switch hosting. Your domain will automatically get a new SSL certificate after you connect it to Squarespace.
6. Under Web Hosting, click Remove.

You'll now copy the records from the DNS Settings panel of your Squarespace site into your domain's settings.

Note: Don't delete MX records during this process. MX Records connect your email address, and deleting them could interfere with your email service.

Step 3 - Add the first CNAME

In the first line of your Squarespace DNS Settings, a unique code appears directly below the Host column. The unique code is a random string of numbers and letters that must point to verify.squarespace.com. In your DreamHost account, you'll add a new record with these values:

Note: If you're using external nameservers, you can't manage your DreamHost domain's DNS records. For steps on changing to DreamHost nameservers, visit their guide.

1. In the Records section, click Add Record.
2. Next to CNAME, click Add.
3. In the Host field, copy and paste the unique code that appears directly below the Host column in your DNS Settings panel
4. In the Points to field, enter verify.squarespace.com
5. Click Add More, then continue to Step 4 to add the second CNAME in the same window.

Note: If you don't add this CNAME, or if it's entered incorrectly, the domain will unlink from your site after 15 days. If this happens, you can start over to reconnect the domain.

Step 4 - Add the second CNAME

In the second line of your Squarespace DNS Settings, www appears directly below the Host column. This record must point to ext-cust.squarespace.com.

1. In the Host field, enter www
2. In the Points to field, enter ext-cust.squarespace.com
3. Click Add Records.

Note: If you have an existing CNAME set up with the Name www, edit this CNAME so the Value is ext-cust.squarespace.com

Step 5 - Add A records

In the last four lines of your Squarespace DNS Settings, you'll see four IP addresses in the Required Data column. Create four A records in your DreamHost account matching these values:

1. In your DreamHost account, click DNS.
2. In the Records section, click Add Record.
3. Next to A, click Add.
4. Leave the Host field blank.
5. In the Points to field, enter 198.185.159.144
6. Click Add More.

Repeat this process three more times using the following values in the Points to field:

• 198.185.159.145
• 198.49.23.144
• 198.49.23.145

After you add all four A records, click Add Records.

Note: If you have existing A records, edit any with a blank Name so the Value matches the values above. If you see other A records in your account that don’t match what’s shown in this guide:

• Host: blank - Delete only if it doesn't match what’s shown in this guide.
• Host: Mail or Email - Don’t delete. This connects to your email address. Deleting it could interfere with your email service.

Step 6 - Wait for the connection to complete

Now that you've entered the records, it can take 24 to 72 hours for the connection to start working properly. While you wait:

• You can watch the connection's progress. Return to your Squarespace DNS Settings, click Refresh records, and the Current Data column will show green labels as your domain connects. When the domain is correctly linked, it will appear in the Domains panel with a Connected label.
• It’s normal to see errors in the Domains panel or when visiting your domain for up to 72 hours after completing the steps in this guide. If you see any error messages after 72 hours has passed, see our tips below, or visit Troubleshooting domain connections.

Troubleshoot with the DNS record checker

If we detect that your records weren’t set up properly, your domain will appear in the Domains panel with the message Can’t verify domain ownership. To troubleshoot, use the DNS checker tool in the DNS Settings panel to see the exact CNAME and A records to fix.

Getting more help

For more help with settings in your DreamHost account, contact their support team. To help them understand your issue, you can use our sample message. You can also visit their documentation.