Connecting an IWantMyName domain to your Squarespace site

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

Last updated August 23, 2023

Before you begin, review our requirements for connecting a third-party domain. You may also find IWantMyName's guides helpful as you work 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.

  1. Select iwantmyname.com from the drop-down menu.
  2. Click Connect domain.
  3. In the message that appears, click Continue.
  4. A new panel will open with the records to create in your iwantmyname.com account. Keep this panel open for your reference.

Step 2 - Log into iwantmyname.com

To get started in IWantMyName:

  1. Go to www.iwantmyname.com, then log into your account
  2. Click the Services drop-down, then select Apps & Services.
  3. Search for Squarespace in the Search Apps field.
  4. Next to the domain you're connecting, click Add Squarespace.

Note

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

Step 3 - Verify your Squarespace site

Your iwantmyname.com account requires that you verify your Squarespace site by adding a unique code from your DNS Settings panel. 

  1. In the first line of your Squarespace DNS Settings, copy the unique code that appears directly below the Host column. The unique code is a random string of numbers and letters. You don't need to copy the required data (verify.squarespace.com). IWantMyName adds this for you automatically.
  2. In your IWantMyName account, paste the unique code in the Unique verification code field, then click Install Squarespace.

Note

If you don't add this verification code, 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.

You'll see a prompt notifying you that the setup for Squarespace has started. The process may take a few minutes to complete.

Note

You don't need to add your domain to your Squarespace account, since you did that in the first step of this guide.

Step 5 - 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 iwantmyname.com account, visit their documentation or contact them. To help them understand your issue, you can use our sample message.

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Connecting an IWantMyName domain to your Squarespace site