If you purchased a domain from WordPress 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 WordPress' guide 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.

5. Select WordPress from the drop-down menu.
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 WordPress account. Keep this panel open for your reference.

Step 2 - Log into WordPress

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

1. Go to WordPress, then log into your account.
2. In the left sidebar, click My Site, click Upgrades, then click Domains.
3. Click the domain you're connecting to Squarespace.
4. Click Change your name servers & DNS records.
5. Click DNS records.

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, copy the unique code that 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 WordPress account, add your first record in the fields that appear below.

1. From the Type drop-down menu, select CNAME.
2. In the first field, paste the unique code from the Host column of the Domains panel.
3. In the Alias Of (Points To) field, enter verify.squarespace.com
4. Click Add new DNS record.

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.

In your WordPress account, add another record.

1. From the Type drop-down menu, select CNAME.
2. In the first field, enter www
3. In the Alias Of (Points To) field, enter ext-cust.squarespace.com
4. Click Add new DNS record.

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. Using the steps below, create four A records in WordPress matching these values.

In your WordPress account, add another record.

1. Select A from the drop-down menu.
2. Leave the first field blank.
3. In the Alias Of (Points To) field, enter 198.185.159.144
4. Click Add new DNS record.

Repeat this step to create three more A records for the following IP addresses:

• 198.185.159.145
• 198.49.23.144
• 198.49.23.145

Note: If you have similar A records in place, adding a new A record with the same Name value should replace it.

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 WordPress account, contact their support team. To help them understand your issue, you can use our sample message. You can also visit their documentation.