Image and file URLs in Squarespace

Find the direct URL to the images and files you've added to your site.

Last updated January 9, 2025

When you upload an image, video, or other file to Squarespace, it's stored by our content delivery network service providers (CDNs) and assigned a specific URL for storing and retrieving it as a static asset.

Note

It's not possible to customize or redirect a static asset URL.

Static URLs

What happens when you upload a file depends on the type of file.

Images

When you upload an image, we store multiple sizes. Each size version is automatically assigned a specific static URL so browsers can quickly reload the images each time someone revisits a page.

This process helps your site’s global performance and improves your page loading times, which in turn increases your ranking in Google search results.

Videos

When you upload a video, we automatically convert it to an .mp4 file that can display at 1080p or 360p to maximize compatibility with all devices, browsers, and internet connections. There's no way to manually select which resolution displays.

Other files

When you upload any file via the link editor, we automatically create a static URL that visitors can use to view or download the file.

Find your image's static URL

In some places on your site, you can right-click an image and open it in a new tab. When you do so, the image's URL then appears in your browser's address bar. If you can't right-click the image, view the page's source information for the image or use your browser's built-in tools. Ensure you're using a supported browser, then visit your browser's documentation for more help.

Look for URLs that begin with images.squarespace-cdn.com, static.squarespace.com, or static1.squarespace.com followed by a string of random characters and the format. For example, the 1000 pixels-wide version of your image will have format=1000w at the end. The format changes based on the size of the browser viewing your site.

Note

It's not possible to download your uploaded videos in the same way. Ensure you keep a backup of any video files you upload. To offer video files for download, upload them as a file via the link editor or as a download product.

Delete your image, video, or file URL

How you fully delete your image or file URLs depends on what you’d like to delete.

Images and videos

You can manually and immediately delete images or videos and their URLs from your site in the Asset library. To learn how, visit Managing and reusing images and videos.

Our system automatically removes assets that aren't in use on a site in eight to 38 days. Timing depends on how the asset was deleted. For example:

  • When you delete an image block from a page, it takes eight days for our system to remove the image from the Asset library.
  • If you delete a page with an image block in it, the page moves to the trash can and remains there until the trash can is automatically emptied in 30 days. After your trash can is emptied, the image takes another eight days to be fully removed.

Files

After you delete files from your site, they remain in the CDN as static assets, linked to their URL. Before being fully removed, the deleted files aren't visible on your site, so they won't appear to visitors. However, they're temporarily stored in the background of our system, so if anyone has the direct link, they can still view them.

To ensure your files get removed:

  1. Delete all instances of the file from your site.
  2. If you delete the page where you uploaded the file, empty your site's trash can.

It takes our system between eight and 38 days to fully remove files.

Request file removal

If you need a file deleted sooner, send us an email or start a chat from the email address listed as the owner on the site. For bulk deletion requests, please email instead of starting a chat.

Include the following information in the email or chat request:

  • The phrase Static URL Removal Request.
  • Your domain name or built-in domain (you.squarespace.com).
  • The static URL(s) of the file(s) you’d like to remove from our CDN. We recommend copying and pasting these from your browser’s address bar to avoid any typos.
  • If you need multiple assets removed, separate each URL with a comma.

When we process your request, it might take some time for the static URL to deactivate. Visitors who saved the link might still access the file for a period of time after your request. The exact timing of when URLs completely disappear from the CDN depends on many factors. This isn't something Squarespace can control or expedite.

Search engines might also display your static URL in search results for a period of time if they previously indexed it. With some search engines, like Google, you can request they re-index your site to remove this from search results.

Other URLs

Learn more about Squarespace's CDNs

CDNs consist of networks of third-party servers and data centers around the world. To learn more, visit Where does Squarespace store my data.

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