You can use your Squarespace domain’s DNS settings panel to forward the domain to a different site. When visitors enter the domain, the other site displays, and its domain is in the browser address bar. This can be helpful if you want to use the domain for a different site, but it’s not eligible for transfer.
You can also use these settings to forward a subdomain. This is useful if you have an element of your brand on a second site, like a store or blog, that you’d like to direct to another site.
This guide explains the different steps for forwarding a domain or subdomain.
Before you begin
- Forwarding your domain is an advanced step that you might not need. Usually, you can use a different process to change where your domain points. For a complete list of options, visit Moving domains overview.
- Review the differences between pointing and forwarding to ensure that you’re choosing the right option.
- This guide covers forwarding Squarespace domains. To forward a domain or subdomain you registered with a third party, follow your provider’s documentation.
- This process forwards the full URL of the domain, which includes the "www" and the "naked" version of the domain — for example, www.yourdomain.com and yourdomain.com.
- To include the “https://“ at the beginning of the domain's full URL, double-check your site’s SSL settings to ensure they’re set to Secure and HSTS Secure. If your SSL settings are set to Insecure, forwarding the "https://" version of your domain won't work.
- It's not possible to forward a built-in domain.
Forward to a non-Squarespace site
To forward a domain or subdomain to a site outside Squarespace, use the presets in your DNS settings panel.
Tip: To redirect a domain to Big Cartel, SiteGround, SmugMug, Systeme.io or Zoho, follow our specific steps for pointing the domain instead of the steps in this guide.
- Open DNS settings for the domain you’d like to forward.
- In the Squarespace defaults section, click the red trash can to delete your default records. Your domain can’t forward to another site when these defaults are in place. You can always add them again if you need them later.
Note: If you have a custom CNAME record with host www instead of default records, delete that instead.
- From the Add preset drop-down menu, select Forward domain.
- In the pop-up message, enter the full URL of the domain or specific page to forward to and then click Add. This creates a Forward domain section with an A record and a CNAME.
- Open a new private or incognito window, then enter your domain’s URL. If your records are correct, you’ll be directed to the new site, and that site’s URL will appear in the browser address bar.
Forward a subdomain
The process for forwarding a subdomain also uses a preset in the DNS settings panel. Forwarding a subdomain can be helpful if you want to extend part of your brand, like a store or blog, onto a second site.
Because a subdomain is an extension of an existing root domain, ensure that you start with the site using that root domain. For example, to forward the subdomain “blog.mysite.com,” start by logging into the site using the “mysite.com” root domain.
Note: Ensure that the subdomain isn’t linked as a third-party domain in the Domains panel. If you try to forward it, you’ll see an error.
- Open DNS settings for the root domain.
- From the Add Preset drop-down menu, select Subdomain.
- In the Subdomain field, enter the name of the subdomain to forward, such as blog.
- In the Forward subdomain section, click either My Squarespace site's homepage or Another website or Squarespace page, depending on where you want the subdomain to point.
- If you select Another website or Squarespace page, enter the full URL of the domain or specific page you’d like to forward to.
- Click Add to complete the process. This creates a Forward subdomain section with a CNAME record.
- In a new private or incognito window, enter your subdomain URL. If your records are correct, you’ll be directed to the new page or site and that site’s URL will appear in the browser address bar.
Forward to a different Squarespace site
Instead of forwarding the domain, move it to the other site. You don’t need to use a forwarding preset, meaning you’ll go through fewer steps. Moving your domain also moves your domain subscription to the second site, letting you manage all relevant site subscriptions in one place.
To use a subdomain on the other site, create a subdomain after moving the root domain. You can then set the subdomain as the site’s primary domain.
Forward to a specific page
You can forward either a root domain or a subdomain to a specific page. The page can be on the same site where the domain is currently connected or a different site. How you forward to a specific page depends on if you're forwarding a root domain or subdomain.
Forward a root domain to a specific page
To forward a root domain to a specific page:
- Ensure that the domain isn't the site's primary domain. If it is, set a different domain as the primary domain.
- Use the same process for forwarding to a non-Squarespace site, but enter the full page URL, including the specific page slug.
For example, if we want to forward the domain createbeautifulwebsite.org to donuts4u.com's blog page, we’ll use the Forward domain preset and the full URL for the blog page including the slug, www.donuts4u.com/blog.
Forward a subdomain to a specific page
To forward a subdomain to a specific page, use the same process as forwarding a subdomain, but enter the full page URL, including the specific page's slug.
For example, if we want to forward the subdomain blog.contentalley.net to donuts4u.com's blog page, we'll use the Forward subdomain preset and the full URL for the blog page including the slug, www.donuts4u.com/blog.
FAQ
Why am I getting a “DNS Conflict Alert” message?
The "DNS Conflict Alert" message shows when the subdomain you're trying to forward is connected to your site as a third-party domain. This creates a conflict in your DNS records. If you’re forwarding a subdomain, you don’t need to connect it. You only need to create it in your root domain’s DNS settings panel.
Follow these steps to resolve this:
- Review your Domains panel to find your subdomain listed in the Domains managed by third-party section.
- Follow the steps in Disconnecting a third-party domain to remove the subdomain.
- Return to the original domain’s DNS settings panel and delete any custom records you’ve added for the subdomain.
- Forward your subdomain using the preset.
Why isn’t my domain forwarding?
Because of the way browsers cache information, it may take some time for your domain to forward properly. To help speed up the process, check your forwarded domain using a private browsing window or clear your browser’s cache.
How do I remove domain forwarding?
To remove domain forwarding:
- Open your domain's DNS settings.
- In the Forward domain section, click the red trash can to delete the records.
- If you want the domain to point to your site, select Squarespace defaults from the Add preset drop-down menu.
Can I edit the DNS records of my forwarded Squarespace domain?
It’s not possible to edit the DNS records of a Squarespace domain once it’s actively forwarding. As a workaround, follow these steps:
- Temporarily remove domain forwarding from the Squarespace domain.
- Open the domain’s DNS settings panel to edit the DNS records.
- Save the changes, and re-add domain forwarding to your domain using the presets in the DNS settings panel.