Squarespace Domains DNS setup
If your domain is registered at Squarespace, including domains that moved over from Google Domains, connecting it to Redirect Supply means changing a few records in Squarespace’s DNS settings. Your domain stays at Squarespace, and your registration and email don’t change. It takes about five minutes of work, though Squarespace changes can take a while to spread.
Before you start
You need two things ready before you open Squarespace.
Add the domain in Redirect Supply
Add your domain in Redirect Supply first. Its settings page shows the records you’ll need, including a TXT value that’s unique to your domain. Keep that page open in another tab. This guide covers a root domain like brand.com. If you’re connecting a subdomain like go.brand.com, the DNS setup guide explains the differences.
Check where your DNS is managed
Squarespace only lets you edit DNS for domains registered with Squarespace or connected through its nameservers. If your domain’s nameservers point to Cloudflare or another provider, add the records there instead. The Cloudflare DNS setup guide covers the most common case.
Open DNS settings at Squarespace
All the changes in this guide happen in the domain’s DNS panel.
Find the DNS panel
Open your domains dashboard in Squarespace and select the domain. Then select DNS in the side panel. Squarespace may ask for your password or a two-factor code the first time you edit a record.
Records you’ll see there
If the domain was ever connected to a Squarespace site, you’ll see a group of Squarespace default records: A records on @ and a www record pointing to Squarespace. Domains that came from Google Domains often have their old records listed as custom records instead. Either way, anything on @ or www is in Redirect Supply’s way. Not sure what counts? The conflict table on your domain’s page in Redirect Supply lists every record that blocks the setup.
Clear the way
Before adding anything, remove what’s already pointing your domain elsewhere.
Remove the Squarespace default records
If there’s a Squarespace defaults group, delete it with the trash icon and confirm. This disconnects the domain from your Squarespace site, which is what you want when the domain should redirect instead.
Remove old A and www records
Delete any other A records on @ and any CNAME on www. If you’re keeping a record because you’re not sure, check the conflict table first. It tells you which ones actually block the setup.
Turn off domain forwarding
If you set up forwarding for this domain in Squarespace, remove it from the domain’s settings. Squarespace’s own forwarding competes with Redirect Supply, and a site that has both shows errors.
Leave email records alone
MX records and email TXT records like SPF or DKIM keep your email working. They don’t affect redirects, so leave them exactly as they are.
Add the Redirect Supply records
You’ll add four records in the custom records section. In the Host field, enter @ for the root domain or just the prefix. Squarespace fills in the rest of the domain.
Name | Type | Value |
|---|---|---|
www | CNAME | proxy.redirect.supply |
@ | A | 188.114.96.9 |
@ | A | 188.114.97.9 |
_cf-custom-hostname | TXT | Value from your domain’s settings page |
Add two A records for the root domain
Select Add record and choose A. Enter @ as the host and 188.114.96.9 as the data. Add a second A record with host @ and the data 188.114.97.9.
Add the www CNAME
Add a CNAME record with host www and the data proxy.redirect.supply.
Add the TXT record
Add a TXT record with host _cf-custom-hostname and paste the value from your domain’s settings page in Redirect Supply. On some less common domain endings, Redirect Supply also asks for an _acme-challenge TXT record. Add it the same way if you see it.
Save your changes
Save each record as you add it. Squarespace’s default TTL for custom records is 4 hours, which works fine. If you’re setting up a subdomain, use the same TTL on all its records.
Check the status in Redirect Supply
Once the records are saved, you’re done in Squarespace.
Check the conflict table
You don’t have to wait to find out if something’s wrong. Your domain’s page in Redirect Supply shows a conflict table with the records currently on your domain. Anything that blocks the setup, like a leftover Squarespace default or an old www record, is flagged there along with what to do about it. Fix those first, and the rest is just waiting.
How long it takes
Squarespace says DNS changes can take 24 to 48 hours to update. New records are often picked up much sooner, but don’t worry if it takes the better part of a day.
When the domain goes Active
Redirect Supply checks your records automatically. When it finds them, the domain switches to Active and HTTPS is issued on its own, with no extra steps from you. See Domain statuses for what each status means along the way.
Squarespace-specific issues
Most problems on Squarespace come from records or settings left over from an old site connection.
The domain still opens your old Squarespace site
The Squarespace default records are still there, or the domain is still set as a site domain. Delete the default records, and remove the domain from the old site if it’s still listed there.
The DNS panel isn’t editable
Your domain uses nameservers somewhere else, so Squarespace can’t change its records. Add the records with the provider your nameservers point to.
The site shows an error after the change
A record and a forwarding rule are both pointing at the same domain. Remove the forwarding rule in Squarespace and keep only Redirect Supply’s records.
The domain is stuck on Pending
Open the conflict table on your domain’s page in Redirect Supply. It shows which record is blocking the setup, usually a leftover default or an old Google Domains record. Remove what it flags and wait a few minutes. Record conflicts covers the common cases.