Moving Your Squarespace Domain to Another Site
Moving a Squarespace domain between sites is simpler than you might think. Whether you're consolidating sites or switching to a new design, here's how to do it without breaking anything.
TL;DR:
- You can move domains between paid Squarespace sites, and billing moves with the domain
- Both the old and new sites must be on paid plans (not Mobile Start)
- You need owner or administrator access to both sites
- Google Workspace subscriptions usually transfer automatically
- The process takes 24-48 hours to complete fully
Before You Start
Check that both sites meet the requirements. You'll need paid Squarespace sites on both ends. Mobile Start plans won't work, so upgrade those first if needed.
Make sure you have the right permissions. You need to be the site owner or have administrator access on both the current site and the destination site.
If your sites use different currencies, the domain billing will switch to match the new site's currency. Keep this in mind for your accounting.
One thing that catches people out is auto-renew settings. If auto-renew is turned off on your domain, it won't magically switch back on after the move. You'll need to enable it manually if you want it.
How to Move Your Domain
Head to your Squarespace domain dashboard and find the domain you want to move. Click on it to open the settings.
Look for the 'Move domain' option and click it. You'll see thumbnails of your eligible sites. Pick the destination site and confirm your choice.
The system will walk you through the confirmation steps. Double-check everything before you hit that final confirm button.
When Things Go Wrong
If you don't see any eligible sites in the dropdown, check that your destination sites are on paid plans. Mobile Start plans need upgrading to standard plans before they can receive domains.
Sometimes you'll get an "unable to move" error. Check your email for specific instructions from Squarespace, or contact their support team. They're usually pretty quick to sort these issues out.
Google Workspace Transfers
If you have Google Workspace tied to your domain, it should move automatically. Just make sure the Workspace account isn't suspended before you start the transfer.
The key word here is "should." Keep an eye on your email services during the transition period to make sure everything's working as expected.
Other Services Don't Move
Here's something that trips people up: other Squarespace services like Email Campaigns won't transfer with your domain. You'll need to cancel them on the old site and set them up fresh on the new one.
Plan for this downtime and make sure your subscribers know what's happening if you're moving email services.
FAQs
Can I move my domain to a site on a Mobile Start plan?
No, you need to upgrade to a standard plan first. Mobile Start plans can't receive domain transfers.
What happens to my Email Campaigns subscription?
It stays with the old site. You'll need to cancel it and set up a new one on the destination site.
How long before my domain points to the new site?
Usually 24-48 hours, but it can take up to 72 hours in some cases. DNS changes aren't instant.
Will my domain billing change?
Yes, it moves to the new site's billing cycle and currency. The domain will renew along with the new site.
Jargon Buster
Domain – Your website address (like www.yoursite.com)
Google Workspace – Google's business email and office tools (formerly G Suite)
Auto-renew – Automatic renewal of your domain registration before it expires
Mobile Start – Squarespace's basic mobile-only plan that has limited features
DNS – Domain Name System, the internet's address book that connects domain names to websites
Wrap-up
Moving domains between Squarespace sites is straightforward when you know the requirements. Make sure both sites are on paid plans, check your permissions, and plan for any additional services that need recreating.
The actual move only takes a few clicks, but give yourself 48 hours for everything to settle. If you run into problems, Squarespace support can usually sort them out quickly.
Ready to level up your Squarespace skills? Join Pixelhaze Academy for more in-depth tutorials and expert guidance.