The DNS Mistakes That Break Squarespace Sites (And How to Avoid Them)

Ensure seamless connectivity for your Squarespace site by mastering DNS settings. Avoid common pitfalls with our straightforward guide.

Modify Your Domain's DNS Settings in Squarespace for External Domains: A Step-by-Step Guide

Modify Your Domain's DNS Settings in Squarespace for External Domains: A Step-by-Step Guide

Why This Matters

Every successful online venture, whether it's a one-page portfolio or a bustling ecommerce shop, depends on one very plain, but vital, ingredient: a domain that connects reliably to the rest of your digital world. For small business owners and freelancers who use Squarespace, getting your domain to 'speak' to email providers, newsletter tools, analytics platforms and other services can quickly cause headaches. Mess it up, and you’re looking at lost emails, error messages instead of homepages, and even worse, time and money flying straight out the window.

It comes down to those deceptively simple strings and numbers tucked away in your DNS settings. Touch the wrong one, and you risk breaking critical connections. If you leave things as they are, your website or those external tools you rely on might never interact properly. Considering how much trust and reputation rides on your web presence, these problems can quickly become significant interruptions.

Most website guides sprinkle a few screenshots, leave you adrift in technical jargon, and cross their fingers. Yet knowing precisely how to adjust DNS records is a powerful skill. When you master these basics, you can onboard new services in minutes, troubleshoot confidently, and avoid that cold, creeping dread when an important email goes astray or your shop goes offline.

Common Pitfalls

Let's be honest: DNS settings have an uncanny ability to make grown adults mutter at screens. The panel itself isn’t especially unfriendly, but the logic feels backward if you’ve never fiddled with zones or propagated records.

By far the most frequent mistake is confusing Nameserver Connect and DNS Connect. These terms sound official and both involve domains, but they steer you down entirely different routes. Click the wrong option, and you might spend half a day waiting for imaginary changes to take effect.

A close second: blithely following a third-party's guide which assumes you're using GoDaddy, not Squarespace, and blundering straight into a record with a missing dot or an extra space. The result? That 'professional' email service you signed up for continues sending your contact forms into the ether.

A third common issue is uncertainty about when to edit DNS at all. People often tinker when it's unnecessary, disrupting perfectly healthy connections, or hesitate when a required record goes missing.

Step-by-Step Fix

If you want to save yourself the pain of unexplained downtime and bouncing emails, follow this process. Each step is laid out clearly so you know what to do, why it works, and how to respond if anything gets complicated.

Step 1: Confirm Your Domain Connection Type

Before jumping into DNS settings, you need to know what controls your records. Squarespace domains and external domains require different approaches. Mixing them up will waste your morning.

How to check:

  1. Log in to Squarespace and open your site.
  2. Head to 'Settings' and select 'Domains'.
  3. You’ll see your connected domains listed. Look for wording like 'Managed by Squarespace' (Squarespace domain or Nameserver Connect) or 'Connected via DNS settings' / 'Third-party domain' (DNS Connect).

If you spot your registrar listed (e.g., Google Domains, 123-reg), you’re dealing with a third-party domain. This tells you where you need to make any DNS changes going forward.

Pixelhaze Tip:
Make note of which provider your domain is with, recording the exact company name. Keep their login details somewhere safe, rather than scrawling them on the back of an old envelope.
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Step 2: Access the Correct DNS Settings Panel

Now it’s time to get to work. Where you go depends on your answer to Step 1:

  • Squarespace-managed (Nameserver Connect): All changes happen within Squarespace. No need to log anywhere else.
  • Third-party domain (DNS Connect): You head to your domain provider’s control panel, not Squarespace, for DNS record changes.

For Squarespace-managed domains:

  1. In 'Domains', select the domain you want to adjust.
  2. Click 'DNS settings'. This panel will display your existing records for connecting to Squarespace.

For third-party domains:

  1. Open your registrar’s website (e.g., Namecheap, GoDaddy, IONOS).
  2. Sign in and navigate to the DNS or Zone Editor section for your domain.
  3. Ignore Squarespace’s DNS panel, as changes here won’t work for DNS Connect domains managed elsewhere.

Pixelhaze Tip:
DNS panels are a bit like family fridges: never organised the same way twice. If you can’t spot where to add records, search your provider’s Help Centre using their exact domain management wording.
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Step 3: Identify and Add the Required DNS Records

Every service asks for different DNS records, so before you start making changes, collect instructions from your service provider. Whether you’re adding an email provider, newsletter platform, SSL provider, or analytics tool, you’ll typically see references to A, CNAME, TXT, or MX records.

Here’s how to do it smoothly:

  1. Copy the required DNS record details from your external service's integration instructions.

  2. In your domain’s DNS settings panel, scroll to 'Custom Records' (Squarespace) or the equivalent 'Add Record' section at your registrar.

  3. Choose the correct type:

    • A Record: Points to an IP address (for your main website or a service’s server).
    • CNAME: Points one domain or subdomain to another (for example, directing 'newsletter.yourdomain.com' to an external service).
    • TXT: Used for verification or SPF/DKIM records (commonly for email authentication).
    • MX: Tells which server handles your domain's email.
  4. Enter the required values:

    • Name/Host: The point of origin for the record (such as 'www', 'mail', or '@' for root domain).
    • Points to/Value: The server or destination provided by the third-party service.
  5. Save or confirm the changes.

Example:
Suppose you're connecting to Office 365 for custom email. The records required include:

  • An MX record for mail delivery.
  • A TXT record for verification.
  • Possibly a few CNAMEs for Outlook auto-discovery.

Add each as specified. If you type an extra space or switch a field, the connection will not function properly. Most services provide a copy-button for this reason.

Pixelhaze Tip:
Work systematically: add just one record at a time, save, and double-check before moving to the next. If the third-party provider offers a ‘Check Status’ or ‘Verify’ option, use it right away to avoid confusion later.
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Step 4: Wait for DNS Propagation (and Test Everything)

DNS changes look immediate in your dashboard, but the wider internet updates at its own pace. After saving a new record, it can take a while (typically anything from 10 minutes to 24 hours) for the changes to take effect globally. Some changes show up quickly, others require more patience.

What you must do:

  1. Make your DNS changes as above, then step back for a bit.
  2. Check your external service’s dashboard, as many provide a ‘verification’ or ‘connection status’ page.
  3. Test the service:
    • For email, send yourself a message and check it arrives.
    • For website connections, open the specific subdomain or tool in a private browsing tab.
  4. If things aren't working after a couple of hours, revisit your steps and look for typos or missing records. Some providers will flag up what’s missing in their interface.

Pixelhaze Tip:
Avoid the urge to keep editing or deleting records in frustration. Multiple rapid changes can prolong issues. Make one planned change at a time, test, and wait before making another adjustment.
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Step 5: Record Your Changes for Future You

It can be incredibly frustrating to forget which settings you changed months earlier. DNS adjustments remain invisible until something breaks or you need to reproduce the setup elsewhere.

Maintain a private document (Word, Google Docs, or even a well-titled Notion page) with details:

  • Date of each DNS change
  • What you added or altered (for example, 'Added Google Workspace MX records')
  • Any reference numbers or support chats

This simple step is invaluable when you, a new team member, or a web developer needs to review what’s set up, or fix a problem quickly.

Pixelhaze Tip:
Record not just the change, but the reason behind it. For example: ‘Added SPF TXT record on 4 April to improve email delivery for Mailchimp campaigns.’ This context saves time when troubleshooting later.
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Step 6: Ongoing Maintenance and When to Call the Experts

Most DNS setups require little ongoing attention. Each time you launch a new service, redesign your site, or move your email, you’ll need to update records as needed.

Set a recurring reminder every six months to:

  • Review which third-party services your domain is connected with
  • Check for out-of-date records (remnants of old projects)
  • Confirm that important records like MX (mail), SPF/DKIM (email security), and the A/CNAME entries are still correct

If a service asks you to remove old records and you’re unsure, don’t make changes in haste. Take screenshots, save backup copies, and adjust just one setting at a time. When things get complicated or you’re managing records for a large site, consider involving an expert or using your provider’s support team.

Pixelhaze Tip:
Only delete DNS records if you’re confident they’re no longer needed. If you have doubts, leave them in place for now. Overzealous housekeeping causes many service disruptions.
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What Most People Miss

One of the most overlooked aspects of DNS settings is that the interface is just the starting point. The most important skill is developing the habit of changing settings for clear reasons and keeping a reliable record.

Many people jump in, hoping to follow a universal guide, and accidentally disconnect their email or a connected site. Professionals handle each adjustment with careful scrutiny, always double-checking details, consulting with service providers, and documenting changes as they go.

Another common oversight is failing to realize how DNS connects every part of your online presence. Switching email platforms, adding new analytics tools, or launching a microsite all require thoughtful DNS adjustments.

Propagation delays and caching also cause confusion. Updates are sometimes still working in the background, even when you think they’ve disappeared.

The Bigger Picture

Sorting out DNS tweaks ensures all your services can communicate reliably. Building this skill gives you a foundation for controlling your business’s digital core. Once you’re comfortable with these steps, you don’t have to rely on outside help whenever you want to make an update.

This careful control pays off in reliability. Missed emails lead to missed business, and broken links can undermine trust with your visitors. The more services you add, the more essential it is to have accurate, well-documented settings.

As you grow, these practices make it easier to introduce new tools: adding a payment platform, customizing your setup for international clients, or migrating between email providers without losing any uptime. Every correct change leads to smoother, more fault-tolerant operations.

You also gain confidence as you become comfortable making changes, turning what was once a source of frustration and concern into an area of expertise.

Wrap-Up

Handling your Squarespace domain’s DNS settings is less about memorising every field and more about understanding the principles. Know where to edit, what to add, and when to hold back. Stick to the systematic approach outlined here: confirm your domain type, access the correct panel, add precise records, test patiently, document your work, and maintain your settings regularly.

If you get stuck, remember that most mistakes can be reversed, and every adjustment helps you become more capable at managing your online setup.

Want more helpful systems like this? Join Pixelhaze Academy for free at https://www.pixelhaze.academy/membership.

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