Cancel or Disable Auto-Renew for Your Squarespace Domain

How to Cancel or Disable Auto-Renew on Your Squarespace Domain

TL;DR:

• You can cancel or disable auto-renew depending on the domain type (gTLD or ccTLD) and registration date
• gTLDs can be cancelled within five days for a full refund
• ccTLDs have no cancellation grace period, so disable auto-renew to let them expire
• Handle all connected services like Google Workspace before canceling
• Changes take effect quickly, typically within an hour, but refunds can take 3-10 days

Understand Your Domain Type

Before deciding whether to cancel or disable auto-renew, identify your domain type:

• gTLDs (like .com, .net): These can be cancelled within five days of registration for a refund
• ccTLDs (like .eu, .ca): These cannot be cancelled immediately. You must disable auto-renew to stop them from renewing

Steps to Cancel Your Domain

Follow these steps if you're within the five-day grace period for gTLDs:

1. Log into the domains dashboard
2. Click on the domain you want to cancel
3. Select 'Delete Domain' and confirm your choice

Double-check you've saved all necessary data linked to the domain before confirming its deletion.

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Disabling Auto-Renew

If you're past the cancellation period or have a ccTLD, here's how to disable auto-renew:

1. Navigate to the domains dashboard
2. Click on the domain to access settings
3. Turn off the 'Auto-renew' toggle

Consider keeping the domain until it expires if it has significant traffic or SEO value.

Disconnecting Your Domain (Optional)

To remove your domain from your site after disabling auto-renew:

1. Open the DNS settings for your domain
2. Delete any records under the Squarespace Defaults section or tagged with www, *, or @ in the Host column

This disconnection stops your site from resolving to the former domain, which might affect site accessibility temporarily.

FAQs

Can I cancel a newly registered domain immediately?
Yes, if it's a gTLD and within five days of registration, you can cancel it for a full refund.

What should I do with my email service connected to the domain?
Cancel the email service beforehand to prevent any disruption in email functionality.

How quickly does a domain stop connecting after cancellation?
Typically within an hour, but allow up to 72 hours for complete processing.

Jargon Buster

gTLD: Generic Top-Level Domain (.com, .net, etc.), not specific to any country

ccTLD: Country Code Top-Level Domain (.uk, .de, etc.), specific to a country

Auto-renew: Automatic renewal of domain registration before expiration

DNS Records: Internet settings that connect your domain to its website

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Wrap-up

Canceling or handling your Squarespace domain is straightforward once you know the steps. Whether you opt to cancel immediately, disable auto-renew, or disconnect the domain from your website, timing is crucial, especially for refunds. Check your domain type, decide on your action, and follow the steps above.

For more guides like this, check out our Mainframe hub at Pixelhaze Academy.