How to Use Squarespace Audio Blocks

Learn to add and manage audio blocks on Squarespace effectively. Use .mp3 and .m4a files under 160 MB, customise design, and more.

How to Use Squarespace Audio Blocks
Last Edited Time
Jun 25, 2025 09:35 PM
Do not index
Do not index
Suggested Tag
Squarespace
audio blocks
audio management
Tags Synced
Tags Synced
AI summary
To add audio blocks on Squarespace, use .mp3 or .m4a files under 160 MB, customize the player design, and link to external files for larger sizes. Be aware of iOS playback behavior and ensure podcast metadata is correctly entered for proper functionality.
Last edited by
Platform
Category
Topic

How to Use Squarespace Audio Blocks

Learn to add and manage audio blocks on Squarespace effectively.
TL;DR: Key Points
  • Use .mp3 and .m4a files under 160 MB for adding audio to your Squarespace site
  • Customise audio block design, choosing from Minimal or Classic styles
  • Upload audio directly or use links to external hosts for larger files
  • For podcasting, enter Apple Podcasts metadata in the Podcasting tab
  • Be aware of audio blocks' behaviour on iOS and certain limitations on file types

Understanding Squarespace Audio Blocks

Squarespace audio blocks provide a straightforward method to include audio on your pages or blog posts. You can upload your audio files directly from your computer or integrate files hosted externally. However, keep in mind that only .mp3 and .m4a formats are supported, and there's a maximum file size of 160 MB for uploads.

Basic Upload Process

  1. Navigate to the page or post you wish to edit and click on "Add Block" or an insertion point, then select "Audio"
  1. In the block editor, use the "Embed" tab to either upload an audio file from your computer or link to an external file
  1. If you are hosting a podcast, you can add necessary Apple Podcasts metadata in the "Podcasting" tab to ensure your feed is correctly formatted
  1. Adjust your audio player's appearance via the "Design" tab, where you can choose the player style and decide whether to show a download link

Customising Your Audio Player

In the Design tab, you can personalise your audio player:
  • Player Styles: Choose from "Minimal" or "Classic." For Minimal style, select either a Light or Dark player colour. The Classic style does not allow colour changes
  • Download Options: You can enable a download link for your audio file. This is disabled by default and is best used with files uploaded directly to Squarespace
Quick tip: Even if you enable a download link, tech-savvy users may find other ways to download your audio. Consider protecting sensitive audio content through other means if download prevention is critical.

External Files and Podcasts

For files larger than 160 MB or if you prefer using another hosting service, you can link to the file using its public URL in the 'External File' tab. Ensure the link starts with "https://" and ends in ".mp3" or ".m4a." If you are setting up a podcast, remember that audio blocks must be added to a blog page, not just any page, to function correctly as part of your podcast.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

On iOS devices, audio blocks may open on a new page when played, and there currently isn't a way to modify this behaviour within Squarespace settings or support.

FAQs

Can I upload any audio file format to Squarespace audio blocks? No, only .mp3 and .m4a formats are supported.
How can I prevent audio blocks from opening on a new page on iOS devices? There's no built-in solution to prevent this at the moment.
Are there any restrictions for my externally hosted audio files? No file size restrictions for externally hosted files, but the format must be either .mp3 or .m4a.

Jargon Buster

Audio Blocks: Elements used to incorporate playable audio files into your Squarespace pages or blogs.
RSS Feed: A web feed that allows users and applications to receive regular updates from a website in a standardised format.
MIME Type: This refers to the format of a file, which tells web servers and browsers how to handle the file correctly.
Podcasting: Creating and distributing a series of audio or video content episodes over the internet, often through subscription-based services.

Final Thoughts

Adding audio to your Squarespace site enhances user engagement and content richness. By understanding the details of audio block setup, customisation options, and troubleshooting, you can effectively manage audio on your site, whether for general content or podcasts. Remember to stick to the supported formats and sizes to ensure smooth audio playbacks and integration.

Join our Free Membership and access our DIY Community.

Need help with your website

Become a member