Managing Your Squarespace Domain Contact Details
TL;DR:
- Update domain contact info regularly to receive crucial notifications about renewals and security
- Squarespace automatically enables Whois privacy to protect your personal data from public view
- Four contact roles exist: Owner, Admin, Tech, and Billing (Owner is the most important)
- Format all details correctly without special characters to avoid registration errors
- Verify email changes promptly to maintain domain security and ownership
Managing your domain contact details properly keeps your Squarespace website secure and ensures you never miss important notifications. This guide covers everything you need to know about updating and maintaining your domain registration information.
Why Your Contact Information Matters
Your domain contact details serve as the primary communication channel between you and your domain registrar. When these details are outdated, you risk missing critical notifications about domain renewals, security alerts, and ownership verification requests.
Squarespace sends annual review requests to ensure your information stays current. These emails come from customercare@squarespace.com or no-reply@squarespace.com, depending on your specific registrar.
Critical notifications you might miss:
- Domain renewal reminders
- Security alerts about unauthorized changes
- Ownership verification requests
- Transfer authorization codes
Understanding Contact Roles
Squarespace domains use four different contact roles, each serving a specific purpose:
Owner Contact
The most important role. This person receives all domain-related communications and has full control over the domain. Keep this email address active and check it regularly.
Admin Contact
Acts as a secondary contact for administrative matters. Useful for larger organizations but optional for individual site owners.
Tech Contact
Receives technical notifications about DNS changes and server issues. Again, helpful for larger teams but not essential for most users.
Billing Contact
Handles payment-related communications. This contact information doesn't appear in public Whois databases.
For most small businesses and personal sites, using the same person for all roles simplifies management and reduces confusion.
Whois Privacy Protection
Squarespace automatically enables Whois privacy for your domain, which keeps your personal information private from public databases. This prevents spam, unwanted marketing calls, and potential security issues.
Some domain extensions have specific privacy rules. For example, .com.au domains have stricter requirements that may affect privacy settings. Check your specific domain extension's rules if privacy is a concern.
How to Update Your Contact Information
Updating your domain contact details is straightforward:
- Log into your Squarespace account
- Go to Settings > Domains
- Click on your domain name
- Select 'Registration' from the sidebar
- Click 'Edit' next to the contact information
- Update the necessary fields
- Save your changes
Formatting Requirements
Poor formatting causes most contact update failures. Follow these guidelines:
- Use standard characters only (no special symbols or accents)
- Include complete addresses with postal codes
- Format phone numbers correctly for your country
- Double-check spelling of names and addresses
- Ensure email addresses are valid and accessible
Verification Process
Significant changes, particularly to the owner's email address, require verification. You'll receive an email with a verification link that must be clicked within a specific timeframe (usually 15 days).
If you don't receive the verification email:
- Check your spam folder
- Ensure the new email address is correct
- Contact Squarespace support to resend the verification
Common Issues and Solutions
Update keeps failing
Usually caused by formatting errors. Remove any special characters and ensure all fields are complete.
Not receiving verification emails
Check spam folders and ensure the email address is correctly entered. Some email providers block automated messages.
Contact information appears publicly
Verify that Whois privacy is enabled for your domain. Some TLDs don't support privacy protection.
FAQs
How often should I update my contact information?
Review your contact details annually or whenever your circumstances change. Squarespace will remind you, but it's good practice to check proactively.
Can I use a different email for each contact role?
Yes, but most individual site owners find it easier to use the same email for all roles to avoid missing important messages.
What happens if I don't verify an email change?
The change won't take effect, and your domain will continue using the old contact information. This could cause issues with ownership verification.
Will updating my contact info affect my website?
No, changing contact information doesn't affect your website's functionality or appearance. It only updates the registration records.
Jargon Buster
Whois Information – Public database records showing who owns a domain name and how to contact them
ICANN – The organization that coordinates the global domain name system and sets policies for domain registration
TLD – Top-Level Domain, the suffix of your domain name like .com, .org, or .co.uk
Registrar – The company authorized to sell and manage domain name registrations (Squarespace partners with various registrars)
Verification Email – Security email sent to confirm changes to important domain contact information
Wrap-up
Keeping your domain contact information current is essential for maintaining control of your website and receiving important notifications. Set a calendar reminder to review your details annually, and always verify changes promptly when requested.
The few minutes spent updating your contact information can save you from losing access to your domain or missing critical renewal notices. When in doubt, err on the side of providing complete, accurate information rather than leaving fields blank or using placeholder data.
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