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Last Edited Time
Jul 2, 2025 07:41 PM
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Platform
Squarespace
Category
Responsive Design
Topic
Mobile Layouts
AI summary
Squarespace's automatic content stacking can lead to messy mobile layouts. Start with simple designs, test frequently, and save effective sections to streamline mobile-friendly adjustments. Catch issues early to avoid complex fixes later.
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Fixing Squarespace Mobile Design Issues
TL;DR:
- Squarespace automatically stacks content for mobile but the results often look messy
- No dedicated mobile editor means you need to design with mobile in mind from the start
- Build sections with minimal elements, test on mobile immediately, then add more content
- Save working sections as favourites to avoid repeating the same fixes
- Small layout problems compound quickly, so catch them early
Why Your Mobile Layout Looks Wrong
Your desktop site looks great, but on mobile everything's wonky. Text overlaps, buttons disappear, and there are massive gaps everywhere. This happens because Squarespace automatically reshuffles your content to fit smaller screens, and it doesn't always make smart choices.
The platform assumes its automatic stacking will work, but it often creates layouts that look unprofessional or break entirely on phones.
How to Build Better Mobile Layouts
Start Simple
When you create a new section, resist the urge to cram everything in at once. Start with just the essentials - a headline, some text, maybe one image. Get that working on mobile first, then add more elements one by one.
Most mobile layout disasters happen because people build complex desktop layouts, then discover they're unfixable on mobile.
Test Early and Often
Before you write your content or upload final images, switch to mobile preview and check the basic structure. Look for:
- Text that's too small or too large
- Elements bunching up or spreading too far apart
- Buttons that have moved to weird positions
- Images that don't resize properly
Fix these structural issues now, while they're still simple to adjust.
Save What Works
Once you've got a section looking good on both desktop and mobile, save it as a favourite. Give it a clear name like "Text + Image - Mobile Safe" or "CTA Section - Tested".
This saves you from solving the same layout problems repeatedly. You can duplicate these tested sections and just swap in new content.
Common Mobile Problems to Watch For
Overlapping Elements: Squarespace sometimes stacks things too close together. If text overlaps images or buttons disappear behind other content, you need fewer elements per section or better spacing.
Inconsistent Text Sizes: Headlines that look proportional on desktop can become massive on mobile. Check your text hierarchy works at both sizes.
Lost Buttons: Call-to-action buttons often end up in odd places when content stacks. Make sure they're still visible and clickable after the mobile reshuffle.
FAQs
Why can't I edit mobile layouts separately?Squarespace 7.1 uses responsive design, meaning one layout adapts to all screen sizes. There's no separate mobile editor because changes affect both desktop and mobile versions.
My content looks perfect on desktop but terrible on mobile. What's wrong?You're designing desktop-first instead of mobile-first. Squarespace's automatic stacking works better when you start with simple, mobile-friendly layouts and enhance them for desktop.
Can I preview exactly how my site looks on different phones?Squarespace's mobile preview gives you a rough idea, but it's not device-specific. Test on real phones when possible, or use your browser's developer tools to simulate different screen sizes.
Why do my sections have huge gaps on mobile?This usually happens when sections contain elements that don't stack well together. Try breaking complex sections into smaller, simpler ones.
Jargon Buster
Responsive Design: A design approach where layouts automatically adjust to different screen sizes, rather than having separate mobile and desktop versions.
Content Stacking: How Squarespace rearranges page elements vertically when switching from desktop to mobile view.
Section: A building block of your Squarespace page where you place content like text, images, and buttons.
Mobile Preview: Squarespace's built-in tool for seeing how your site will look on smaller screens before publishing.
Wrap-up
Mobile layout issues in Squarespace stem from the platform's automatic content stacking, which doesn't always make good design decisions. The fix is to design with mobile in mind from the start, test frequently, and build a library of sections you know work well on both desktop and mobile.
The key is catching problems early when they're still easy to fix, rather than trying to retrofit a complex desktop layout for mobile use.
