Preview Your Squarespace Page Edits
TL;DR:
- Real-time page edits appear on the right of your screen
- Full-screen previews available by clicking an arrow in the top-right corner
- Mobile and computer version previews work on various devices
- Incognito mode shows you what visitors actually see
- Several ways to keep changes private before going live
When you make changes to your pages in Squarespace, they appear immediately on the right side of your screen. This instant feedback saves you from toggling between views or logging in repeatedly.
Full-Screen and Device-Specific Previews
On Computers and Tablets
To get a full-screen preview, hover over and click the arrow at the top-right corner of your screen. In older Squarespace 7.0 sites, this arrow might be at the top-left. This hides the editing panels and shows how your page looks without distractions.
If you're working in version 7.0, remember to exit the site styles panel first to enable full-screen mode.
On Mobile Devices
When editing on mobile, you'll see a preview bar at the bottom of your screen. Tap this bar to expand or collapse your preview. You can also switch to edit the computer view by selecting the computer icon, make your adjustments, then switch back to mobile view.
Previewing Blog Posts
After saving your blog post (either as a draft or by publishing), click on the post title in the side panel. This opens a full preview. Use the expand arrow to switch between edit and preview modes.
Checking Appearance on Different Devices
Device View: This feature shows how your site looks on various devices, helping you ensure your design works well everywhere.
Incognito Mode: Open your site in incognito mode to see what visitors actually see. This bypasses any personal data or cached information that might change your view.
Browser Zoom: Use Ctrl or ⌘ with + or – to zoom in and out. This helps you see how your site looks at different scales. Just remember to reset to 100% when you're done so Squarespace displays properly.
Keeping Changes Private
Before making changes live, you have several options:
- Disable Pages: Keep pages hidden from visitors and search engines
- Password Protection: Restrict access to selected pages or your entire site
- Use the "Not linked" section: Keep pages off your navigation menus
- Test with template preview: See style changes without affecting your live site
FAQs
Can I preview my Squarespace site on different devices?
Yes, Squarespace includes a Device View feature for this purpose.
Is it possible to preview blog posts before publishing them?
Absolutely. You can preview blog posts whether they're drafts or already published.
How can I keep a Squarespace page hidden from visitors?
You can disable the page, use password protection, or place the page in the "Not linked" section.
Jargon Buster
Incognito Mode: A browser setting that lets you view your site as a new visitor would, without using stored cookies or logged-in data.
Browser Zoom: Adjusting the scale of view in your web browser to see how pages appear on different screen sizes.
Device View: A feature allowing previews of how a site looks on various devices like phones, tablets, or desktops.
Wrap-up
Using Squarespace's preview options properly means what you see is what gets published. These built-in tools help you refine your website so it works well regardless of how or where people view it. A well-tested site design creates a better user experience and keeps your audience engaged.
Ready to take your Squarespace skills further? Join Pixelhaze Academy for more detailed tutorials and expert guidance.