Fixing Squarespace Mobile Layout Issues
TL;DR:
- Squarespace automatically arranges desktop content for mobile, but problems can still crop up
- Build sections with only essential blocks to avoid common mobile layout headaches
- Test every new section in mobile view before adding more content
- Save well-designed sections as favourites to reuse across your site
- Fix layout problems as soon as you spot them to avoid repetitive adjustments later
When you're building a Squarespace site, the mobile layout can feel like it has a mind of its own. One minute everything looks perfect on desktop, the next you're staring at a mobile view that's completely scrambled. Here's how to get ahead of these issues before they become a proper headache.
Build Clean Sections From the Start
When you're setting up a new section, resist the urge to throw everything in at once. Start with just the essentials: your headline, main text, and any buttons you need. This simple approach prevents the most common mobile problems like elements appearing in the wrong order or massive gaps appearing between blocks.
Think of it like packing a suitcase. If you stuff everything in randomly, you'll end up with a mess. Pack methodically and everything has its place.
Test Mobile View Immediately
This is the bit most people skip, and it's where things go wrong. As soon as you've added your basic blocks, switch to mobile view and check how everything looks. Are your blocks in the right order? Is the spacing reasonable? Do your buttons actually look like buttons?
Catching these issues early saves you from that frustrating cycle of adding more content, then discovering your mobile layout is completely broken and having to start over.
Save Your Working Sections
Once you've got a section that works well on mobile, save it with a clear name like "Hero section – left text" or "Feature block – image right". These saved sections become your go-to templates for future pages.
This approach means you're not reinventing the wheel every time you need a new section. You know these layouts work, so you can build new pages with confidence.
Common Mobile Layout Problems
Block reordering issues: Sometimes Squarespace's automatic mobile stacking doesn't match what you intended. The image that should be above your text ends up below it, or your call-to-action button gets buried at the bottom.
Spacing problems: Desktop padding that looks fine on a big screen can create awkward gaps on mobile. Text might be too cramped or too spaced out.
Button sizing: Buttons that are perfectly sized for desktop can become tiny and hard to tap on mobile, or sometimes they stretch awkwardly across the full width.
When Things Go Wrong
If you're working on a section and the mobile layout keeps fighting you, step back and simplify. Remove any non-essential blocks, get the basic layout working properly, then add complexity back one element at a time.
Sometimes the issue isn't with your current section but with how it interacts with the sections above or below it. Check the whole page flow, not just the problem section in isolation.
FAQs
Why does my mobile layout look completely different from desktop?
Squarespace automatically stacks content vertically for mobile screens, which can change the visual hierarchy you created for desktop. This is normal behaviour, but it means you need to check how your content reads in this new order.
Can I create separate mobile and desktop layouts?
No, Squarespace doesn't offer separate mobile editing. You work with one layout that adapts to different screen sizes. This is why testing mobile view during the design process is so important.
My buttons are too small on mobile. How do I fix this?
Check your button settings and make sure you're not using custom CSS that restricts button width. Squarespace's default button styles are designed to work well on mobile, so custom styling often causes these issues.
Why do some sections look fine on mobile while others are a mess?
Usually this comes down to how many blocks you've packed into each section and how complex the desktop layout is. Simpler sections with fewer blocks tend to translate better to mobile.
Jargon Buster
Blocks: The individual content elements in Squarespace like text blocks, image blocks, and button blocks that you drag and drop to build your pages.
Mobile stacking: How Squarespace automatically arranges your content in a single column for mobile screens, typically placing blocks one above the other.
Responsive design: A website's ability to adapt its layout to different screen sizes automatically, which is built into all modern Squarespace templates.
Wrap-up
Getting your mobile layout right isn't about fighting Squarespace's system. It's about working with it. Build clean sections, test as you go, and save the combinations that work well. Once you've got a library of proven section layouts, building new pages becomes much faster and less frustrating.
The key is catching problems early rather than trying to fix them after you've built a complex layout. A few minutes of mobile testing during the design process saves hours of troubleshooting later.
Ready to dive deeper into Squarespace design techniques? Join Pixelhaze Academy for comprehensive courses and ongoing support.