Edit DNS records at Squarespace Domains

Before you start

• Any plan. Connecting a domain you own is free on Free, Launch and Grow.
• A Squarespace login and a published yaya site. Squarespace Domains is the former Google Domains.
• The DNS steps from yaya. Open Website > Domain, type the name in Hostname and click Connect domain.

You edit the records in Squarespace only if the domain is registered there or uses Nameserver Connect. If it uses DNS Connect, edit the records at your DNS provider.

Sign in and find the DNS page

1. Open your domains dashboard at account.squarespace.com/domains.
2. Click the domain name.
3. Click DNS in the side panel, then DNS Settings.
4. Scroll to Custom Records.

Squarespace asks for your password, or your two-factor method, before it saves a change.

What the screen calls the fields

• Type: CNAME, ALIAS or TXT.
• Name: the part before your domain. Squarespace adds your domain for you. Type @ for the bare domain.
• Data: where the record points. For a CNAME or ALIAS, paste the target from yaya.
• TTL: leave the value Squarespace fills in.

Add the CNAME record for a subdomain or www

1. Click Add record.
2. Choose CNAME in the Type list.
3. Type www in Name. You cannot use @ for a CNAME.
4. Paste the target from yaya in Data.
5. Click Save.

Connect the bare domain

Squarespace supports an ALIAS record. First turn off DNSSEC.

1. Click DNS, then DNSSEC. Switch DNS Security Extensions off.
2. Click DNS Settings and scroll to Custom Records.
3. Click Add record and choose ALIAS in the Type list.
4. Type @ in Name.
5. Paste the target from yaya in Data.
6. Click Save.

If you must keep DNSSEC on, connect www.example.com instead. Then add a rule in Website > Domain Forwarding Rules to forward @ to it.

Add the TXT ownership record

yaya shows a name that starts with _cf-custom-hostname. Type only the part before your domain name.

1. Click Add record and choose TXT in the Type list.
2. Type _cf-custom-hostname.www in Name for www.example.com. For the bare domain, type _cf-custom-hostname.
3. Paste the value from yaya in the data field.
4. Click Save.

Replace a conflicting record

A new domain has Squarespace Defaults records that point to a Squarespace site. Your domain cannot point to yaya while they stay.

1. Click DNS in the side panel.
2. Click the red trash can next to Squarespace Defaults.
3. Confirm with your password and click Delete.

This disconnects the domain from any Squarespace site. Leave mail records as they are. See Keep your email working.

Check the result in yaya

1. Open Website > Domain.
2. Click Check again.

Squarespace says a change can take 24 to 48 hours. yaya sets up HTTPS on its own. There is no deploy step.

Fix common problems

Squarespace rejects `@` in a CNAME. Use the ALIAS record for the bare domain.

The card stays on "Waiting on DNS". See Fix a domain that won't verify.

I need to know which name to use. See Use a subdomain or www.

Provider's own guide: https://support.squarespace.com/hc/en-us/articles/31119879125645-DNS-records-for-web-hosting