How Do I Link My GoDaddy to Squarespace?

Linking a domain purchased through GoDaddy to a Squarespace website involves updating the domain’s DNS settings so that visitors to your GoDaddy domain are directed to your Squarespace site. Below are detailed steps to achieve this. Please note that these steps assume you have already set up a website on Squarespace.

Step-by-Step Guide to Linking Your GoDaddy Domain to Squarespace

Step 1: Prepare Your Squarespace Site

1. Log in to Squarespace:

2. Go to squarespace.com and log into your account.

3. Navigate to Domain Settings:

4. In your Squarespace account, go to the home menu and click on Settings.
5. Then click on Domains.
6. Click on Use a Domain I Own.
7. Enter your GoDaddy domain name in the provided field and click Continue.

Step 2: Connect Your Domain

1. Verify Domain Ownership:

2. Squarespace will ask if you want to connect a domain from an integrated provider. GoDaddy is integrated with Squarespace, so select GoDaddy and click Connect Domain.

3. Log in to GoDaddy:

4. You will be redirected to GoDaddy. Log in to your GoDaddy account if prompted.

5. A message may appear requesting your permission for Squarespace to access your GoDaddy account. Click Connect or Allow to proceed. This will enable Squarespace to automatically configure your DNS settings.

6. Wait for DNS Settings to Propagate:

7. DNS settings changes might take some time to propagate, usually anywhere from a few minutes to up to 48 hours. During this period, your domain will start directing traffic to your Squarespace site.

Step 3: Manual DNS Configuration (If Automatic Process Fails)

If the automatic connection fails for any reason, you can manually configure the DNS settings in GoDaddy:

1. Get DNS Settings from Squarespace:
2. Go back to Squarespace's domain settings and select Need help? .

3. Note down the required DNS records, including CNAME and A records.

4. Log in to GoDaddy:

5. Open GoDaddy and log into your account.

6. In your account dashboard, go to the domain manager to manage your domain's DNS settings.

7. Update DNS Records:

8. Locate the DNS Zone File or DNS settings menu for your GoDaddy domain.
9. Update the A records with the IP addresses provided by Squarespace.
10. Add a CNAME record for "www" pointing to ext-cust.squarespace.com.

11. If you see existing records for the same hostnames, you may need to replace them with the new records from Squarespace.

12. Verify DNS Records:

13. Once updated, go back to Squarespace and click Refresh to verify the connection. Squarespace will notify you if the domain is successfully connected.

Additional Considerations

SSL Certificates

• Automatic SSL Setup:
• When you connect your domain to Squarespace, the platform will automatically provide an SSL certificate for secure HTTPS browsing. Ensure this is enabled within your Squarespace settings.

Email Services

• Email Services Configuration:
• If you use GoDaddy for email services tied to your domain, you'll need to keep the relevant MX records intact. Check GoDaddy’s documentation for details on maintaining email services while your domain is pointed to Squarespace.

DNS Propagation Time

• Propagation Delay:
• Be prepared for potential delays due to DNS propagation, which could take up to 48 hours. During this time, there might be intermittent access issues.

By carefully following these steps, you should be able to successfully link your GoDaddy domain to your Squarespace website. If you encounter any difficulties, both Squarespace and GoDaddy offer customer support to help you troubleshoot any issues.