What Are Squarespace Nameservers: Your Guide to Domain Configuration (2024)

By Akim Perminov

Founder & Lead Designer

Embarking on the journey of creating your own website can be both exciting and daunting. If you have chosen Squarespace as your platform, you have access to an intuitive website builder that simplifies the process, even for those without a background in coding. One of the initial steps involves directing your domain name to Squarespace's nameservers to establish your site's presence on the internet.

Nameservers play a vital role as they guide web browsers to your website's location. Upon acquiring a domain name, setting up the appropriate DNS records is essential. While you would typically configure these records to point to your hosting service's nameservers, Squarespace requires you to align your domain with its own nameservers when you’re utilizing their platform for your website.

Key Takeaways

Squarespace offers a user-friendly platform for website creation, with no coding experience needed.
Pointing your domain to Squarespace's nameservers is a crucial step in setting up your site.
Nameservers direct web browsers to locate and display your Squarespace website.

Locating Squarespace Nameservers

To associate your domain with Squarespace, you should initially locate your specific nameservers. Nameservers are integral as they hold the DNS records for your domain.

Should Squarespace be your domain registrar, access your nameservers with these steps:

Sign into your Squarespace account.
Navigate to the Domains tab.
Look for the DNS & Nameservers section.

Here, Squarespace lists four nameservers, for example, ns1.squarespace.com, which are essential for directing your domain's traffic to your Squarespace site.

Upon obtaining the nameservers, proceed to modify your DNS records accordingly. Guidance for this process is available in the Squarespace Help Center.

Locating Your Domain's Nameserver Details

To uncover the nameservers associated with your domain, start by utilizing the WHOIS lookup tool provided by ICANN. Navigate to whois.icann.org and enter your domain in the provided search field, then press 'enter'. The displayed results will include the nameservers linked to your domain.

Alternatively, you can visit your domain registrar's website. After logging into your account, search for the DNS settings or management page. Here, you'll find a list of nameservers assigned to your domain. If necessary, you can modify these records and save the updates.

Once set up, your domain's nameservers handle directing all DNS queries for your site. So, when a user types your domain into their browser, the request travels to these nameservers. They, in turn, retrieve and return your website's IP address to the user's browser, effectively directing visitors to your website.

Domain Services on Squarespace

Squarespace is equipped to cater to your domain needs, whether you intend to register a new domain name or connect one you already possess. Once you purchase a domain through Squarespace, rest assured that they will handle the initial setup, streamlining the process.

Acquiring Domains:

New Domains: Effortlessly obtain a Squarespace-managed domain, with setup included.
Existing Domains: Link your current domain by updating its DNS settings to point to your Squarespace site.

Advantages of a Custom Domain with Squarespace:

Brand Reflection: Select a domain that mirrors your professional or personal brand identity.
Simplified Management: Free DNS hosting provided by Squarespace eliminates worries about ongoing domain management expenses.

If you're aiming to establish a standout online presence for your business or personal project, Squarespace's domain service is designed to help you achieve a distinct website with a custom domain, all while bypassing the usual technical setup hassles.

Integrating Your Domain with Squarespace

Setting Up Your Domain on Squarespace

Access your Squarespace account and navigate to the Domains section.
Select the domain you aim to link with your Squarespace site.
Find the DNS settings and hit the Connect Domain option.

Initiating a Connection to Your Squarespace Site

Provide your domain name when prompted and continue.
Choose to link your domain either directly or via a third-party provider.

Finalizing the Domain Connection

Enter the DNS details provided by Squarespace if you're connecting directly.
For third-party domains, adhere to the specific instructions of your hosting provider.
After connection, decide whether to use a subdomain (like www.example.com) or your primary domain (example.com).

Once your domain is successfully integrated, your site will be accessible via the chosen domain. If you encounter any issues, the support team at Squarespace is ready to assist you.

Configuration of DNS Parameters within Squarespace

As a Squarespace user, navigating through the DNS Settings Panel empowers you with straightforward control over your domain's DNS configurations. Directly accessing and modifying DNS records is a seamless process, and understanding each type of record bolsters your domain management capabilities.

A Records: Fundamental to connecting your domain with an IP address, A Records direct your domain name to the specific location of your website's hosting server. You can benefit from adding multiple A records for a single domain to support various sites on the same server or to ensure continuity during a server failure.
DomainTypePriorityIP Address (Example)www.yourdomain.comA RecordN/A192.0.2.1backup.yourdomain.comA RecordN/A192.0.2.2
CNAME Records: These records create an alias from one domain to another, offering the convenience of redirecting visitors without adjusting the underlying DNS settings. CNAMEs facilitate the simplification of URL changes and the maintenance of your online presence.
AliasTypePriorityDestinationwww.example1.comCNAME RecordN/Awww.example2.com
MX Records: Pertinent to the pathing of your email services, MX Records are critical if you're hosting your mail server. For Squarespace users utilizing external services like Google Apps, MX Records are preconfigured, minimizing your need to manually adjust these settings unless you seek more customized email solutions.
DomainTypePriorityMail Server (Example)yourdomain.comMX Record1mx1.emailserver.comyourdomain.comMX Record5mx2.emailserver.com

Modifying DNS records should be executed with care, as improper configurations can affect your site's accessibility and email delivery. The DNS settings panel delivers a comprehensive and user-friendly experience that provides you with the autonomy to manage your online footprint effectively.

Essential Summary

When using Squarespace for your website, it's crucial to configure your domain with Squarespace's nameservers.
Nameservers direct your domain to Squarespace’s hosting environment, ensuring your site is accessible to visitors.
To set this up, enter Squarespace’s nameserver details into your domain registrar’s settings.
Pro Tip: Utilize the Squarespace Help Center or a handy guide if assistance is required during this process.

Commonly Asked Questions

Verifying Domain Ownership on Squarespace with DNS Records

To prove you own your domain on Squarespace, you need to update specific DNS records. Access your domain registrar's panel, and add the unique verification record provided by Squarespace. This record is usually a TXT record containing a verification code.

Redirecting an Existing Domain to a Squarespace Site

To direct your current domain to a Squarespace site, you need to modify DNS settings at your domain registrar:

Replace current A records with Squarespace's IP addresses.
Update the CNAME record for 'www' to point to 'ext-cust.squarespace.com'.
Ensure the domain settings on your Squarespace account are set to connect to your existing domain.

Setting Up Google DNS for Squarespace Hosting

Configuring Google DNS for a domain hosted on Squarespace involves:

Logging into your Google DNS management console.
Adding A records that point to Squarespace's IP addresses.
Setting a CNAME record for 'www' to redirect to 'ext-cust.squarespace.com'.
Saving the changes and waiting for them to propagate.

Managing Squarespace Domain DNS Settings

You can manage DNS settings for your domain through Squarespace by:

Navigating to the 'Domains' section of your Squarespace account.
Selecting the domain you want to manage.
Clicking on 'Advanced Settings' to access the DNS settings.
Making the necessary changes as per Squarespace's guidelines.

Locating Your Squarespace Website's IP Address

The IP address for DNS configuration can typically be found by:

Logging into your Squarespace account.
Going to the 'Settings' area and selecting 'Domains'.
Choosing the Squarespace domain in question which will display the linked IP address.