Domain transfers can be a pain, but with the help of Squarespace, they don't have to be. Squarespace is an all-in-one content management system that makes it easy to register your domain, create your website, and host your content with only a single subscription fee. For this reason, many website owners choose to use Squarespace as their CMS.
To ensure your domain transfers successfully, you need to meet the following requirements:
Domains that match the following criteria can’t be transferred to Squarespace:
Locked domains can’t be transferred. You must first unlock your domain by following the instructions provided by your current domain provider. Contact them if you are unsure whether your domain is locked.
Note: Some domains, like country-specific ones, can’t be locked, so they are unlocked by default.
Request for an authorization code from your provider. Some providers have it in their settings and call it “EPP code or transfer key,” while others email it to you. Once you unlock your domain, request the code immediately since some providers take a day or two to release it.
Once you get it, copy it or keep it safe since you’ll provide this code during the transfer.
Once everything’s completed, go to Squarespace’s Domain panel. In the Home menu, click Settings and go to Domains. Select “Use a domain I own” and enter your full domain name. Click Transfer Domain and input the Authorization Code when prompted.
Click Save and Continue once done.
Check the contact information in the registration panel and confirm that it’s correct. Squarespace automatically fills these fields with registration information detected from your original registrar's Whois records.
Update the email address and contact information as necessary. Any updates will be reflected in your Whois records. Click Save and Continue when done.
Enter your payment information on the next panel. If you already have an account, the card attached is your default payment method. Click Save and Continue to proceed.
Check if the details of the order are correct. When you transfer a domain to Squarespace, you’re charged for another year of domain registration at the rate of your TLD. In some cases, you can enjoy free registration.
If all the details are correct, click Confirm and Purchase. A confirmation page will inform you that the transfer has started. Click Done.
Return to the Domains panel and confirm the progress of the transfer. An error message will appear if there’s an issue. Some of the common error messages are:
Domain transfers take time to process but should usually be done within 15 days from the start. If the status is still “Pending Transfer” after 15 days, contact your current registrar for more details. Squarespace doesn’t control the transfer timing and depends on the current registrar to release the domain.
While waiting, you can check your DNS records and perform some housekeeping. Delete any records you no longer need, and if necessary, add a new custom record for your domain. However, adding new integrations like Google Workspace is not recommended until the domain transfer is complete.
While you can always just point a domain to a site hosted by Squarespace, it’s better to register your domain with them for easier website management. Squarespace makes it easy to focus on the essential aspects of your website, such as your content and web traffic, instead of worrying about the nitty-gritty of domain registration.
For more helpful articles about managing websites, check out this article by Page Kits.
After conducting his fair share of research and gaining relevant experience, Gab put up Page Kits to help others who were in his position grow their e-commerce stores and thrive.
