What happens when you transfer a Squarespace domain
When you transfer a domain away from Squarespace, you are moving the registration — the record that says you own the domain name — to a different registrar. Your website itself stays on Squarespace unless you also move that separately. The domain will stop pointing to your Squarespace site once the transfer completes, so your website will go offline at that address unless you update the domain's settings or move the site first.
Squarespace charges a transfer fee of $15 per year for most domain extensions (.com, .net, .org, and others). Some extensions cost more. The transfer takes 5 to 7 days after you authorize it, and during that time your email and website remain live. Once the transfer finishes, you own the domain at the new registrar and can point it wherever you want.
The most common reason to transfer is cost — other registrars often charge less per year to renew. Another reason is moving your entire website to a different platform. A third is consolidating multiple domains at one registrar to simplify management.
Key Takeaways
- You must unlock your domain in Squarespace and request an authorization code before any transfer can begin.
- The transfer fee is $15 per year for most extensions, and you pay this to Squarespace at the time you initiate the transfer.
- Your website stays on Squarespace and remains live during the transfer unless you manually change the domain's DNS settings.
- After the transfer completes at the new registrar, you can point the domain to a different website host or keep it pointed to Squarespace by updating DNS records.
- The entire process takes 5 to 7 days from authorization, and you cannot cancel once the new registrar receives and processes your request.
Step 1: Unlock your domain in Squarespace
Log into your Squarespace account and go to Domains. Find the domain you want to transfer and click on it. Look for a setting called Lock Domain or Domain Lock — it will show as "Locked" or "On". Click to unlock it. Squarespace will ask you to confirm; click again to proceed. The domain is now unlocked and can be transferred.
Locking exists to prevent accidental or unauthorized transfers. Unlocking takes effect when ready, so move to the next step right away. If you wait more than a few days, you may want to unlock again just before requesting the authorization code, since some registrars have time limits on how long an authorization code remains valid.
Step 2: Request an authorization code from Squarespace
While still in the Domains section, click on the domain again. Look for Authorization Code, Auth Code, or Transfer Code — the exact label varies by domain extension. Click the button to generate or reveal the code. Squarespace will display an 8- to 16-character string. Copy this code and save it somewhere safe; you will need it at your new registrar.
Squarespace sends the authorization code to the email address on file for your account. Check your inbox and spam folder if you do not see it when ready. The code is usually valid for 60 days, but do not wait — start the transfer at your new registrar within a few days to avoid complications.
Step 3: Initiate the transfer at your new registrar
Go to the website of the registrar where you want to move the domain. Common options include GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains, Porkbun, and others. Look for a button or link that says Transfer Domain, Transfer In, or Import Domain. Enter your domain name and follow the prompts.
The registrar will ask for the authorization code you copied from Squarespace. Paste it in the field provided. You will also need to provide contact information (name, address, email, phone) for the domain registrant. This information becomes the public record for who owns the domain, so make sure it is accurate. The registrar will show you the transfer fee — usually $8 to $15 per year depending on the extension and registrar — and ask you to pay it.
Step 4: Authorize the transfer and wait for completion
After you pay the transfer fee at the new registrar, they send a request to Squarespace. Squarespace will send an email to the registrant email address on file asking you to confirm the transfer. Open that email and click the confirmation link. This step is required; without it, the transfer will not proceed.
Once you confirm, the transfer enters a queue. It typically takes 5 to 7 days for the new registrar to receive the domain from Squarespace and update their records. During this time, your website and email continue to work normally. You can check the status in your new registrar's account — they usually show a progress bar or status message.
What to do with your domain after the transfer completes
After the transfer finishes, the domain is registered at your new registrar, but it still points to Squarespace by default. If you want to keep your Squarespace website, you do not need to do anything — the domain will continue to work. If you want to move your website to a different host, you need to update the domain's DNS records (nameservers or A records) to point to the new host instead.
Your new registrar's control panel will have a section for DNS or nameserver settings. The new website host will provide you with the DNS records or nameserver addresses to enter. This process varies by registrar and host, so check their documentation. DNS changes take 24 to 48 hours to propagate across the internet, so your website may be unreachable for a few hours during the switch.
If you want to keep using Squarespace but own the domain at a different registrar, you can point the domain back to Squarespace by setting the nameservers to Squarespace's nameservers. Squarespace's support site lists the correct nameserver addresses for this purpose.
Common mistakes to avoid
Do not change your domain's DNS settings before the transfer completes. If you point the domain away from Squarespace before the transfer finishes, Squarespace may cancel the transfer request. Wait until the new registrar confirms the transfer is done, then update DNS if needed.
Do not let your domain expire at Squarespace while a transfer is in progress. If the domain expires before the transfer finishes, Squarespace may reject the request. Check your renewal date and make sure it is at least 30 days away before you start the transfer.
Do not lose your authorization code. If you cannot find it and the code expires, you will need to request a new one from Squarespace. This adds a few days to the process but is not a permanent problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my domain if I have an active website on Squarespace?
Yes. The domain transfer and the website are separate. You can move the domain to another registrar and keep the website on Squarespace by leaving the DNS settings pointed at Squarespace. If you want to move both the domain and the website, transfer the domain first, then move the website content to the new host, then update the DNS records.
What happens to my email if I transfer the domain?
If you use Squarespace email, it stops working once the domain transfer completes unless you update the DNS records to keep pointing to Squarespace. If you move to a different email provider, you will need to set up new email addresses and migrate your messages before the transfer. Check with your new registrar or email provider about how to configure email after the transfer.
Can I cancel a transfer after I authorize it?
Once the new registrar receives your authorization and Squarespace confirms the transfer, you cannot cancel it. If you change your mind before you click the confirmation link in Squarespace's email, you can ignore the email and the transfer will not proceed. After confirmation, the transfer is locked in.
How much does it cost to transfer?
Squarespace charges $15 per year for most domain extensions. Some extensions (.uk, .co, .de, and others) cost more. Your new registrar may charge a different renewal price, which is why transferring can save money. Compare the renewal cost at your new registrar before you transfer to make sure you are actually saving.
Do I need to renew my domain after the transfer?
No. The transfer adds one year to your domain's expiration date at no extra cost. Your domain will not expire sooner because you moved it. After that year, you will renew it at your new registrar's renewal price.