Download a free workbook to help you design your site with confidence.
The email you entered is invalid.
Thank you for subscribing.
By entering your email, you indicate that you have read and understood our Privacy Policy and agree to receive marketing from Squarespace.
No matter where you registered your domain name, it’s useful for your website management to understand the process of transferring domains. Whether you're a business owner rebranding or an individual wanting a new online identity, knowing the process for how a domain transfer works can help avoid delays in launching your website.
Not all domains transfer to Squarespace in the same way, so understanding your own domain transfer will help you avoid any delays or errors.
What is a domain transfer?
A domain transfer is the process of moving your domain and its domain records from one provider to another. For example, you can transfer a third-party domain registration to Squarespace. This lets you manage everything related to your domain, like settings and payments, from within your Squarespace account. You don’t need to have a website to transfer a domain.
Transferring a domain is different from connecting a domain. The main difference between transferring and connecting a domain is that transferring moves the hosting, management, and payment of the domain over to another provider. Transferring a domain name can take a week or two.
Connecting domains keeps the hosting, management, and payment of the domain with your current host. This takes up to 72 hours to process on average.
Why you would transfer a domain to Squarespace
One of the main reasons it’s beneficial to transfer your domain over to Squarespace is the convenience of being able to manage your domain and your website on the same platform. There are some other benefits that come with this too.
Consolidated billing: You can handle both your website hosting and domain billing in one place, making it easier to keep track of your expenses.
Domain management: Squarespace is built to work smoothly with its domains, ensuring your website runs well. It comes with features like automatic SSL certificates to keep information secure and domain forwarding, so you can have your domain redirect visitors to a different site.
SEO tools: Moving your domain to Squarespace won't harm your SEO. In fact, Squarespace provides SEO tools to help you enhance your website's visibility in search engine results.
Squarespace domains also have useful features that make it easier to run your website, like a custom business email address and email forwarding. Email forwarding allows you to keep separate contact information for business different needs, like help@ and hello@, but forward messages to those addresses to the inbox of your choice, so you can stay organized.
How to transfer your domain to Squarespace
Transferring a domain to Squarespace takes just a handful of steps. You’ll see some helpful prompts along the way, but here are the basics.
Unlock your domain. Follow the instructions from your current provider to unlock your domain so it can be transferred.
Get the authorization code. Sometimes known as an EPP code or transfer key, you should get this code from your provider and keep it accessible for later use.
Start the transfer. You’ll need to input your domain and the authorization code at this step.
Check and verify your registration details. Squarespace pulls in details from your WHOIS record (a database of domain name registrations). Make sure everything, like name and contact information, is correct. While WHOIS records are public, you can get WHOIS protection to keep your contact information private.
Add or double-check your payment details. If you already have a Squarespace subscription, you’ll just need to confirm the card on file.
Check your order. When you transfer your domain to Squarespace, you're billed for an extra year of domain registration with Squarespace.
Check the transfer status. The Domains panel on your account dashboard will give you a status update and let you know if there are issues with the transfer.
Wait until the transfer is finished. This process can take time. If there’s a delay, try contacting your third-party domain provider first.
It’s worth noting that there are a few eligibility requirements to transfer a domain to Squarespace around your domain extension (TLD) and your registration with your current provider. Most people are unlikely to run into issues with a standard domain registration.
Learn more about eligibility and transferring domains
.uk, .co.uk, and .org.uk domains
There are some exceptions to how Squarespace handles some domain extensions during a domain transfer. To transfer domains ending in .uk, .co.uk, and .org.uk, there’s one extra step before you start the transfer and one step after it’s in process.
Contact your current provider to find out if they need you to unlock the domain before transferring it.
Ask your domain provider to update the domain's IPS tag to TUCOWS-CA after you confirm your billing details. The IPS (Internet Provider Security) tag helps identify the domain registration provider you’re using and is required to complete the domain transfer.
The eligibility requirements for these domain extensions also differ slightly. Make sure to check the details for your specific transfer process.
How long does it take to transfer a domain?
This process can take from 7-15 days. The exact timing is dependent on the provider you’re using for your domain.
We’d suggest factoring in the time it takes to transfer a domain to Squarespace when setting up a new website. When you’re excited about launching your site, you won’t want to have the domain transfer processing time holding you up from going live. If possible, start the transfer while you’re still setting up and customizing your website so it’s more likely to be finished when you’re ready to launch.
Ready to transfer your domain to Squarespace?