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Connect your Google Domains (now Squarespace Domains) custom domain name

Updated

On September 7, 2023 Squarespace acquired all domain registrations and their associated customer accounts from Google Domains. If you bought a domain through Google Domains, you're now a Squarespace customer.

Please see the Squarespace help article titled: About the Google Domains migration to Squarespace.

When your Squarespace domain is set up correctly yourdomain.com will load your Format site with https://www.yourdomain.com  showing in the web browser address (URL) bar.

This guide uses jane-dovercourt.format.com, janedovercourt.com and yourdomain.com as EXAMPLES ONLY. You will replace these with your own unique Format Address and Custom Domain Name.

Format Domain settings

  1. From the lower-left of your Format sidebar, navigate to 'Settings'

  2. Click 'Domain and Email'

  3. Scroll down to the Format Address area

  4. Replace the auto-generated Format Address with your own unique Format Address (it is best to match as closely as possible to your actual custom domain name (in this example jane-dovercourt without the .com or other .tld (top-level-domain extension)

  5. Website Domain: your website can always be accessed through your Format address (in this example https://jane-dovercourt.format.com )

  6. Click 'Connect Your Domain' to access and enter your existing custom domain name (see screenshot below)

Add your existing Custom Domain Name

  1. Add your unique existing custom domain name. If you have previously used the same domain name with another Format website it will not be possible to use this without it being disconnected from the other website, contact our support team

  2. Follow instructions to update your domain registrar/provider DNS Zone settings to connect to your Format site (you will sign in to your Squarespace account to complete the connection, see below)

  3. Click 'Save Changes'

Failed Connection

  1. Failed Connections happen when the correct connection settings have not been sent, or propagated (updated) from your domain registrar

  2. We are unable to access your Google Account for security reasons so please follow the instructions below to connect from Google Domains

  3. 'Save Changes'

Sign in to Squarespace Domains

14_squarespace-google-domain-connection-edited-v2.png

  1. Access DNS Settings area
  2. You may see notification that the domain is managed by Google Workspace
  3. Under 'Squarespace Defaults' if any are shown, like the screenshot above, click the 'Delete' trash icon
  4. Click 'ADD RECORD' button and add two separate records
  5. Host = @
  6. Type = A
  7. Data = 174.129.25.170 then add SECOND RECORD
  8. Host = www
  9. Type = CNAME
  10. Data = your Format site address

Save any changes, if you are unsure of anything, please take a screenshot and contact our team so we can review and advise if any changes need to be made.

Check domain connection

Changes made in your Squarespace Domains account are not usually instant.

They may take up to 24 hours to fully propagate and connect.

It is best to check your connection after one day.

You will know that your domain connection is working when you enter yourdomain.com and your Format site loads with www.yourdomain.com in the address bar.

Be sure to check that www is visible in the address bar along with a 'secure padlock' icon.

Custom Domain Connection Confirmed

  1. Status updated to show as 'Connected'

Your custom domain should connect within 24 hours once all settings here, and the Google Domains DNS Zone records have been set correctly.

Still not working?

Reach us online at our live chat or via our email info@format.com and we can check and advise some options for you to try.

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