Skip to main content

Manually connecting a Google Domain to your Squarespace site

John

If automatically connecting your Google Domain failed, follow the steps in this guide to try a manual setup instead. You may also find Google Domains' guide helpful as you work on the connection.

If you’re connecting your Google domain to your site for the first time, use the automatic connection process. 

Before you begin, review our requirements for connecting a third-party domain.

Tip: If your domain is eligible, we recommend transferring it instead of connecting it. Learn more about the differences between transferring and connecting, or go here to get started with a transfer.

Step 1 - Reconnect your domain in Squarespace

If your Google domain is listed in your Domains panel, you’ll first need to disconnect it, then follow the steps below to start the manual connection:

  1. In the Home Menu, click Settings, then click Domains. You can also press the ? key while any panel is open and search domains.
  2. Click your Google Domain, then click Disconnect Domain. Click Yes to confirm disconnect.
  3. Refresh the page, then click Use a Domain I Own.
  4. Type the full domain you’re linking in the Domain Name field, then click Continue.
  5. Click Connect From Provider.
Note: If you see a message that says "This domain is already connected to another Squarespace site," check your other Squarespace sites to find where the domain is connected. Then disconnect it from that site.
  1. Select Other from the Domain Provider drop-down menu. You must select Other to begin the manual connection, even if Google auto-populates in the drop-down menu.
  2. Click Connect Domain.
  3. In the message that appears, click Continue.
  4. A new panel will open with the settings to create in your provider account. Keep this panel open for your reference.

Step 2 - Log into Google Domains

Open a new browser window or tab to access your Google domain:

  1. Log into your Google Domains account.
  2. In the My Domains panel, click the domain you want to connect.
  3. In the sidebar, click DNS.
  4. Under Name servers, ensure that your domain is using Google's default nameservers. If you're using custom nameservers, follow Google's instruction to restore them to their default settings.
  5. Scroll down to Custom resource records.
  6. You’ll now copy the records from the DNS Settings panel in your Squarespace site into your domain’s settings.
Note: Don't delete MX records. These Records connect your email address, and deleting them will interfere with your email service.

Step 3 - Add A records

In the last four lines of your Squarespace DNS Settings, you’ll see four IP addresses in the Required Data column. Using the steps below, create four A records in Google Domains matching these values:

Host Type Data
@ A

198.185.159.144
@ A 198.185.159.145
@ A 198.49.23.144
@ A 198.49.23.145
  1. In your Google Domains DNS settings, scroll down to the Custom resource records section.
  2. Above your existing records, enter data for A records:
    • In the Name field, enter @
    • In the Type field, select A.
    • Leave the TTL at the default setting as 1H
    • In the Data field, enter the first IP address listed, 198.185.159.144
  3. To the right of the Data field, click the + three times to add three more fields.

  4. In each field enter one of the remaining IP addresses.

  5. Click Add to create all four A Records on your domain.

Note: If you have existing A Records, edit any Name field with @ listed so that Data matches the values above. These records direct where your domain without the “www” points.

Step 4 - Add the first CNAME

In the first line of your Squarespace DNS Settings, copy the unique code that appears directly below the Host column. The unique code is a random string of numbers and letters that must point to verify.squarespace.com. In your Google Domains DNS panel, you’ll add a new record with these values:

Host

Type

Data

Copy and paste the unique code above Host on the first line

CNAME

verify.squarespace.com
  1. In your Google Domains DNS settings, scroll down to the Custom resource records section.
  2. Above your existing records, enter data for the first CNAME:
    • In the Name field, paste the unique code from your Squarespace DNS Settings panel.
    • In the Type field, select CNAME.
    • Leave the TTL at the default setting as 1H
    • In the Data field, enter verify.squarespace.com
  3. Click Add.
Note: If you don't add this CNAME, or if it's entered incorrectly, the domain will unlink from your site after 15 days. If this happens, you can start over to reconnect the domain.

Step 5 - Add the second CNAME

In the second line of your Squarespace DNS Settings, www appears in the Host column. This record must point to ext-cust.squarespace.com.

Host Type Data
www CNAME ext-cust.squarespace.com
  1. In your Google Domains DNS settings, scroll down to the Custom resource records section.
  2. Above your existing records, enter data for the second CNAME:
    • In the Name field, enter www
    • In the Type field, select CNAME.
    • Leave the TTL at the default setting as 1H
    • In the Data field, enter ext-cust.squarespace.com
  3. Click Add.
Note: If you already see a CNAME record with a host of www, you'll see a Name conflict error when adding the second CNAME record. Click to edit the existing CNAME record and change the information in the Data field instead of adding a new record.

Step 6 - Wait for the connection to complete

Now that you've entered the records, it can take 24 to 72 hours for the connection to start working properly. While you wait:

  • You can return to your Squarespace DNS Settings, click Refresh below the records, and the Current Data column will start to show if your records are entered correctly. When the domain is correctly linked, it will appear in the Domains panel with a Connected label.
  • It’s normal to see errors in the Domains panel or when visiting your domain for up to 72 hours after completing the steps in this guide. If you see any error messages after 72 hours has passed, see the next section.

Troubleshoot with the DNS record checker

If we detect that your records weren’t set up properly, your domain will appear in the Domains panel with the message Can’t verify domain ownership. To troubleshoot, use the DNS checker tool in the DNS Settings panel to see the exact CNAME and A Records to fix.

Getting more help

For additional help with settings in your Google Domains account, contact their support team. To help them understand your issue, you can use one of our sample messages. You can also visit their documentation.

Comments

0 comments

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Powered by Zendesk