When you upload an image or other file to Squarespace, it's stored by our content delivery network service providers (CDNs) and assigned a specific URL for storing and retrieving it as a static asset.
When you upload an image, we store multiple sizes. Each size version is assigned a specific static URL so browsers can reload the images more quickly each time someone revisits a page. This helps your site’s performance globally, improves page loading times, and helps your ranking in Google, which uses page speed as a factor in search results.
If you right-click an image or other file and open it in a new tab, you'll see its URL in your browser's address bar. These URLs start with images.squarespace-cdn.com, static.squarespace.com, or static1.squarespace.com followed by a string of random characters and the format. For example, the 1000 pixels-wide version of your image will have format=1000w at the end. The format changes based on the size of the browser viewing your site. File URLs can't be customized.
Note: It's not possible to redirect a static asset URL.
Remove an image or file URL
When you remove an image or file from your site, it stays in the CDNs as a static asset, linked to its URL. The deleted image/file isn't visible on your site, so visitors won't see it. However, it's still stored in the background of our system for a while, so if anyone has the direct link to it, they can still see it. Keeping the URL makes it easier to retrieve the image/file in case you deleted it accidentally and need to use it again.
The image will be deleted from the CDNs eventually. It isn't possible to remove the URLs yourself, but we can do it for you. To request that we delete an image/file from our CDN, send us an email from the email address listed as the Owner on the site. Use the email subject line Static URL Removal Request and include the following information:
- Your domain name or built-in domain (you.squarespace.com).
- The static URL(s) you’d like to remove from our CDN. We recommend copying and pasting these from your browser’s address bar to avoid any typos.
- If you need multiple assets removed, separate each URL with a comma.
When we process your request, it might take some time for the static URL to deactivate. Visitors who saved the link might still access the image or file for a period of time after your request. The exact timing of when URLs completely disappear from the CDN depends on many factors. This isn't something Squarespace can control or expedite.
Search engines might also display your static URL in search results for a period of time if they previously indexed it. With some search engines, like Google, you can request that they re-index your site to remove this from search results.
Other URLs
- In many templates, you can create custom deeplink URLs, which send visitors directly to an image on a Gallery Page.
- You can also turn an image into a link using image clickthrough URLs.
- For tips on sharing links, visit Sharing content on social media.
Learn more about Squarespace's CDNs
CDNs consist of networks of third-party servers and data centers around the world. To learn more, visit Where does Squarespace store my data.
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