Squarespace domain not connecting: what to check

Your domain is registered somewhere else and Squarespace cannot see the right records yet. Squarespace shows the domain as "Pending" or lists records with a red mark. One missing or wrong record is usually the whole problem.

What to do, in order

  1. Open the list Squarespace gives you. Settings, Domains, your domain, DNS settings. It shows a CNAME with a code unique to your site, and four A records. Every one must exist at your registrar exactly as shown.
  2. Check the CNAME. Host is the long code (for example a1b2c3d4), value is verify.squarespace.com. Some registrars add your domain to the end of the host by themselves. Type only the code.
  3. Check the www record. Host www, CNAME, value ext-cust.squarespace.com. Delete any other www record first. Two records on one name break it.
  4. Check the four A records. Host @, values 198.185.159.144, 198.185.159.145, 198.49.23.144, 198.49.23.145. Delete old A records pointing at a previous host or a "parked" page.
  5. Check the nameservers. If your domain uses Cloudflare's or another host's nameservers, the records must be added there, not at the registrar. Set Cloudflare records to "DNS only" (grey cloud).
  6. Wait, then check again. Changes usually show within an hour. Squarespace says up to 72 hours. If it still fails after a day, a record is wrong.

Check it yourself

Run dig +short yourdomain.com and dig +short www.yourdomain.com. The first should list the four Squarespace addresses. The second should show ext-cust.squarespace.com.

Want the rest of your site checked after it is back? Run a free 40-point check at tinkeraudit.com.