If you bought a domain from HostGator and want to keep it registered with them, follow this guide to link it to your website. Your domain will remain registered with HostGator after you complete these steps, but it will link to your Squarespace account. As you work on the link, you might find HostGator's guide useful.
Review our criteria for connecting a third-party domain before you begin.
SECTIONS Before you begin Step 1 - Start the connection in Squarespace Step 2 - Log in to HostGator Step 3 - Add the first CNAME Step 4 - Add the second CNAME Step 5 - Add A Records Step 6 - Wait for the connection to complete Troubleshoot with the DNS record checker Getting more helpIf your domain qualifies, we suggest moving it rather than linking it. Learn more about the distinctions between transferring and linking, or begin a transfer.
Before you begin- In the Account Packages section of the HostGator website, look up your HostGator schedule. You must be on a Shared Hosting plan with HostGator to link your domain with Squarespace (Hatchling, Baby, or Business). Here are the hosting plans offered by HostGator.
- To keep your domain linked to your Squarespace site after connecting it using the steps in this guide, you must keep it registered with HostGator.
- Examine any additional conditions for linking a third-party domain.
Step 1 - Start the connection in SquarespaceTo bind your domain, go to the Domains panel and do the following: 1. Click Settings, then Domains, from the Home Menu. 2. Select Use a Domain I Own from the drop-down menu. 3. In the Enter domain area, type the full domain name you're linking, then click the arrow. 4. Connect the domains by clicking Connect Domain.Note: If you receive an error message that says "This domain is already connected to another Squarespace site," look at the other Squarespace pages to see where the domain is connected. Then unplug it from the website.
5. From the drop-down menu, choose Other. 6. Connect the domains by clicking Connect Domain. 7. Select Continue in the message that appears. 8. A new panel with the records you need to build in your HostGator account will appear. Keep this panel open as a reminder.Step 2 - Log into HostGatorUsing your username and password to access HostGator. See HostGator's a support article for assistance with logging in.
To access the DNS settings for a domain, go to:
1. Select Hosting in the left sidebar.
2. Click cPanel on the domain you're using to bind to Squarespace. In a new tab, your control panel will appear.
3. In the control panel, click Advanced Zone Editor.
So that your HostGator domain correctly links to your Squarespace site, you'll copy the records from the Squarespace Domains panel.Note: During this procedure, do not remove MX documents. MX Records links your email address to your domain name, and deleting them can cause problems with your email service.
Step 3 - Add the first CNAMECopy the special code that appears immediately below the Host column in the first line of your Squarespace DNS Settings. A random string of numbers and letters that must point to verify.squarespace.com is the unique code.
Depending on what Squarespace sees from the domain provider, your domain records will be green or red.
Attach the following records to your HostGator Advanced Zone Editor under Add a Record:
1. Select CNAME in the Type area.
2. Copy and paste your unique code into the Name area.
3. Enter 14400 in the TTL region.
4. Enter verify.squarespace.com in the CNAME area.
Note: The system will auto-populate your full domain name when you enter your unique code in the Name area. This is to be anticipated, and it will not affect your CNAME record.
Click the Add Record button.
You'll now have a CNAME pointing to verify.squarespace.com with your unique code. The domain will unlink from your site after 15 days if you don't apply this CNAME or if it's entered incorrectly. If this occurs, you can reconnect the domain by starting over.
Step 4 - Add the second CNAMEwww appears immediately below the Host column in the second line of your Squarespace DNS Settings. ext-cust.squarespace.com must be the target of this record.
Enter the following values in your cPanel's Add a Record section:
1. Select CNAME in the Type area.
2. Enter www in the Name area.
3. Enter 14400 in the TTL region.
4. Enter ext-cust.squarespace.com in the CNAME area.Notes: If you find a current CNAME in your Zone File Records with a www Name, change it to ext-cust.squarespace.com.The device will auto-populate your full domain name when you type www in the Name area. This is to be anticipated, and it will not affect your CNAME record.👉 Also, you can read:How to Fix Slow WordPress Hosting on HostGatorClick the Add Record button.
You'll now have a CNAME pointing to ext-cust.squarespace.com with www in it.
Step 5 - Add A Records
Enter the following values in cPanel:
- Select A in the Type sector.
- Enter the root domain, without the www, in the Name area, such as yourdomain.com.
- Enter 14400 in the TTL region.
- Enter 198.185.159.144 in the Address area.
Click the Add Record button.
Repeat this process three more times and enter these values in the Address field.
- 198.185.159.145
- 198.49.23.144
- 198.49.23.145
You'll now have four A records pointing to the following IP addresses:
- 198.185.159.144
- 198.185.159.145
- 198.49.23.144
- 198.49.23.145
Note: If you already have any A Records, change the Address to match the values above. Any other A Records that don't fit what's seen in this guide can be deleted, but no Mail or Email records should be deleted. It's possible that deleting these would cause problems with your email service.
Step 6 - Wait for the connection to complete
It can take up to 72 hours for the link to start functioning properly after you've entered the records. While you're waiting, try this stuff.
- If you go back to your Squarespace DNS Settings and press Refresh below the records, the Current Data column will start to show if your records are right. When the domain is correctly related, a Connected mark will appear in the Domains panel.
- For up to 72 hours after following the steps in this document, you can see errors in the Domains panel or while accessing your domain. If any error messages appear after 72 hours, proceed to the next line.
Troubleshoot with the DNS record checker
Your domain will appear in the Domains panel with the message "To troubleshoot, use the DNS checker tool in the Domains panel to see the exact CNAME and A Records to address with your domain provider."
In the Domains panel, select the domain, and then click DNS Settings. Visit Troubleshooting domain connections for more details.
Getting more help
Contact HostGator's the support team for more information on account settings. You can use our sample message to help them understand your problem. You may also look at their documents.
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