Connect GoDaddy Domain to Squarespace: DNS Steps

By Umair Ali Sadaqat · Updated November 6, 2026 · Editorial policy

How to connect a GoDaddy domain to Squarespace with nameservers or DNS records, what to keep for email, and when transferring the domain is the better move.

Short answer: You can connect a GoDaddy domain to Squarespace without transferring it. Start in Squarespace's Domains panel, choose to use a domain you own, and log in to GoDaddy when prompted. Squarespace then either switches the nameservers (Nameserver Connect) or adds the needed DNS records (DNS Connect). If the automatic route fails, add one verification CNAME, a www CNAME, and four A records in GoDaddy's DNS tab by hand. The domain stays registered at GoDaddy the whole time.

(Squarespace and GoDaddy steps below were checked against their own help centers in November 2026. Button labels change, so treat the live screens as the final word.)

Connect or transfer: which one do you want?

These are two different jobs, and mixing them up is the most common way people end up with a confusing setup.

	Connect (point) the domain	Transfer the domain
Where it's registered afterward	Stays at GoDaddy	Moves to Squarespace
Who renews it	GoDaddy	Squarespace
What changes	DNS or nameservers only	Registration and DNS management
Speed and risk	Reversible, low risk	Slower, involves unlocking and auth codes
Best for	Keeping email and other services where they are	Managing everything in one billing relationship

Squarespace's help center says that a transfer is free apart from a one-year registration extension, but the details depend on your domain and timing, so confirm the current terms in Squarespace's Domains panel before you start. If you are weighing renewal costs across registrars, see how much a domain costs and our domain registrar comparison.

Before you start: a pre-flight checklist

Copy this and tick it off. Most failed connections trace back to one of these.

[ ] You are on a Squarespace plan that supports a custom domain, and your site is set up.
[ ] You can log in to the GoDaddy account that owns the domain.
[ ] DNSSEC is turned off in GoDaddy, since Squarespace says DNSSEC records block the connection.
[ ] You have a list of existing DNS records (screenshot the DNS tab), especially MX records for email.
[ ] GoDaddy's default nameservers are still in place. Squarespace warns that removing them before you begin the connection process causes an error.
[ ] You know whether your domain ending is eligible for Nameserver Connect (not .ca, .au or .com.au).

Method 1: the guided connection (recommended)

Squarespace documents two guided options, and the choice depends on what else lives on your domain.

Nameserver Connect

Use this when the domain only needs to serve your Squarespace site.

In Squarespace, open the Domains panel and choose to use a domain you already own.
Enter your domain and select GoDaddy as the provider.
Log in to GoDaddy when prompted and authorize the change.
Squarespace points the domain to its own nameservers (connect1.squarespacedns.com and connect2.squarespacedns.com). If you end up doing this step yourself, it lives under custom nameservers in GoDaddy's domain settings.
Return to Squarespace and click Finish.

Since Squarespace then controls the DNS for the whole domain, any email or other records you need must be recreated in Squarespace's DNS settings.

DNS Connect

Use this when the domain has custom records, such as email settings, or has DNSSEC enabled. Squarespace's own guidance is to opt out of Nameserver Connect in these cases. Logging in to GoDaddy from Squarespace lets it add only the records it requires, leaving your other records alone.

Method 2: add the DNS records manually in GoDaddy

If the automatic login fails, do it by hand. This is also the method to use when you want to see exactly what changes.

In Squarespace, open Settings, then Domains, and start the connection for your domain. Open the DNS settings screen, where Squarespace shows the records it expects, including your unique verification code.
In GoDaddy, open your domain's settings and go to the DNS tab. (GoDaddy's help pages describe the same area as Manage DNS records.) These steps assume the domain is using GoDaddy's nameservers.
Add a CNAME record. Host: the unique code from Squarespace. Value: verify.squarespace.com.
Edit the existing www record. In GoDaddy, www is a CNAME, so edit that record rather than adding an A record. Value: ext-cust.squarespace.com.
Delete any existing A records for the root domain (@), then add four new A records for @ pointing to 198.185.159.144, 198.185.159.145, 198.49.23.144 and 198.49.23.145.
Do not delete MX records or other non-A records.
Back in Squarespace, click Refresh Records.

Record reference

Type	Host / Name	Points to	Purpose
CNAME	Unique code from your Squarespace panel	verify.squarespace.com	Verifies ownership
CNAME	www	ext-cust.squarespace.com	Serves the www version
A (four records)	@	198.185.159.144, 198.185.159.145, 198.49.23.144, 198.49.23.145	Serves the root domain

Always cross-check against the values shown in your own Squarespace panel, because that is what Squarespace actually verifies.

Two gotchas Squarespace calls out

If a record shows your domain twice, such as ext-cust.squarespace.com.yourdomain.com, add a period to the end of the value so it reads as a complete address.
If your provider won't let you add a second CNAME, Squarespace says you can add an A record for www pointing to 198.185.159.144 instead. On GoDaddy you will normally just edit the existing www CNAME, as described above.

After connecting: what to expect

Squarespace says processing can take up to 48 hours. While you wait:

Click Refresh Records in the DNS panel periodically. The domain shows as Connected in the Domains panel once it links.
Leave the verification CNAME in place permanently. Squarespace states that if it is missing or wrong, the domain will unlink after 15 days.
If nothing verifies after 48 hours, Squarespace documents a TXT record verification as an alternative.
Test both yourdomain.com and www.yourdomain.com, then set which one is primary inside Squarespace.

When transferring makes more sense

Connecting is the right default, but consider a transfer if you want one invoice, one login, and no chance of a lapsed GoDaddy renewal taking your site offline. It is also worth it if you are leaving GoDaddy entirely; our GoDaddy alternatives guide covers that decision. The tradeoff is more steps (unlocking the domain and handling an authorization code) and a registration extension that Squarespace attaches to the transfer.

If you are still deciding whether Squarespace is the right home for the site itself, compare Squarespace and GoDaddy's builder, or look at Squarespace alternatives. For the same domain-connection idea on We.Inc, see connecting a custom domain.

We.Inc's free plan lets you publish up to three sites from ready-made templates; the AI builder that drafts a site from a prompt starts on the Starter plan at $20 a month. You can start at my.we.inc/signup.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to transfer my domain out of GoDaddy to use it with Squarespace?

No. Squarespace supports connecting a third-party domain, which leaves registration and renewals at GoDaddy and only changes where the domain points. Squarespace's help center notes that you must keep the domain registered with your provider to stay connected to your site. A transfer is optional and moves registration and DNS management into Squarespace.

What is the difference between Nameserver Connect and DNS Connect?

Nameserver Connect hands DNS control for the whole domain to Squarespace by changing the nameservers at GoDaddy. DNS Connect keeps DNS at GoDaddy and adds only the records Squarespace needs. Squarespace says to use DNS Connect if the domain has custom records such as email settings, or if DNSSEC is enabled. Nameserver Connect also isn't available for some domain endings, including .ca, .au and .com.au.

Which DNS records does Squarespace need when I connect manually?

According to Squarespace's help center: a verification CNAME (the host is a unique code shown in your Squarespace DNS panel, pointing to verify.squarespace.com), a CNAME with the host www pointing to ext-cust.squarespace.com, and four A records for the root domain (@) pointing to 198.185.159.144, 198.185.159.145, 198.49.23.144 and 198.49.23.145. Copy the exact values from your own Squarespace panel, since they are the source of truth.

How long does the connection take?

Squarespace says DNS information can take up to 48 hours to process. In practice it is often faster, but plan for that window. If verification still fails after 48 hours, Squarespace points to a TXT record verification method as an alternative.

Will connecting the domain break my email?

Not if you leave your MX records alone. Squarespace's instructions say not to delete MX records, because they route your email. Only remove the old A records that point the root domain somewhere else, and leave other record types in place.

Why did my domain become unlinked from my Squarespace site?

Squarespace states that if the verification CNAME is missing or entered incorrectly, the domain will unlink from your site after 15 days. Re-check that record's host and value in GoDaddy's DNS tab, then click Refresh Records in Squarespace.

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