How to Change Squarespace Template: 7.0 vs 7.1 Steps

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

How to change your Squarespace template: 7.1 sites can't switch templates, 7.0 sites can. Steps for each, what carries over, and a pre-switch checklist.

Short answer: It depends on your site's version. On Squarespace 7.0 you switch templates from the Design panel: open Template, click Install new template, preview it, then click Set as live template. On Squarespace 7.1 you can't switch templates at all, because every 7.1 site shares the same structure, so you change the look through fonts, colors and layouts instead. Check which version you're on first.

Step 1: Find out which version you're on

Open the Pages panel and scroll to the bottom. If you see a Version 7.1 label, you're on 7.1. If you see a template name (Brine, Five, Marquee and so on), you're on 7.0. Everything below branches from this one check.

	Version 7.0	Version 7.1
Can you switch templates?	Yes	No, there's nothing to switch to
How you change the look	Install a new template, preview it, set it live	Edit fonts, colors, spacing and section layouts
Can you preview first?	Yes, with Preview and Cancel preview	You see edits as you make them
Custom CSS	Specific to each template, blank in a new one	Stays with the site
Reversible?	Yes, switching back restores the old template's state	Style edits can be changed again

How to change your template on Squarespace 7.0

Open the Design panel and click Template.
Click Install new template and choose one with Start with.
The new template appears in the Template panel, below your live template. Visitors still see the old one.
Hover over it and click Preview. Click through your pages and note what looks wrong.
Not happy? Click Cancel preview in the bottom bar and you're back on the live template.
Happy? Click Set as live template in the bottom bar and confirm.
Rebuild the pieces that reset (see the next section), then recheck every page on mobile.

Switching is reversible. Squarespace says that if you go back to a template you used earlier, your design changes and style settings return as you last left them.

What carries over in 7.0, and what doesn't

Squarespace says most of your content stays intact when you switch. These items don't:

Style settings. Fonts, colors, spacing and other styles revert to the new template's defaults.
Sidebars and footers. They're unique to each template, so you'll re-add their content.
Page headers and background images. These reset in the new template, so you'll need to add them again.
Custom CSS. It belongs to the template it was written for. The new template's CSS editor starts empty, so save a copy of your old CSS before you switch.

Some templates also have features the others lack. For example, Aviator info pages don't transfer to other 7.0 templates or to 7.1.

How to "change template" on Squarespace 7.1

Since there's no template switcher, the equivalent is a redesign inside the same site:

Open the site styles panel and change your fonts and color palette first. This alone shifts the feel of the whole site.
Adjust spacing and button styles so they match the new look.
Rework your page sections. Swap section layouts, reorder them, or rebuild the homepage from a different section arrangement.
Update the header and footer layout.
Review every page on a phone before you publish.

If you want a completely different starting structure, Squarespace's help center describes the option of redesigning or restarting your site. Read that page before deleting anything, and keep your current site live until the new one is ready.

Moving from 7.0 to 7.1

If you're on 7.0 and want 7.1's shared feature set, Squarespace provides an update tool. It moves your content into the closest 7.1 equivalents and aims for a similar design. The move is optional, and you can stop at any time before clicking Publish update. After you click it, you can't undo the change or revert to 7.0. Treat it as one-way, and review the preview carefully.

Pre-switch checklist

Copy this into your notes and tick it off before you go live:

`` [ ] Confirmed version (7.0 or 7.1) in the Pages panel [ ] Saved custom CSS to a document (7.0) [ ] Screenshotted sidebar, footer and page header on every key page [ ] Saved background images and logo files [ ] Previewed new template, checked home, about, contact, blog, shop [ ] Checked every page on phone and tablet widths [ ] Re-added footer, sidebar and header content [ ] Re-checked forms, buttons and navigation links [ ] Clicked Set as live template (7.0) or published style edits (7.1) [ ] Looked at the live site in a private browser window ``

Common problems after a switch

Everything looks plainer. That's the style reset. Set fonts, colors and spacing again from the new template's style options.
A page header or banner vanished. Re-add it. Page headers don't transfer.
Your CSS tweaks stopped working. The CSS editor is per template and starts blank, so paste the old code in and adjust it, since the new template's markup can differ.
You regret the change. On 7.0, switch back to the old template, which Squarespace says comes back as you left it.

When a template change isn't enough

If you keep fighting a template's limits, the issue may be the platform rather than the theme. Weigh your options in Squarespace alternatives, see how it stacks up in Wix vs Squarespace or Squarespace vs WordPress, and check the real running costs in how much a Squarespace website costs. If you'd rather start from a fresh set of designs, 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 sign up here.

Frequently asked questions

Can I change my template on Squarespace 7.1?

No. Squarespace says template switching isn't available in version 7.1, because every 7.1 site shares the same basic structure and style options. To change the look, you adjust fonts, colors, spacing and page layouts instead of installing a different template.

How do I know whether my site is 7.0 or 7.1?

Open the Pages panel and scroll to the bottom. A 7.1 site shows a Version 7.1 label. A 7.0 site shows the name of its template instead.

Will I lose my content if I switch templates in 7.0?

Squarespace says most of your content stays intact. Style settings (fonts, colors, spacing) revert to the new template's defaults, and elements such as sidebars, footers, page headers, background images and custom CSS don't carry over the way you'd expect. Switching back to a previous template restores its earlier state.

Can I preview a new template before it goes live?

Yes, on 7.0. Install the template, hover over it in the Template panel and click Preview. Click Cancel preview in the bottom bar to return to your live template. Nothing changes for visitors until you click Set as live template.

Can I undo the move from 7.0 to 7.1?

Not after you publish. Squarespace says you can stop at any point before you click Publish update, but once you do, you can't undo the changes or revert to version 7.0.

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