Changing nameservers for your Squarespace-managed domain.

Nameservers act as a host for information like DNS records that point domains to specific locations online. For example, Squarespace’s default nameservers connect a domain to our services and host your domain’s DNS settings. You can review or change your nameservers in the domain's Advanced settings panel. When using custom nameservers, you’ll manage and modify most of your DNS records through your nameserver provider instead. 

Use this guide for help editing your nameservers if:

• Your domain is registered with Squarespace
• Your domain is registered with a third party and connected to Squarespace using Nameserver Connect

If your third-party domain is connected via DNS Connect, edit your DNS settings in your third-party domain provider account instead of following this guide. You only need to edit nameservers if you're using certain third-party services that need access to your domain. 

Tip: If you’re experiencing issues with third-party nameservers, reach out to the nameserver provider for help.

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Effects of changing default nameservers

Replacing Squarespace’s default nameservers will break its link to your site. It’ll also disconnect any linked Google Workspace account from your domain, which means you may not be able to send or receive email.

If you add custom nameservers to your domain, the records in the domain’s Squarespace DNS settings panel won’t apply to the domain. You'll have to re-add any custom records, like MX or DKIM records controlling custom email, in the DNS settings for your custom nameserver provider.

Add or edit custom nameservers

You can add a minimum of two and a maximum of 13 custom nameservers. In most cases, we don’t recommend editing or using custom nameservers. We suggest only using custom nameservers if you have experience managing domains and need to add Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC), an advanced form of domain security.

As part of this process, you'll be prompted to disable DNSSEC protection. You can add third-party DNSSEC protection to your DNS settings by adding DS records or DNSKEY records.

You can make changes to your nameservers from the domains dashboard. To access your domain's nameservers:

1. Open your domains dashboard.
2. Click the domain name. If you have multiple Squarespace domains, you'll manage them separately.
3. Click DNS, then click Domain Nameservers.
4. Click Use Custom Nameservers.
5. Enter your current password, or if you have two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled, reauthenticate your account using your 2FA method and click Continue.
6. Click Continue when prompted to disable DNSSEC.
7. Enter your nameserver records into the Nameserver 1 and Nameserver 2 text fields.
8. Click Save. It can take up to 48 hours for the nameservers to start working properly.

Reset nameservers to Squarespace defaults

If you use or reset to Squarespace’s default nameservers, any records added to the domain’s DNS settings will apply to the domain. This step is like a factory reset for your domain – it restores the default settings and may fix certain domain issues. It also removes any custom changes you made to nameservers.

To access your domain's nameservers:

1. Open your domains dashboard.
2. Click the domain name. If you have multiple Squarespace domains, you'll manage them separately.
3. Click DNS, then click Domain Nameservers to review or change your domain’s nameservers.
4. Click Use Squarespace nameservers to keep or add Squarespace’s default nameservers. Any records added to the domain’s DNS settings panel will apply to the domain.
5. Enter your current password, or if you have two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled, reauthenticate your account using your 2FA method and click Continue.
6. Click Save. It can take up to 48 hours for the nameservers to start working properly.
7. You'll be prompted to re-enable DNSSEC for your domain. Click View DNSSEC in the window that appears, then switch on the toggle beside DNS Security Extensions.

What should Squarespace's default nameservers look like?

Squarespace default nameservers may end in any of the following: 

• .googledomains.com
• .nsone.net
• .squarespacedns.com 
• .systemdns.com

While other companies use these same nameservers, it's normal for Squarespace domains to use them as well. Your site’s loading speed and security remain the same, no matter which nameservers your domain uses.

Add additional nameservers

You can add more nameservers to DNS settings to distribute site traffic across more than one server. To learn more visit Adding additional nameservers to DNS records.

My DNS records aren’t loading

If you’re adding third-party nameservers or making changes to your domain, try waiting 48 hours for your changes to readjust. If the errors persist, contact the support team of your third-party nameserver provider for help. You can use this sample message to start the conversation.