Connect Squarespace Domain to Shopify

Understanding the DNS Setup

What DNS Records Do

DNS (Domain Name System) records tell the internet where to send visitors when they type your domain. An A record points your domain to an IP address (Shopify's server). A CNAME record points a subdomain (like www) to another domain name (Shopify's domain). When you change these records to point to Shopify instead of Squarespace, visitors who type your domain will see your Shopify store instead of your Squarespace site.

What You Need from Shopify

Before making DNS changes, get the required values from Shopify. In your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Domains > Connect Existing Domain. Shopify will show you the A record IP address and the CNAME record value you need. As of current Shopify documentation, the A record points to Shopify's IP address (23.227.38.65) and the CNAME for www points to shops.myshopify.com. Verify these values in your Shopify admin as they may change.

How to Connect a Squarespace Domain to Shopify

Step 1: Access Your Domain's DNS Settings

If your domain is registered through Squarespace, go to Settings > Domains in your Squarespace dashboard. Click on the domain you want to connect to Shopify. Click "Advanced Settings" or "DNS Settings" to access the DNS record editor.

If your domain is registered through a third-party registrar, log in to that registrar's dashboard and navigate to the DNS management section for your domain.

Step 2: Update the A Record

Find the existing A record for your root domain (the one with @ or your domain name as the host). Change its value from Squarespace's IP address to Shopify's IP address (verify the current address in your Shopify admin). If there are multiple A records pointing to Squarespace IPs, update or remove all of them and add Shopify's A record.

Step 3: Update the CNAME Record for www

Find the CNAME record for the www subdomain. Change its value from Squarespace's domain to shops.myshopify.com (verify in your Shopify admin). If there is no existing www CNAME record, create one with the host set to www and the value set to Shopify's CNAME target.

Step 4: Remove Squarespace-Specific DNS Records

Remove any DNS records that are specific to Squarespace hosting - typically additional A records and CNAME records that Squarespace added when you originally connected the domain. Leave email-related records (MX records) untouched if you use email through your domain.

Step 5: Add the Domain in Shopify

In your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Domains > Connect Existing Domain. Enter your domain name and click Connect. Shopify will check the DNS records and verify the connection. This may take up to 48 hours for DNS propagation, though most changes take effect within a few hours.

Step 6: Verify and Set as Primary

Once Shopify confirms the domain is connected, set it as your primary domain in the Shopify domain settings. This ensures all traffic to your domain goes to your Shopify store. Shopify automatically provisions an SSL certificate for your domain - this may take a few additional hours after the domain connects.

Important Considerations Before Connecting

Your Squarespace Site Will Go Offline

When you point your domain's DNS to Shopify, visitors to that domain will see your Shopify store instead of your Squarespace site. If you still need your Squarespace site accessible, you will need to use it on a different domain or on the built-in Squarespace subdomain (yoursite.squarespace.com).

Email May Be Affected

If you use email services through your domain (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or Squarespace's email forwarding), do NOT change MX records during the DNS update. MX records control email routing and are separate from the A and CNAME records that control website hosting. Only change the records Shopify requires - leave email records untouched.

SSL Certificate Transition

Squarespace provides SSL certificates automatically. When you move the domain to Shopify, Squarespace's SSL certificate becomes invalid. Shopify provisions its own SSL certificate, but there may be a brief period (minutes to hours) where your site shows a security warning. Plan the transition during low-traffic hours to minimize impact.

URL Structure Differences

Squarespace and Shopify use different URL structures. Blog posts, product pages, and collection pages will have different URLs on Shopify. Set up 301 redirects in Shopify for any Squarespace URLs that have search engine rankings or inbound links. For SEO migration strategies, our Squarespace SEO guide covers redirect configuration and ranking preservation.

Alternative: Using a Subdomain

If you want to keep your Squarespace site on your main domain and run Shopify on a subdomain (like shop.yourdomain.com), add a CNAME record for the subdomain pointing to Shopify instead of changing the root domain's A record. This lets you run both platforms simultaneously - Squarespace for content and Shopify for commerce.

In your DNS settings, add: Host: shop, Type: CNAME, Value: shops.myshopify.com. Then add shop.yourdomain.com as a domain in your Shopify admin. For connecting Shopify products to your Squarespace site without moving your domain, our guide to adding a Shopify Buy Button to Squarespace covers embedding products on your existing site.

Transferring Your Domain Away from Squarespace

If you want to move the domain registration itself (not just DNS pointing) from Squarespace to another registrar, you need to transfer the domain. Go to Settings > Domains in Squarespace, click on the domain, and look for the Transfer option. Squarespace will provide an authorization code. Enter this code at the receiving registrar (Shopify, GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.) to initiate the transfer. Domain transfers typically take 5 to 7 days.

You must have owned the domain for at least 60 days before transferring, and the domain must not be within 60 days of its expiration date. Unlock the domain in Squarespace before initiating the transfer. For broader site management during migrations, our guide to customizing your Squarespace website covers domain and hosting configuration.

Troubleshooting Domain Connection Issues

Domain Not Connecting After DNS Changes

DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate globally. Wait at least 24 hours before troubleshooting. Use a DNS checker tool (like whatsmydns.com) to verify your DNS records are propagating correctly across different DNS servers.

SSL Certificate Not Provisioning

Shopify provisions SSL certificates through Let's Encrypt after the domain connects. If SSL does not activate within 24 hours of the domain connecting, verify the DNS records are correct and the domain is set as the primary domain in Shopify. Contact Shopify support if SSL does not provision after 48 hours.

Email Stopped Working

If email stops working after DNS changes, check your MX records. They may have been accidentally deleted or modified during the DNS update. Restore the original MX records for your email provider (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, etc.). MX records should not be changed when connecting a domain to Shopify. For design strategies on your new Shopify store, our Squarespace design tips guide covers principles that apply to any platform.

Site Shows Wrong Content

If your domain shows Squarespace content instead of Shopify after DNS changes, the old DNS records may still be cached. Clear your local DNS cache, try a different browser, or check from a different device. Use a DNS checker to verify the records have propagated.

Connect Your Domain with Confidence

Connecting a Squarespace domain to Shopify is a straightforward DNS change - update the A record and CNAME record, add the domain in Shopify, and wait for propagation. The process takes minutes to configure and hours to take effect.

Plan the transition during low-traffic hours, leave your email MX records untouched, set up redirects for any URLs with search rankings, and verify everything works on both desktop and mobile after the connection is live. A clean domain migration sets the foundation for your Shopify store without losing the SEO value you built on Squarespace.