If I Change My Squarespace Template, Can I Go Back?

How to Switch Back to Your Old Template (7.0)

Step 1: Go to Design > Template

In your Squarespace dashboard, navigate to Design > Template. You will see the currently installed template and the option to browse other templates.

Step 2: Find Your Previous Template

Browse the template library and find the template you were using before. If you remember the name, search for it directly. If not, check your notes or screenshots from before the switch.

Step 3: Preview and Install

Click Preview to see how your current content looks on the old template. If it looks acceptable, click Install to switch back. Your content (text, images, blog posts, products) carries over, but you will need to reconfigure layout, Site Styles, and Custom CSS - just as you did after the original switch.

What Happens When You Switch Back

Content Transfers Back

All your content - pages, blog posts, products, images, navigation structure, and SEO settings - carries over when you switch back. The content has been in Squarespace's database the entire time, independent of the template.

Site Styles Reset Again

Switching back resets Site Styles to the old template's defaults - not to your previous configuration. You need to re-enter your font choices, color hex codes, button styles, and spacing values. If you documented these before the original switch, you can restore them quickly. For font and color restoration, our guide to fixing fonts and colors after switching covers the process.

Custom CSS Needs Updating Again

If you rewrote your CSS for the new template, those selectors will not work when you switch back to the old template. You need to either restore your original CSS (from the backup you made before the first switch) or rewrite it again for the old template's selectors. For CSS restoration, our guide to why Custom CSS disappears after switching covers the fix.

Layout Reconfiguration Required

The old template's layout defaults apply, which may differ from what you had configured. Review every page and adjust block positions, section settings, and content arrangements. For header reconfiguration, our guide to header changes after switching templates covers the process.

When to Switch Back vs. Push Forward

Switch Back If

The new template is fundamentally wrong for your content. If the new template does not support features you need (index pages, specific gallery layouts, sidebar support) and no amount of customization can fix it, switching back is the right call.

You switched impulsively without preparation. If you switched without backing up CSS, documenting Site Styles, or previewing first, going back to familiar ground and preparing properly before trying again may be the faster path.

The reconfiguration effort exceeds the benefit. If the new template requires more customization work than it is worth - and the old template served your needs adequately - switching back saves time.

Push Forward If

The new template is better for your goals. If the new template offers features, layout options, or design quality that your old template lacked, the reconfiguration effort is an investment that pays off.

You have already reconfigured significantly. If you have spent hours configuring the new template and it is 80% there, finishing is faster than starting over with the old template.

The issues are fixable with CSS. If the only problems are visual (fonts, colors, spacing), Custom CSS can fix them without switching back. For CSS techniques, our guide to Squarespace custom CSS covers every styling approach.

A Better Approach: Preview Before Switching

The best way to avoid needing to switch back is to thoroughly preview the new template before installing it. On 7.0, Design > Template > Preview shows how your content looks on any template without committing to the switch. Check: every page layout, the header configuration, mobile display, and whether template-specific features you need are supported.

If the preview reveals problems, do not switch. Explore whether Custom CSS or Site Styles changes on your current template can achieve the look you want without the disruption of a template change. For alternatives to switching, our guide to changing templates on Squarespace covers redesigning without switching.

Going Back on Squarespace 7.1

On 7.1, there is no template switching to undo. If you changed your design through Site Styles and the editor and want to revert: undo Site Styles changes by re-entering your previous values, undo editor changes using Ctrl+Z (limited to the current session), or revert Custom CSS by restoring from your backup file.

Squarespace does not provide a full site-level undo or version history that lets you roll back to a previous date. This is why documenting your design before making changes is critical - your documentation is your rollback plan. For design strategies, our Squarespace design tips guide covers planning design changes safely. For site management, our guide to customizing your Squarespace website covers change management practices. For backup procedures, our guide to backing up your Squarespace site covers preserving your site state.

You Can Go Back - But Preparation Is Better

Switching back to your old Squarespace template is possible on 7.0 - your content is safe, and the process is the same as any template switch. But switching back requires the same reconfiguration effort as switching forward. The real solution is thorough previewing and preparation before any template change.

Preview first. Document your settings. Back up your CSS. Make an informed decision. And if you still need to go back, you can - with your content intact and your documentation guiding the reconfiguration.