What Happens to the Footer After Switching Templates
Footer Content Changes
Each 7.0 template structures the footer differently - some use a single-column footer, others use multi-column layouts, and some include built-in footer sections for navigation links, social icons, and copyright text. When you switch templates, the footer adopts the new template's structure. Content blocks you added to the old footer may not appear in the new one or may display in a different arrangement.
Footer Navigation
Footer navigation (links in the footer area) is configured through the Pages panel - pages in the "Footer Navigation" or "Secondary Navigation" section. These pages carry over, but whether the new template displays footer navigation and how it styles them depends on the template. Some templates show footer navigation automatically. Others require manual configuration.
Social Icons in Footer
Social media icons in the footer come from Settings > Social Links. Your social link URLs carry over between templates, but whether the footer displays them and where depends on the new template. Check the footer settings in the new template to enable social icon display.
Copyright Text
Some templates auto-generate copyright text in the footer. Others require you to add it manually. If your copyright text disappeared, add it as a text block in the footer area of the new template or check the template's footer settings for a copyright field.
How to Reconfigure the Footer
Step 1: Access Footer Settings
On 7.0, footer settings are usually in Design > Site Styles under a "Footer" section. On 7.1, the footer is a page section that you edit directly in the page editor - scroll to the bottom and click on the footer area. For footer customization, our guide to customizing your Squarespace website covers footer configuration on both versions.
Step 2: Add Footer Content
Add content blocks to the footer area - text for copyright and business information, navigation links, social media icons, a newsletter signup form, or a logo. Different templates allow different numbers and types of footer blocks.
Step 3: Style with CSS if Needed
If the new template's footer styling does not match your design, use Custom CSS to adjust colors, fonts, spacing, and layout. Target footer selectors like footer, .footer-section, or template-specific footer classes found through browser DevTools. For CSS techniques, our guide to Squarespace custom CSS covers footer-specific styling.
What Happens to the Sidebar After Switching Templates
Sidebar Support Varies by Template
Not all Squarespace templates include sidebars. On 7.0, some templates (like Brine) support sidebars on blog pages, while others do not. If you switch from a template with sidebar support to one without it, the sidebar content disappears from the page display. The content itself is not deleted - it is just not rendered by the new template.
Blog Page Sidebars
Blog sidebars typically display: recent posts, categories, tags, a search bar, or custom content blocks. When you switch to a template without sidebar support, this content no longer displays alongside blog posts. You need to either choose a template that supports sidebars or recreate the sidebar content using alternative methods.
Page Sidebars
Some 7.0 templates offer sidebars on regular pages. After switching to a template without page sidebars, sidebar content may: move below the main content, disappear entirely, or become inaccessible. Check the affected pages and relocate content as needed.
How to Recreate a Sidebar Without Template Support
Using the Fluid Engine (7.1)
On 7.1, you can create a sidebar-like layout using the Fluid Engine. Place a narrow column of content blocks beside the main content area. The Fluid Engine's freeform grid lets you create any column width - dedicate 3 to 4 grid columns to the sidebar and the remaining 8 to 9 to main content. For layout techniques, our guide to Squarespace custom layouts covers multi-column structures.
Using Custom CSS (7.0)
On 7.0 templates without native sidebar support, you can create a sidebar effect with CSS Grid or Flexbox. Add a Code Block with sidebar content in a specific page section and use CSS to position it beside the main content. This requires CSS knowledge but works on any template. For CSS implementation, our guide to adding custom CSS to Squarespace covers layout customization.
Using Summary Blocks
Instead of a sidebar, use Summary Blocks within the main content area to display recent posts, categories, or featured content. Summary Blocks pull content from blog collections and display it in a compact format. This achieves the same informational purpose as a sidebar without needing the sidebar layout structure.
Footer and Sidebar on 7.0 vs. 7.1
7.0: Footer and sidebar structures are template-dependent. Switching templates changes both. Sidebar support varies significantly between templates. Footer layout options depend on the template.
7.1: The footer is a standard page section editable through the Fluid Engine. No traditional sidebars - but the Fluid Engine creates any column layout including sidebar-style arrangements. No template switching means footer and sidebar layouts persist through redesigns.
If footer and sidebar limitations are driving your template switch, migrating to 7.1 provides a fundamentally more flexible approach to both. For the Fluid Engine, our guide to Fluid Engine on Squarespace covers layout capabilities.
Before Switching: Preserve Your Footer and Sidebar
Screenshot the footer and sidebar. Document exactly what content appears and how it is arranged. You need this reference to rebuild on the new template.
Copy sidebar content. If the sidebar contains custom text, links, or HTML, copy that content to a text file before switching. It may become inaccessible after the switch if the new template does not support sidebars.
Note footer configuration. Document your footer settings - social links, navigation items, copyright text, newsletter signup, and any custom content. For backup procedures, our guide to backing up your Squarespace site covers preserving all site elements.
After Switching: Verification Checklist
1. Check footer display. Is footer content visible? Are social icons, navigation, and copyright text present?
2. Check sidebar display. Does the new template support sidebars? If not, where did sidebar content go?
3. Reconfigure footer settings. Set up social links, navigation, and content blocks in the new template's footer area.
4. Rebuild sidebar content. If the sidebar is gone, recreate the content using Summary Blocks, Fluid Engine columns, or CSS-based layouts.
5. Test on mobile. Footer layout and any sidebar content should display correctly on phone screens. For mobile testing, our guide to Squarespace mobile optimization covers responsive verification. For design strategies, our Squarespace design tips guide covers footer and sidebar design principles. For template switching details, our guide to changing templates on Squarespace covers the complete process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my footer change after switching Squarespace templates?
Why did my sidebar disappear after switching Squarespace templates?
Is my footer content lost after a template switch?
How do I add a sidebar on a Squarespace template without sidebar support?
Do footers and sidebars change on Squarespace 7.1?
Should I back up my footer and sidebar content before switching templates?
How do I reconfigure the footer on a new Squarespace template?
Rebuild What the Template Does Not Provide
Footer and sidebar changes after a template switch are structural, not content loss. Your text, links, and settings still exist - they just need to be placed into the new template's footer and sidebar structures (or recreated if the new template does not support them).
Document before you switch. Reconfigure after you switch. And if sidebar or footer limitations frustrate you on 7.0, consider 7.1 where both are handled through the flexible Fluid Engine editor.
* Read the rest of the post and open up an offer