How to Connect 1&1 IONOS Domain to Squarespace: Manual DNS Setup Guide

How to Connect 1&1 IONOS Domain to Squarespace: Manual DNS Setup Guide

By Michael Thompson

March 15, 2025 at 11:38 PM

A third-party domain connection between IONOS and Squarespace requires changing DNS records. Follow these steps to manually connect your domain.

Prerequisites:

  • Active IONOS domain
  • Squarespace site
  • Access to both IONOS and Squarespace accounts

Step 1: Start Squarespace Connection

  1. Open Domains panel in Squarespace
  2. Click "Use my domain"
  3. Enter domain name and click arrow
  4. Select "Other" provider
  5. Click "Connect Domain" and "Continue"
  6. Keep DNS settings panel open for reference

Step 2: Access IONOS DNS Settings

  1. Log into IONOS account
  2. Locate your domain
  3. Click "Actions" then "DNS"

Step 3: Delete Existing Records

  1. Set filter to "Display All Records"
  2. Remove all AAAA and A records
  3. Keep mail records intact to preserve email service

Step 4: Add First CNAME Record

  1. Click "Add Record" > "CNAME"
  2. Host Name: [unique code from Squarespace]
  3. Points to: verify.squarespace.com
  4. TTL: 1 hour

Step 5: Add Second CNAME Record

  1. Click "Add Record" > "CNAME"
  2. Host Name: www
  3. Points to: ext-cust.squarespace.com
  4. TTL: 1 hour

Squarespace settings screen

Squarespace settings screen

Step 6: Add Four A Records Add records with "@" as Host Name pointing to:

  • 198.185.159.144
  • 198.185.159.145
  • 198.49.23.144
  • 198.49.23.145

Step 7: Wait for Connection

  • Allow 24-72 hours for propagation
  • Check connection status in Squarespace DNS Settings
  • Look for "Connected" label in Domains panel

Troubleshooting:

  • Use DNS Checker tool if "Unable to verify domain ownership"
  • Contact IONOS support for account-specific issues
  • Review Squarespace domain connection guides if needed

Note: DNS changes may temporarily affect your website accessibility during propagation.

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