To connect a HostGator domain to Squarespace, follow these steps:

Prerequisites:

• Must have a HostGator Shared Hosting plan (Hatchling, Baby, or Business)
• Domain must remain registered with HostGator
• Allow 24-72 hours for connection to complete

Step 1: Start Squarespace Connection

1. Go to Domain Names panel
2. Click "I already have a domain"
3. Enter your domain name
4. Click "Connect Domain"
5. Select "Other" from dropdown
6. Click "Continue"
7. Keep DNS records panel open for reference

Step 2: Access HostGator DNS Settings

1. Log in to HostGator portal
2. Click "Hosting" in sidebar
3. Click "cPanel" for your domain
4. Under Tools > Domains, click "Zone Editor"
5. Select "Manage" for your domain
6. Click "Add Record"

Step 3: Add First CNAME Record

• Name: [unique code from Squarespace]
• Type: CNAME
• Data: verify.squarespace.com

Step 4: Add Second CNAME Record

• Name: www
• Type: CNAME
• Data: ext-cust.squarespace.com

Step 5: Add Four A Records Create records with @ as Name and these IP addresses:

• 198.185.159.144
• 198.185.159.145
• 198.49.23.144
• 198.49.23.145

Step 6: Wait for Connection

• Allow 24-72 hours for full connection
• Monitor progress in Squarespace DNS settings
• Click "Refresh Records" to check status
• Look for green labels indicating successful connection

Troubleshooting:

• Use DNS check tool if you see "Unable to verify domain ownership"
• Contact HostGator support for account-specific issues
• Review DNS records if connection fails after 72 hours

Important:

• Don't delete mail/email records
• Modify existing records instead of creating duplicates
• Ensure all records match exactly as specified

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