A site's visibility status determines who can access its content. By default, all sites start as private and are only accessible to owners and collaborators.

Test Site Status

• Private by default
• Only visible to owners and collaborators
• Hidden from search engines
• Accessible via direct link sharing
• Can be password-protected for specific visitors

Paid Site Access

• Can be set to public or private
• Check status: Settings > Site Availability
• Site is active when set to "Public"

Online Store Functionality

• Requires linked payment processor
• Without payment setup, checkout is disabled
• Customers see "Checkout disabled" message until payment processor is connected

Change Publication Rules Immediate updates after refresh:

• Gallery images
• Album tracks
• Navigation menu changes
• Videos

Changes requiring manual save:

• Layout pages
• Blog posts and events
• Products
• Page descriptions
• Style settings
• Content block areas

Privacy Management

• Maintain privacy after upgrade with password protection
• Remove indexed content through Google Search Console
• Hide specific pages from search results
• Control site visibility through Site Availability settings

Keep your site private until ready for launch by using available privacy controls and password protection features. For search engine removal, use Google Search Console directly as Squarespace cannot manage external search listings.

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