Hostinger stands out with its affordable entry-level costs, an AI-driven website creation tool, and intuitive hosting solutions – all making it an attractive option for those looking for an alternative to Squarespace.

Considering a switch from Squarespace to Hostinger? Take the opportunity to transfer your domain too. As a comprehensive hosting and domain registration service, Hostinger ensures a smooth migration and management experience for your website.

This guide provides a detailed walkthrough for transferring your domain from Squarespace to Hostinger.

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Domain Migration from Squarespace to Hostinger

Before moving forward with the domain transfer steps, ensure you meet the following prerequisites for moving a domain out of Squarespace:

  • Domain maturity. The domain should be over 60 days old.
  • Domain status. The domain needs to be active and not locked. The unlock procedure will be explained later in this guide.
  • Zero outstanding payments. Your Squarespace account should not have any unpaid charges.
  • Current email. The domain owner’s contact email address should be valid and accessible.

Fulfill these requirements? You’re ready to initiate your domain’s transfer to Hostinger. Let’s begin.

Unlocking Your Domain on Squarespace

Domain registrars use a lock feature for security, preventing unauthorized domain modifications. To transfer your domain, you’ll need to disable this feature.

Log into your Squarespace account, visit the Settings menu, and head over to the Domains panel. Select your pertinent domain and switch off the Domain Lock.

Mindful of certain conditions that can impose a 60-day lock on your domain when transferring from Squarespace:

  • Recent acquisition or domain transfer. Adhering to ICANN rules, if your domain was purchased or transferred recently, it must remain with the existing registrar for 60 days before it can be moved again.
  • Changes to the owner’s contact details. Updates to your contact information might lead to a voluntary 60-day lock, which you can disable in the Domains settings.
  • Registrar-specific lock. Post-transfer, your domain may be under the management of Tucows. Verify whether your domain is now with Squarespace Domains LLC or still registered with Tucows via a WHOIS search.

Deactivate WHOIS Privacy

To proceed with the domain transfer, the new host must confirm the registrant’s contact details. Privacy protection can obstruct the sharing of this information, potentially stalling the process.

Find the WHOIS Privacy setting alongside the Domain Lock and deactivate it.

Direct Your Domain to Hostinger’s Nameservers

Alter your domain’s nameservers to Hostinger’s before initiating the transfer, to reduce your website’s downtime.

This ensures a smooth transition as DNS updates take place in the background. Here’s how you can do this:

  1. Within Domains, click Edit next to Nameservers Settings.
  2. Choose Use custom nameservers, and input Hostinger’s nameservers (commonly, ns1.dns-parking.com and ns2.dns-parking.com) and confirm by clicking Save.

You can review your nameserver details under the Hosting menu and Plan details within your Hostinger profile.

Note: DNS updates may require up to 24 hours to propagate worldwide. It’s helpful to modify nameservers ahead of the domain transfer to ensure everything goes smoothly and minimizes downtime risk.

Wrap-Up

Domain relocation to a new registrar is not uncommon when you move your website. We’ve focused here on the specific steps needed to transfer a domain from Squarespace to Hostinger.

To summarize, you should:

  1. Unlock your domain on Squarespace.
  2. Disable the WHOIS privacy feature.
  3. Update Squarespace’s DNS settings to point to Hostinger’s nameservers.
  4. Obtain and transmit the transfer authorization or EPP key from Squarespace.
  5. From Hostinger’s panel, commence the domain transfer.
  6. Finalize the transfer as guided by Hostinger’s emails.

We trust this guide assists you in successfully migrating your domain to Hostinger. Should you have any questions on domain transfers, consult our FAQ or drop us a comment. Best wishes in your transfer!