Replace Squarespace DNS with Cloudflare for DDNS
Transfer your domain from Squarespace to Cloudflare for Dynamic DNS
Google announced in 2023 that it would cease operations of Google Domains and transfer operation to Squarespace Domains. A key feature that will no longer be support in Squarespace Domains is DDNS (Dynamic DNS) — leaving DDNS users scrambling to find a reliable replacement.
Cloudflare is great alternative to DDNS on Google Domains / Squarespace.
The following articles detail the steps to transfer your domain names from Squarespace to Cloudflare, then enable DDNS in Cloudflare for all of your dynamic DNS records.
Part 1 — Migrating from Squarespace to Cloudflare
(Prerequisite Step) This article will outline the steps for migrating your domain names from Squarespace to Cloudflare.
Part 2 — Dynamic DNS with Cloudflare
Ready to start using DDNS on Cloudflare? Click on Part 2 for instructions on how to configure Dynamic DNS on Cloudflare.
Migrating from Squarespace to Cloudflare
Create a Cloudflare Account
Let’s start by creating a free Cloudflare account by navigating to https://www.cloudflare.com/.
Click the SignUp link at the top right of the page and follow instructions to create a free account. Scroll down to the Free column and choose the Add a website button.
Follow the instructions to specify your email address and create a password, then click the Sign up button to complete registration.
Once your account has been created, proceed to the main Cloudflare dashboard by scrolling down and clicking Explore all products →
On the main Cloudflare dashboard, click the blue Add a Site button. Enter the domain name you are transferring and click Continue
Scroll down to select the Free plan and click Continue. Review your migrated DNS records and click Continue.
Cloudflare will perform a scan of your existing domain records to be migrated. Review and accept these settings by scrolling down and clicking the blue Continue button.
You may be provided additional steps on the next page to ensure a smooth transition. For example, you may be instructed to turn off DNSSEC for the migration. Review the additional steps as appropriate.
Finally, scroll down on the Change your nameservers page and copy the assigned cloudflare nameservers. We’ll need these in a subsequent step, so copy the 2 nameservers to a text file for now. Click Continue.
Transfer your domain name out of Squarespace
Now that you’ve created a Cloudflare account, we’ll need to transfer your domain name from Squarespace (or your current domain registrar) to Cloudflare.
Cloudflare provides instructions on how to transfer your domain to Cloudflare: Transfer your domain to Cloudflare
We’ll complete the following steps for Squarespace:
1 — Login to Squarespace and select Domains at the top of the page. In the Domains list, click the domain that you would like to transfer. In the navigation box that appears, scroll down and click Manage Domain Settings. You can also find these settings on the left navigation menu under DNS
2 — Turn off the switches for Whois Privacy and Domain Lock.
3 — Scroll down to Advanced Settings and turn off DNSSEC.
4 — Now that we’ve prepared the domain for transfer, click the “…” at the top right of the page and select Send Transfer Authorization Code. Alternatively, some Squarespace users may see a link for SEND TRANSFER CODE at the bottom left of the Overview dashboard.
5 — Under Advanced Settings, click Nameserver Settings. Choose Use Custom Nameservers. Add in the 2 nameservers that we copied earlier from Cloudflare and click Save. You can also access this page by clicking “DNS → Domain Name Servers” if the left navigation menu.
Transfer your domain name into Cloudflare
Now that we’ve prepared our domain to be transferred out of Squarespace, we are now ready to start the transfer process into your Cloudflare account!
NOTE: You may need to wait several hours for the Domain Name Server settings that we just completed to take effect and for Cloudflare to send the requested Domain Transfer Code. You must wait for an email from Squarespace with the requested code before you can continue :(
START HERE once you receive the transfer code from Squarespace
1 — Return to your Cloudflare account and click on Domain Registration in the left navigation menu, then Transfer Domains. Select the domain for transfer and click the blue Confirm Domains button.
If this is your first domain, you will be prompted to enter payment information (to extend your domain registration by 1 year). Scroll down to the domain you wish to transfer and click the blue Confirm Domains button.
2 — Complete the transfer request by providing the Authorization Code that we received from Squarespace earlier. Paste the Authorization Code and click continue.
3 — Confirm your contact information and click the blue Confirm and Finalize Transfer button. You will receive a confirmation that the transfer request has been successfully submitted.
Check your email for a confirmation from your former domain registrar
Conclusion
In this article, we explored the steps for migrating your domain names from Squarespace to Cloudflare. In Part 2 of this series, we’ll explore how to enable Dynamic DNS using Cloudflare.
Part 2 — Dynamic DNS with Cloudflare
Ready to start using DDNS on Cloudflare? Click on Part 2 for instructions on how to configure Dynamic DNS on Cloudflare.
