Fix guide · Squarespace
How to Fix www / non-www Redirect Issues in Squarespace (2026)
If your Squarespace site responds on both https://example.com and https://www.example.com without redirecting one to the other, search engines see them as two separate sites and split your ranking signals. Squarespace handles the redirect automatically once you set a preferred domain format, but you need to configure it in your domain settings.
Why it matters
What this issue costs you
Search engines treat www.example.com and example.com as different hosts. If both resolve without a redirect, inbound links split between both versions, diluting your link equity. Google recommends picking one as the canonical domain and permanently redirecting the other. Squarespace can do this for you with the right configuration.
Step-by-step
How to fix: www / non-www inconsistency
Squarespace
- 1
Open your domain settings
In the Squarespace admin, go to Settings > Domains. Click on your custom domain to open its settings. You will see options for configuring the preferred domain format.
- 2
Choose your preferred domain format
In the domain settings, look for the "www prefix" or "Preferred Domain" option. Select either "Prefer www" (www.example.com) or "Prefer non-www" (example.com). Squarespace will automatically 301-redirect the non-preferred variant to the preferred one across all pages.
- 3
Verify DNS records are configured correctly
For the redirect to work, both domain variants need correct DNS records at your registrar. For the non-www (apex) domain, add the A records or ALIAS record that Squarespace specifies. For the www subdomain, add a CNAME record pointing to your Squarespace site. The exact values are shown in Settings > Domains when you connect the domain.
- 4
Verify the redirect is working
After DNS propagation (up to 48 hours), test both URLs in your browser. The non-preferred variant should redirect (HTTP 301) to the preferred one. You can also use a redirect checker tool or run: curl -I https://www.example.com (or the non-www version) and look for "301 Moved Permanently" with a Location header pointing to your preferred domain.
Verify the fix
Run the checker to confirm the issue is resolved
After applying the steps above, paste your URL below. Our checker will re-run every applicable check and show whether www / non-www inconsistency still shows as a failing check.
FAQ
Common questions about www / non-www inconsistency
www or non-www — which should I pick for my Squarespace site?
It does not matter for SEO. Pick whichever you prefer (non-www is more common for modern brands) and stick with it. Consistency is what matters, not which version you choose.
Squarespace says my domain is connected but the redirect is not working. Why?
The most common cause is incomplete DNS configuration. Both the apex (non-www) and www DNS records must point to Squarespace. Check your domain registrar's DNS settings against the values Squarespace provides in Settings > Domains. Also allow up to 48 hours for DNS propagation.
Do I need to update Google Search Console after setting a preferred domain?
Yes. Add both www and non-www versions as properties in Google Search Console. This ensures Google correctly attributes all search data to your preferred domain version.
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