How to Change Your Site’s Built-in Domain Name Before You Publish
Even if you aren’t ready to set up hosting and domain subscriptions and publish your website for the world to see, you might want someone else to take a sneak peek at the site you are building.
Is that possible?
Absolutely. Before you go live, your site actually can be pulled up and viewed by anyone, but they have to know the built-in domain name that Squarespace assigned it. Now, Squarespace doesn’t want just anybody looking at your unfinished work, so they are going to assign your website a URL that is... unusual.
Not typical.
OK, weird.
https://squidward-hoptoad-ts007.squarespace.com
https://longunderwear-threetoecat-vp329.squarespace.com
https://hippochair-balloondust-it74.squarespace.com
You get the picture. If you want to do a quick fix, you can change this URL temporarily to make it look more professional and be easier to share. This will only be a temporary fix - after you set up hosting and your domain, you will be able to permanently assign the site its actual, public URL.
So, will the new domain name still have squarespace.com in it? Yes.
Will it still look like your cat fell asleep on your keyboard and created the URL accidentally? Hopefully not, but that is up to you.
Step 1. Find the Old Name
From your website’s Home page,
Click on Settings
then
Click on Domains
There will be a box under Built-in Domain with your website’s temporary weirdo name.
Click on your site’s Built-in Domain Name
Step 2. Give it a New Name
Under Site ID,
Select the crazy long name.
And type in your own.
Click Rename to save your changes.
Your site will reload and you will see your new and improved domain name!
