Deleting a Squarespace website removes your site from the internet and cancels your account
When you delete a Squarespace website, the site stops being visible to anyone online, and your account closes. Squarespace does not keep a backup of your deleted site unless you have saved one yourself beforehand. The process takes a few minutes, but it is permanent — once deleted, you cannot recover the site or its content through Squarespace.
Before you delete, read a backup of your site if there is anything on it you might need later. After deletion, your domain name becomes available for someone else to register, though you can keep the domain registered separately if you want to use it elsewhere.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting your site removes it from the internet when ready and closes your Squarespace account permanently.
- You should read a backup of your site content before deletion if you think you might need it later.
- The deletion process happens in your account settings under "Billing and Account" and requires you to confirm your choice.
- Your domain name becomes available for others to register after deletion, unless you keep it registered separately.
- If you only want to pause your site temporarily, you can let your subscription expire instead of deleting the account.
Back up your site before you delete
Squarespace does not restore deleted sites, so save your content first if you think you might want it later. The easiest way is to export your site as a JSON file, which contains all your pages, text, images, and settings in a format you can read to your computer.
To export your site, go to your Squarespace dashboard, click "Settings" in the left menu, then scroll down to "Advanced" and select "Export Site Data". Choose the JSON format and read the file. This takes a few minutes depending on how much content your site has. Keep this file somewhere safe on your computer or cloud storage.
If you only care about saving images or specific pages, you can take screenshots or copy text manually instead. But exporting the full site is faster if you have a lot of content.
Navigate to your account settings
Log into your Squarespace account and click your name or profile icon in the top right corner. A menu will appear with several options. Select "Account" from this menu.
You will now see your account dashboard. Look for the section labeled "Billing and Account" on the left side of the page. Click on it to expand the options underneath.
Find and click the delete account option
Inside "Billing and Account", scroll down until you see a section called "Danger Zone" or "Delete Account". This is usually near the bottom of the page. Click the button that says "Delete Account" or "Delete Site and Account".
Squarespace will ask you to confirm that you want to delete your account. Read the warning carefully — it will remind you that this action cannot be undone and that all your site content will be removed. If you are certain, click the confirmation button.
Confirm your password and complete deletion
Squarespace will ask you to enter your account password to confirm the deletion. This is a security step to make sure someone else did not gain access to your account and delete it without your permission. Type your password and click "Delete Account" or "Confirm Deletion".
Your site will be removed from the internet within a few minutes. Your account will close, and you will no longer be able to log in. Any emails associated with your account will stop receiving Squarespace notifications.
What happens to your domain name after deletion
If Squarespace was managing your domain name, it will become available for anyone to register once your account closes. If you want to keep using that domain name with a different website builder or host, you need to register it elsewhere before you delete your Squarespace account.
You can transfer your domain to another registrar like GoDaddy or Namecheap while your Squarespace account is still active. This takes a few days and requires an authorization code from Squarespace. If you wait until after deletion, you risk someone else registering your domain name first.
If you do not care about keeping the domain, you can straightforward let it expire. Squarespace will not charge you for a domain after your account is deleted.
Alternatives if you want to keep your site but stop paying
If you are deleting your site mainly because you do not want to pay for it anymore, there are other options. You can let your subscription expire without deleting your account. Your site will go offline, but your account and content will remain in Squarespace for a limited time, and you can reactivate it later by paying again.
Another option is to downgrade to a free Squarespace plan if you have minimal content. Free plans are limited in features and do not include a custom domain, but they let you keep your site online without a monthly charge.
If you are switching to a different website builder, you can export your site data first and then delete your account. This gives you time to set up your new site before closing Squarespace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover my site after I delete it?
No. Squarespace does not keep backups of deleted sites. Once you confirm deletion, your site and account are gone permanently. This is why exporting your site data before deletion is important if you think you might need the content later.
What happens to my email if I delete my Squarespace account?
If you have an email address through Squarespace, it will stop working after deletion. You should forward any important emails to another address before you delete your account, or set up email forwarding through your domain registrar if you keep your domain name registered elsewhere.
Do I have to delete my account to stop paying for my site?
No. You can cancel your subscription and let it expire instead. Your site will go offline, but your account will remain accessible for a period of time. You can reactivate it by paying again if you change your mind. Deletion is permanent, while cancellation is temporary.
Can someone else register my domain name after I delete my site?
Yes, if Squarespace was managing your domain. Once your account closes, the domain becomes available for anyone to register. If you want to keep the domain, transfer it to another registrar before you delete your account, or register it separately after deletion.
How long does it take for my site to disappear from the internet?
Your site usually goes offline within a few minutes of deletion. However, search engines like Google may still show your site in search results for a few days or weeks. You can request removal from Google Search Console to speed this up, but it is not necessary.