How to Migrate WordPress to Squarespace Yourself
Short answer: Yes. Squarespace’s importer copies pages, blog posts, images attached to posts, categories, tags, and comments from a WordPress XML export. Theme, plugins, galleries, and store do not transfer — you rebuild those. Set up 301 redirects before switching the domain to reduce SEO risk.
Time: A simple brochure or blog (~20 pages) is usually a weekend. Stores, memberships, or hundreds of posts take longer, mostly on rebuild, not import.
What transfers from WordPress to Squarespace?
| Imports | You rebuild |
|---|---|
| Site pages | Theme, layout, fonts, colors, custom CSS |
| Blog pages, posts, authors (as basic authors) | Plugin content (forms, page builders, shortcodes) |
| Categories and tags (tags ≤80 chars, categories ≤25) | Gallery images |
| Comments | Image captions |
| Images attached to posts/pages | Unattached Media Library images |
| Attachments | WooCommerce products (no direct import; map a WooCommerce export into Squarespace’s product CSV format). Orders and customer history do not import. |
Import is a one-time copy. It does not sync.
Official: Importing content from WordPress
3 rules that prevent most problems
Keep WordPress live until the end.
Import before you move the domain. Squarespace fetches images from the live WordPress site. If the domain already points to Squarespace, images can fail.
Password-protect the new Squarespace site while building so search engines don’t index two versions.
Step 1: Inventory your WordPress site
List pages, posts, forms, products, embeds, integrations.
Export full URL list (sitemap or SEO plugin) into a spreadsheet: Old URL | Redirect? | New URL.
Back up the full Media Library.
Note what each plugin does (replace or drop).
If you use custom email on the domain, contact the email provider before any domain change.
Step 2: Set up Squarespace
Start a free trial.
Pick a template for structure, not demo content.
Add a site password.
Step 3: Export from WordPress
Disable nonessential plugins (especially security or hotlink-protection plugins) before exporting. Leave them disabled until the Squarespace import succeeds, then re-enable.
Tools → Export → All content.
Download the `.xml` file.
Requirements: WordPress 3.2+, WordPress-generated XML only. Large sites: export by date range and import in batches.
Step 4: Import into Squarespace
Settings → Advanced → Import & export content.
Import → WordPress.
In the Processor dropdown, choose Standard WordPress (Markdown/Textile only if you used those).
Upload the XML and click Import.
Find content in the Not linked section of the Pages panel.
Enable the imported pages (they arrive disabled).
Move them into navigation.
If it stalls: Squarespace retries every 30 minutes, up to five times. Most finish within six hours. If it fails, confirm plugins were disabled and try smaller exports.
Step 5: Fix what didn’t import
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Broken page-builder layout | Rebuild with Squarespace sections and blocks |
| “[filename] is an attachment without a parent” | Image was only in Media Library. Attach it to a page or post in WordPress → re-export → re-import. Or upload directly on Squarespace. |
| Images missing, no error | Possible cause: the domain was moved before import. Point it back to WordPress and re-import. |
| Images disappear when editing a post | The post has more than 100 images. Squarespace pages hold about 100 blocks and recommend no more than 60. Either trim the post below 100 images in WordPress and re-import, or delete it on Squarespace and rebuild using gallery blocks. |
Step 6: How do I set up 301 redirects after migrating?
Blog posts on Squarespace usually live under `/blog/`. WordPress posts are often at the root.
Confirm the imported blog page’s actual URL slug in its page settings. It may not be `/blog`.
Go to Developer tools → URL mappings.
Add rules (one per line). Put specific page redirects first, bulk rules last.
Example Order:
/services -> /what-we-do 301
/category/[name] -> /blog 301
/[name].html -> /blog/[name] 301
/[name] -> /blog/[name] 301Date-based URLs (`/2024/05/post-name/`): try one rule per month folder, e.g. `/2024/05/[name] -> /blog/[name] 301`. Test one before adding the rest.
Rules:
Redirects only fire if the old URL doesn’t exist on Squarespace.
Rules run top to bottom. Specific redirects must be above the bulk `/[name]` rule.
Case-sensitive.
Most URL mappings can’t use `?`, `&`, or `#`.
Cannot redirect image/file URLs.
Limit is 400 KB, about 2,500 lines.
Testing: Visit each old URL once. Triggering the same redirect twice within two minutes shows a 404 by design (loop prevention).
Official:
Protect your SEO ranking after a site move or redesign
Step 7: Domain and go live
Finish testing (forms, mobile, key pages).
Transfer the domain or point DNS.
- Domains registered through WordPress.com: Transferring a WordPress domain - Other registrars (GoDaddy, Bluehost, Namecheap, etc.): use Squarespace’s general transfer or connect guide.
Confirm redirects work.
Submit sitemap in Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.
Watch for 404s for 2–4 weeks and add missing redirects.
Customize your Squarespace 404 page so visitors know the site has moved.
Cancel the WordPress hosting plan. Billing continues until you cancel it, even after the domain leaves.
Domain notes:
Transfers add one year of registration and can take up to 15 days.
Don’t change DNS while a transfer is in progress.
Keep MX records if you use custom email.
Connected domains still require paying the old registrar.
FAQ
Will moving from WordPress to Squarespace hurt my SEO?
Switching platforms can cause rankings to dip initially even when handled carefully. Redirects reduce that risk but don’t eliminate it. Keep your domain, match page URLs where possible, 301-redirect the rest, and submit your sitemap to Google Search Console.
Can I import my WordPress theme or plugins?
No. Squarespace imports content only. Design and plugin features must be rebuilt.
Can I import WooCommerce products?
Not directly via the WordPress XML importer. You can map a WooCommerce product export into Squarespace’s product CSV template and import products (plan-dependent). Orders and customer history do not import.
Why are my images missing after import?
Two common causes: images were only in the Media Library and not attached to any post, or the domain was moved before the import. See Step 5.
How long does a WordPress to Squarespace migration take?
A simple site of about 20 pages takes a weekend. Stores, memberships, or sites with hundreds of posts take longer, mostly on rebuilding.
Does the import keep syncing new posts?
No. It’s a one-time copy.
When to Hire Help
Simple sites under ~20 pages are realistic DIY. Stores, memberships, heavy custom features, or significant organic traffic are usually safer and faster with help.
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Checklist:
[ ] Inventory pages, posts, forms, products
[ ] Full media backup
[ ] Disable nonessential plugins → export XML → keep disabled until import succeeds → re-enable
[ ] Import into Squarespace (confirm blog slug)
[ ] Enable imported pages and rebuild missing content
[ ] Add 301 redirects (specific first, bulk last)
[ ] Test redirects once each
[ ] Point or transfer domain
[ ] Submit sitemap and monitor 404s
[ ] Cancel WordPress hosting
