Verify your third-party domain for use with Email Campaigns

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Verify your third-party domain for use with Email Campaigns

Last updated April 23, 2026 17:06

Verify your custom domain and email address to avoid spam filters.

When you set up your Email Campaigns sender details, you’ll choose a send from address. We recommend using a custom email address associated with your domain, like hello@yourdomain.com. If your domain is hosted by a third-party, like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or IONOS, you’ll need to add verification records provided by Squarespace to your domain’s DNS settings. Verifying a domain will automatically verify all email addresses connected to that domain.

What is a third-party domain?

A third-party domain is a custom domain hosted outside of Squarespace. If you have a Squarespace website, your third-party domain may be connected to it. You can transfer a third-party domain to Squarespace to change the domain host to Squarespace, which automatically verifies it for use with Email Campaigns.

Why do I need to verify my third-party domain for use with Email Campaigns?

We recommend verifying your domain to avoid spam filters. If your domain has a DMARC policy set to p=reject, you can't use your sender details until after you verify the domain. If you're not sure about your domain's DMARC policies, contact your domain provider.

Do I need to verify a Squarespace domain for use with Email Campaigns?

No. If you bought your domain from Squarespace, or if your domain migrated to Squarespace from Google Domains, it’s automatically verified and you don’t need to take any action. You can also transfer your domain from a third-party to automatically verify it for use with Email Campaigns. If you’re not sure who hosts your domain, visit Who is my domain provider?

Step 1 - Find your Squarespace Email Campaigns verification records

In Squarespace:

  1. Open the Email Campaign settings panel.
  2. If you haven’t already, add a sender name and email address. Then paste the code sent to the email address to prove you have access to its inbox.
  3. Under Sender details, click Authenticate.
  4. A window will open with the CNAME and TXT records you’ll need to add to your domain’s DNS settings.

Update DNS Settings panel has a CNAME and TXT record listed with Host and Data fields. There are two buttons labeled Authenticate Domain and I'll do this later.

Step 2 - Open your domain’s DNS settings

How to access your domain’s DNS settings depends on if your third-party domain is connected to a Squarespace website and, if so, the connection type.

  • If your third-party domain isn't connected to a Squarespace website - You’ll edit your domain’s DNS settings through your domain provider. If you're not sure how to access your DNS settings, contact your domain provider for help.
  • If your third-party domain is connected to a Squarespace website - There are two options for how it's connected: via Nameserver connect or DNS connect. If you’re not sure how your domain is connected, visit Nameserver connect vs. DNS connect.

Access DNS settings for a domain connected to a Squarespace site with Nameserver connect

You can access the DNS settings for domains connected to Squarespace websites via Nameserver connect in the Squarespace domains panel. From there, click Domains managed by third-party, then Edit, then DNS settings. Under Custom Records, click Add Record. If you’re not sure how your domain is connected, visit Nameserver connect vs. DNS connect.

Access DNS settings for a domain connected to a Squarespace site with DNS connect

If your domain is connected to your Squarespace website via DNS connect, you’ll need to log into your domain provider account to access your DNS settings. Depending on your provider, this may be called Zone File Settings, Manage Domains, Domain Manager, DNS Manager, or something similar. If you’re not sure how your domain is connected, visit Nameserver connect vs. DNS connect.

Step 3 - Add the Email Campaigns verification records to your DNS settings

In your domain’s DNS settings create two new records matching what appears in Squarespace. In Squarespace, each record has a Type, Host, and Data value. Your provider's DNS settings may use different labels, such as Record instead of Type. Be sure to click Save after adding your records.

Depending on your provider, your records may take up to 48 hours to fully resolve. If Domain is unauthenticated no longer appears below your domain in the sender details, your domain has been verified.

First record:
Type (aka Record) Host (aka Hostname or Alias) Data (aka Points To or Value)
CNAME squarespace._domainkey squarespace-domainkey.squarespace-mail.com

Second record:
Type (aka Record) Host (aka Hostname or Alias) Data (aka Points To or Value)
TXT _dmarc Copy and paste the unique code beside _dmarc in the Data column

Note: Previously, verification also included adding an SPF record to your DNS settings, but verification best practices have evolved over the years. Our current security features make an SPF record unnecessary, so we've removed this requirement.

If your provider isn't included here, contact their support team for more help.

  • IONOS
  • GoDaddy
  • Hover

  • Namecheap

  • Go to www.my.ionos.com/domains and log into your IONOS Domains and SSL page.

  • Select your domain to access the Domain Details page.
  • Click DNS

DNS Settings. 4. Click Add Record. 5. Add the CNAME record, copying and pasting the Host and Data values you see in Squarespace, then click Save.

For more questions, contact IONOS support.

  1. Log into your Domain Manager at dashboard.godaddy.com.
  2. Select your domain to access the Domain Settings page.
  3. Scroll down to Quick Links and click Manage Domain.
  4. On the Domain Settings page, click Manage DNS.
  5. Scroll down to DNS Records, and select Add to add the CNAME record, copying and pasting the Host and Data values you see in Squarespace, then click Add Record to Save.
  6. Continue the same process for the TXT record.

For more questions, contact GoDaddy support.

  1. Log into your account at hover.com.
  2. Click DNS.
  3. Click Add Record.
  4. Add the CNAME record, copying and pasting the Host and Data values you see in Squarespace, then click Add Record.
  5. Continue the same process for the TXT record.

For more questions, contact Hover support.

  1. Log into your account at namecheap.com.
  2. Click Account, then Domain List.
  3. Next to the domain, click Manage.
  4. Click Advanced DNS.
  5. Click Add New Record.
  6. Add the CNAME record, copying and pasting the Host and Data values you see in Squarespace, then click Save All Changes.
  7. Continue the same process for the TXT record.

For more questions, contact Namecheap support.

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Verify your third-party domain for use with Email Campaigns