Is your Squarespace site feeling a little dated? A fresh look from a new Squarespace template can revitalize your online presence, but figuring out how to change Squarespace template can feel intimidating. This guide provides a clear path forward, showing you exactly how to make the switch without losing your valuable content.
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We will walk through every part of the process, from preparation to launch. By following this template guide, you can confidently update your site’s design. Let’s get your Squarespace website looking its best.
Understanding Squarespace Templates
Before you begin a template change, it’s vital to know which version of Squarespace your site uses. Squarespace has two versions, 7.0 and 7.1, and the process for switching templates is very different for each. This template version dictates how much of your site’s design you can alter and how the change happens.
You can find your version by logging into your Squarespace account. From the main menu, click on ‘Help’. At the bottom of this panel, you will see your version listed.
In Squarespace 7.0, templates are structured within “families.” Switching to a new template, especially one from a different family, is a significant overhaul and a true template switch. In contrast, all Squarespace 7.1 sites share the same underlying template, offering greater flexibility through style and section variations instead of a full template install.
Squarespace 7.0 Templates
If you have a version 7.0 site, changing your template means you are installing an entirely new one. While most of your content like pages and blog posts will transfer, some elements will not. Page-specific settings, some style choices, and footer content will likely need to be rebuilt.
Each 7.0 template has fixed features and specific style rules. This means your ability to customize is limited by the template you choose. Switching templates in 7.0 requires careful planning to rebuild the parts that don’t carry over.
Squarespace 7.1 Templates
For Squarespace 7.1 users, the concept of switching templates is different. You don’t actually install a new template; instead, you apply new designs or “themes” to your existing site. This modern approach makes updating your web design much smoother.
The introduction of Fluid Engine, Squarespace’s advanced drag-and-drop editor, gives you full control over your page layouts. You can change your site styles, including your color palette and fonts, across your entire Squarespace site without losing any content or layout configurations. This makes a design refresh much less of a technical project.
Backing Up Your Site
Before making any major changes like a template switch, creating a backup of your site is a critical first step. This gives you a safety net in case anything goes wrong. While Squarespace is reliable, this precaution protects your hard work.
You can export some of your site content as an XML file from your Squarespace account dashboard. To do this, go to Settings, then Advanced, and select Import/Export. This file will contain your pages, posts, and text content.
However, it is important to understand what this XML file does not include. It won’t save your site styles, custom CSS, product information, or certain page configurations. You should manually copy and save your custom CSS and make notes of your style settings in a separate document as a copy guide.
How to Change Your Squarespace Template
With your backup saved, you’re ready to proceed with the template change. The steps vary significantly depending on your Squarespace version. Follow the correct set of instructions for your version site to ensure a smooth transition.
For a Squarespace 7.0 Site
On a 7.0 site, you will install and preview a new template before making it live. This allows you to work on the new design behind the scenes. Your visitors will continue to see your live template until you’re ready.
- Log into your Squarespace account and from the dashboard select your site.
- In the Home Menu, click Design, and then click Template.
- Click Install New Template to browse the available Squarespace templates.
- When you find one you like, hover over it and click Start with this Design. This begins the template install.
- The new template will be installed in Preview Mode. You’ll see a preview message at the bottom of your screen confirming this.
- You can now edit the new template’s style settings and arrange your content. Your live site will not be affected by anything in the template preview.
- Once you have everything configured, click ‘Set as Live Template’ from the bottom banner to make the change public. You’ll be asked to confirm, and then your new template will be live.
For a Squarespace 7.1 Site
On a 7.1 site, you are not performing a traditional template switching action. Instead, you are redesigning your pages and updating site-wide styles. There is no preview mode because the changes happen on your existing site.
- From your account dashboard, go to your site.
- Click on Design in the main menu to open the Design Panel.
- Here you can change Site Styles, which includes fonts, colors, spacing, and button styles. The changes you make here will apply globally.
- To change the look of a specific page, click Edit on that page. You can add, delete, and rearrange sections and content blocks using the Fluid Engine editor.
- Squarespace offers pre-built section designs to speed up your site build. You can apply these and then customize them to fit your needs.
Adjusting Your Content After the Switch
After switching your template, especially on version 7.0, you will likely need to make adjustments. Your content may not appear exactly as it did before. This is a normal part of the process when moving to a new site’s design.
Start by going through each page of your Squarespace website. Check your blog posts, gallery pages, and regular pages for any formatting oddities. Pay close attention to your footer navigation, as this area often needs to be rebuilt from scratch.
If you find that entire pages are missing from your main navigation, check the “Not Linked” section in your Pages panel. Squarespace often places pages there during a template change. You can simply drag them back into your navigation where you want them.
Customizing Your New Template
With your content in place, it’s time for the fun part: customization. This is where you make the template your own and ensure your site stand out. The Site Styles panel is your primary tool for this.
You can adjust the color palette, change fonts for headings and body text, and modify button shapes and sizes. These global style settings help create a consistent look across your entire site. For more specific changes, the Fluid Engine on 7.1 gives you precise control over every element on a page.
For users who need advanced customizations, Squarespace supports custom CSS. You can add code to the Custom CSS panel to make targeted style changes that aren’t available in the standard style settings. If you’re not comfortable with code, you might consider hiring a Squarespace service provider to assist.
Testing Your New Site
Before you announce your new design to the world, thorough testing is essential. A broken link or a form that doesn’t work can create a poor user experience. Go through your site as if you were a first-time visitor.
Here is a checklist to help make sure your site is ready:
- Click on every link in your main navigation, footer navigation, and within your page content.
- If you are selling products, go through the entire checkout process. Verify that product options work and that sales tax is calculated correctly.
- Test any contact forms or newsletter sign-up forms. Make sure you receive updates when someone submits the form and that they send email notifications properly.
- Use your phone to view site. You can even use a QR code to quickly pull up your site on a mobile device to check for responsiveness issues with your background image or text.
- Check your site on different web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari to see if there are any display inconsistencies.
Launching Your New Design
After your testing is complete and you’re confident that the site is ready, it’s time to go live. If you’ve been working on a 7.0 site in preview mode, all you need to do is click the ‘Set Live’ button in the preview banner. This will make your new design the live template that all visitors see.
Once your new site’s template is active, keep an eye on your analytics. Look for changes in traffic, bounce rate, and time on page. This data can offer insights into how users are responding to the new web design.
Don’t be afraid to continue to adjust design elements based on user feedback or your own observations. A website is a living project that can evolve with your brand. Squarespace offers many tools to help it grow.
| Issue | Common Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Missing Pages from Navigation | The new template doesn’t automatically know where to place all old pages. | Check the ‘Not Linked’ section in your Pages panel and drag them to your primary navigation. |
| Custom Code Disappeared | Custom CSS and Code Injection is often template-specific, especially in version 7.0. | Re-paste your saved Custom CSS and code snippets into the appropriate areas of the new template. |
| Footer is Empty | Footer content rarely transfers during a 7.0 template switch. | Rebuild your footer by adding content blocks for text, links, and social icons. |
| Blog Post Formatting is Off | The new template has different default styling for blog posts. | Go to Site Styles to adjust the fonts, colors, and metadata display for your blog. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Switching templates can bring up many questions. Here are answers to some of the most common ones we hear from a Squarespace customer.
Will changing my Squarespace template affect my SEO?
Generally, a template change on Squarespace should not negatively impact your SEO if done carefully. Your page URLs, titles, and site content remain the same. However, a new template might change your heading structure (H1, H2 tags), which could have a small effect, so it’s good to monitor your rankings after the switch.
Can I go back to my old template?
On Squarespace 7.0, yes. Your previously installed templates are saved. You can uninstall the new one and reactivate your old live template, but you will need to re-apply any custom styles or settings.
What content does NOT transfer automatically in a 7.0 switch?
Key things that don’t transfer are your custom CSS, footer content, and some page-specific banner images or settings. This is why backing up your code and making notes on your style settings is so important. All your core page and post content is safe.
Do I lose content if I change designs in Squarespace 7.1?
No, you do not. Since all 7.1 sites use the same base structure, changing your fonts, color palette, or even page section layouts does not risk your site content. It’s a much safer and more flexible system.
Learning how to change Squarespace template can dramatically improve your site’s design and user experience. The key is understanding whether your site is on version 7.0 or 7.1, as that dictates the entire process. By preparing properly, backing up your settings, and testing thoroughly, you can execute a template switching project with confidence.
Remember to use the preview mode in version 7.0 to perfect your design before you set live. For version 7.1, leverage the Design Panel and Fluid Engine to craft a new look on your existing site. A refreshed Squarespace site is well within your reach.
