Easy Tech TutsHow to Transfer Domain From Squarespace to WordPress 2026 Easily
By Impran M N
Moving away from Squarespace's design constraints toward WordPress's themes, plugins, and custom code is a common upgrade path, but there's a detail that trips people up: WordPress.com doesn't accept an incoming domain transfer directly. In practice, you transfer the domain away from Squarespace to a registrar or host — Hostinger in this walkthrough — and then point that domain at your WordPress site once the transfer completes. This guide covers that real path end to end, including the authorization code you'll need from Squarespace and the name-server choice that determines who manages your DNS afterward.
01Understand why the domain goes through a host first
WordPress.com is a website platform, not a domain registrar in the traditional sense — it can't receive an inbound domain transfer the way a registrar or hosting company can. That's why this kind of move actually routes through a third-party host: you transfer the domain there first, then either build your WordPress site on that host or point the domain's DNS at wherever your WordPress site actually lives. Knowing this up front saves you from hunting inside your WordPress.com account for a transfer option that doesn't exist there.
02Unlock the domain and get its authorization code from Squarespace
Before any registrar will accept a transfer, the domain has to be unlocked at the losing end and you need its EPP code — sometimes called a domain secret key or authorization code. In Squarespace, this lives under the gear icon in your dashboard, then Domains & Email, then Domains; select the domain in question to find the unlock toggle and the code itself. Copy that code somewhere safe, since you'll need to paste it into the new host's transfer form in a later step, and it typically only stays valid for a limited window after you generate it.
03Start the transfer from your new host
With the domain unlocked and the code in hand, go to the host you're transferring to — Hostinger in this case — and start a domain transfer from its dashboard rather than trying to initiate anything from the Squarespace side. Most hosts run seasonal pricing promotions on transfers, so it's worth checking the current offer, but don't let a sale distract you from confirming the host actually supports the top-level domain you're moving; not every registrar accepts every extension.
04Enter the authorization code and choose your name servers
The transfer form asks for the domain's Secret Key or Authorization Code (EPP code) under Additional information, followed by a choice about DNS: use the new host's name servers, or keep your existing ones. Choose the host's name servers if you have no other hosting or email service tied to this domain and want DNS management to move over with it; choose "use existing name servers" if you're running email or a CDN like Cloudflare elsewhere and want that untouched. Getting this choice wrong doesn't break the transfer itself, but it can knock out email or other services briefly until you fix the DNS afterward, so pick deliberately rather than defaulting.
05Submit the transfer and expect a multi-day wait
Once you submit, the host confirms the transfer was initiated and sets expectations plainly: it can take up to 5-7 business days to complete, and the domain will appear in your domains list once it does. This isn't a bug or a slow process on the host's part — domain transfers involve a handoff between registries and often a confirmation email you may need to approve, so don't panic if nothing visibly changes for a day or two.
06Point the domain at your WordPress site once it lands
After the transfer completes, connect the domain to WordPress: if you're using WordPress.com's hosted service, you'll add the domain there and update its DNS records to point at WordPress.com's servers; if you're running self-hosted WordPress through the same host you just transferred to, you can often skip an extra DNS step entirely since the domain and hosting now live in one place. Either way, give DNS changes some time to propagate — it's rarely instant — before assuming something's wrong if the site doesn't show up on the new domain within the first few minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Why move from Squarespace to WordPress?
WordPress offers more flexibility and customization through themes, plugins, and custom code, and can be more cost-effective for larger or growing sites.
Can I transfer my domain directly into WordPress.com?
Not as an inbound transfer target. WordPress.com isn't a domain registrar in the traditional sense, so the domain has to transfer to a registrar or host first, then get pointed at your WordPress site.
Do I lose my domain history when transferring?
A properly completed transfer keeps the domain's registration and history intact — it's the registrar managing it that changes, not the domain itself.
What is the EPP code and where do I find it?
It's the domain's authorization code, sometimes called a Domain Secret Key, required by the new registrar to accept the transfer. In Squarespace, find it under the gear icon, then Domains & Email, then Domains.
How long does a domain transfer actually take?
Most transfers complete within 5-7 business days after you submit the request, though the exact timing depends on the registries involved and whether you need to confirm an email approval.
About the author
Impran M N
I've been hooked on technology for as long as I can remember — especially the new tools and AI apps that seem to land every other week. Easy Tech Tuts is where I write up whatever I've just worked out: I do the task in the real product, record the screen, and turn it into the guide I wish I'd found first.
