Wix to Squarespace Migration

How to Switch from Wix to Squarespace

Switching your website platform is a big step. Moving from Wix to Squarespace can open up new design possibilities and features, but a smooth transition requires careful planning and execution.

Migrating your website data can feel daunting, especially since it involves step-by-step data transfer and thorough final checks. This guide walks you through the process so you can move from Wix to Squarespace confidently.

Main Steps to Switch from Wix to Squarespace

When I first looked into moving a site from Wix to Squarespace, the process felt overwhelming. But once I broke it down, it became much more manageable. These are the main stages you’ll be going through:

1. Build Your New Squarespace Site
2. Export Data from Wix
3. Import Data into Squarespace
4. Move Your Domain from Wix to Squarespace
5. Review and Cancel Wix Service

Step 1: Build Your New Squarespace Site

The first time I set up a Squarespace site, I quickly noticed how different it feels compared to Wix. Squarespace’s design system is more structured, which takes a little adjustment, but it also means your site looks more polished right out of the box.

Sign Up and Choose a Template:

Create a Squarespace account and pick a template. This is where you set the overall look and feel. Whether you want brand consistency, a fresh new style, or something clean and functional, Squarespace offers excellent starting points.

Customize and Structure Your Site:

• Rebuild your hierarchy (Home, About, Services, Blog, Contact) in the Pages panel.
• Add what matters most—galleries, blogs, forms, or even simple e-commerce if you need it.
• Spend a little time learning the block editor and Site Styles settings. Once you get comfortable, design adjustments become much faster.

Design and Responsiveness: Squarespace’s section-based editor is straightforward once you get the hang of it. Always check mobile previews, this small step makes a big difference to visitors.

Step 2: Export Data from Wix

Here’s the part that usually feels the most frustrating: getting your content out of Wix. Unlike some platforms, Wix doesn’t give you a neat export button, so the trick is to approach it piece by piece.

• Blog Posts (via RSS Feed): Add /blog-feed.xml to your Wix site URL (e.g., https://yoursite.com/blog-feed.xml). Save the XML file, which contains text, titles, and dates but not images or comments. If you want a clearer view, use an RSS-to-CSV tool.
• Images and Media: Open Media Manager in Wix and download images one by one. Create folders on your computer so you don’t lose track of where things belong.
• Page Text Content: Copy text manually from each page and paste it into Word, Google Docs, or a text editor, with one file per page for easy reference.
• Form Data (Contacts & Submissions): Export contacts as a CSV file from your Wix Dashboard. Download form submissions where possible, but remember—only the entries export, not the form designs.

Step 3: Import Data into Squarespace

This step is where your new site finally starts to feel alive. It can be a bit of a puzzle, matching your old content with Squarespace’s structure, but it’s also the most satisfying part of the process:

• Import Text Content: Open each page in Pages and paste your saved text into Text Blocks. Use Squarespace formatting to rebuild headings and emphasis.
• Upload Images and Media: Add Image or Gallery Blocks where needed and recreate galleries with your organized folders of images.
• Rebuild Blog Posts: On your Blog page, click Add Post and paste in titles, content, and dates. Upload post images separately, and try to match URLs and SEO settings to your old posts if possible.
• Recreate Forms: Add new Form Blocks and configure fields to mirror your old forms. Connect them to your preferred storage option, such as email or Google Sheets.

Step 4: Move Your Domain from Wix to Squarespace

This is the step that feels the most “official.” Once your domain points to your new site, it’s live for the world to see. The method you choose depends on where your domain is currently registered:

• Option A: Transfer Domain from Wix to Squarespace: Unlock your domain in Wix and request the authorization (EPP) code. In Squarespace, go to Settings > Domains > Use a domain I own and enter the code. The transfer can take anywhere from a few hours to 7 days.
• Option B: Connect a Domain via Third-Party Registrar: Keep your domain with your registrar but update DNS records to point to Squarespace. Changes may take up to 48 hours to propagate. Plan this update during quieter traffic hours to avoid downtime headaches.

Step 5: Review and Cancel Wix Service

At this stage, your new Squarespace site should be fully functional, but before completely leaving Wix behind, it’s important to run a careful final check.

Take time to review all your pages, forms, and blog posts to ensure nothing is missing or out of place. If there’s any chance you might need old data later, download a last backup from Wix for safekeeping. Once everything is in order, you can cancel your Wix premium subscription through the Billing & Payments section, just keep in mind that your old site may revert to a free Wix version with ads until the end of your billing cycle.

Finally, if you’re confident you won’t need Wix again, you also have the option to permanently close your account.

Migrating from Wix to Squarespace takes time, but it’s absolutely doable. The hardest part is usually the manual data transfer, but once you’ve gone through it, you’ll appreciate the cleaner structure and flexibility that Squarespace offers.