How to Transfer a Domain from Google Domains to DreamHost (2025 Guide)

Important Update: Google Domains was sold to Squarespace in September 2023. If you had domains with Google Domains, they're now managed by Squarespace Domains. This guide covers transferring domains from Squarespace Domains (formerly Google Domains) to DreamHost in 2025.

Consolidating your domain registration with your DreamHost hosting simplifies management and potentially saves money. This comprehensive guide provides step-by-step instructions for transferring domains from Squarespace Domains to DreamHost.

What Happened to Google Domains?

The Google Domains to Squarespace Transition

In June 2023, Google announced the sale of Google Domains to Squarespace. The transition completed in September 2023.

What changed:

• Domain management moved to Squarespace
• Billing transferred to Squarespace
• Renewal pricing honored for existing customers (for now)
• Interface now uses Squarespace Domains dashboard

What stayed the same:

• Domain ownership – You still own your domains
• DNS settings – Configurations remained intact
• Email forwarding – Google email forwarding still works
• Privacy protection – WHOIS privacy continued

Future pricing concerns: While Squarespace initially committed to honoring Google Domains pricing for existing customers, there's no guarantee this continues indefinitely. Many users are transferring to avoid potential future price increases.

Why Transfer Away from Squarespace Domains?

Uncertainty about future pricing: Squarespace's long-term pricing strategy for domains remains unclear. Transferring now locks in predictable renewal rates elsewhere.

Better features at specialized registrars: Dedicated domain registrars like Namecheap and Porkbun offer more advanced DNS features, dynamic DNS, and API access.

Consolidation with hosting: If you host with DreamHost, consolidating domains simplifies management and support.

Avoiding Squarespace ecosystem lock-in: Some users prefer not to be tied to Squarespace's platform, especially if they don't use Squarespace websites.

Transfer Requirements and Eligibility

Squarespace Domains Transfer Checklist

Before transferring, verify your domain meets these requirements:

✅ Domain has been registered for at least 60 days ✅ No transfers in the last 60 days ✅ No registrant contact changes in last 60 days ✅ Domain is not expired (at least 7 days until expiration) ✅ Domain is unlocked in Squarespace account ✅ You have the authorization code from Squarespace ✅ Access to registrant email address ✅ No outstanding balance with Squarespace

ICANN 60-Day Transfer Lock

ICANN enforces a mandatory 60-day transfer lock following:

• Initial domain registration
• Previous domain transfer
• Changes to registrant contact information (name, organization, email)

If you updated contact info recently: Wait 60 days before attempting transfer.

Supported Domain Extensions

DreamHost accepts most common domain extensions:

Supported TLDs:

• .com, .net, .org
• .info, .biz, .us
• .co, .io, .me
• Most country-code TLDs

Verify with DreamHost for less common extensions.

Transfer Costs and Timeline

Pricing Comparison

Google Domains original pricing (2023):

• .com: $12/year
• .net: $12/year
• .org: $12/year

Squarespace Domains current pricing (2025):

• .com: $20/year (standard pricing)
• .net: $20/year
• .org: $20/year
• Legacy Google Domains customers may still have $12/year pricing

DreamHost transfer pricing:

• Transfer fee: $15.99 (includes 1-year extension)
• Renewal: $15.99/year
• Privacy: Free (included)

Cost comparison (5 years):

Analysis:

• If you have legacy Google pricing ($12/year), transferring to DreamHost costs $19.95 more over 5 years
• If you're paying current Squarespace pricing ($20/year), transferring to DreamHost saves $20.05 over 5 years
• Best value: Use Namr to find the cheapest registrar (likely Porkbun at $50.71 for 5 years)

Transfer Timeline

Expected duration: 5-7 days Fastest possible: 3 days with immediate approval Maximum: 10 days

Day-by-day timeline:

• Day 1: Unlock domain and get auth code from Squarespace
• Day 1: Initiate transfer at DreamHost
• Day 1-2: Receive approval email from Squarespace
• Day 1-2: Approve transfer
• Day 3-7: Transfer processes
• Day 7: Receive confirmation from DreamHost

Step-by-Step: Transfer from Squarespace Domains to DreamHost

Step 1: Prepare Your Squarespace Domain

Access Squarespace Domains

1. Visit domains.squarespace.com
2. Click Sign In
3. Use your Google account or Squarespace credentials
4. Navigate to Domains dashboard

If you used Google Domains before: Your domains automatically migrated to Squarespace. Use your original Google account to log in.

Select Your Domain

1. From the Domains dashboard, find the domain you want to transfer
2. Click the domain name to open its settings page

Unlock Your Domain

Squarespace locks domains by default to prevent unauthorized transfers.

To unlock:

1. On the domain settings page, find Transfer domain
2. Click Transfer to another registrar
3. Click Unlock domain
4. Confirm the unlock action

Status check: The domain should now show as "Unlocked" or display an unlocked icon.

Obtain Authorization Code

The authorization code (auth code or EPP code) authorizes the transfer.

To get your auth code:

1. On the Transfer page, find Authorization code or Transfer code
2. Click Get code or Send to email
3. Squarespace either displays the code immediately or emails it to your registrant email

Save the code securely – You'll need it when initiating transfer at DreamHost.

Example code format: mX9#pQr2$LkN8zAb

Squarespace advantage: The interface clearly displays transfer instructions, making the process straightforward.

Verify Contact Email

Transfer approval emails go to the registrant email listed in your domain's WHOIS information.

To verify:

1. On the domain settings page, go to Contact information
2. Check the registrant email address
3. Ensure it's current and accessible
4. Update if necessary (but this triggers a 60-day ICANN lock)

Disable Auto-Renewal (Recommended)

To avoid being charged for renewal during the transfer:

1. On the domain settings page, find Renewal settings
2. Toggle Auto-renew to Off
3. Confirm the change

Why this matters: If Squarespace auto-renews during transfer, you'll pay for a year that's redundant with the transfer's included extension.

Document DNS Settings

Before transferring, save your current DNS configuration.

To export DNS:

1. On the domain settings page, click DNS settings or Advanced DNS
2. Take a screenshot of all DNS records
3. Note A records, CNAME records, MX records, and TXT records
4. Download a zone file if available

Critical for restoration: If DNS doesn't transfer correctly, you'll need these settings to restore functionality.

Step 2: Initiate Transfer at DreamHost

With your Squarespace domain prepared, begin the transfer process at DreamHost.

Access DreamHost Transfer Page

1. Log into your DreamHost panel
2. Navigate to Domains → Registrations
3. Click Transfer a Domain Registration to DreamHost

Enter Domain Name

1. In the domain field, enter your domain (e.g., example.com)
2. For multiple domains, enter one per line
3. Click Request Transfer

DreamHost verifies eligibility and proceeds if approved.

Enter Authorization Code

1. On the authorization code page, paste the code from Squarespace
2. Verify there are no extra spaces
3. Click Continue

Common error: Copying extra spaces before/after the code. Paste into a text editor first to verify.

Complete Contact Information

Enter domain owner (registrant) contact details:

Required fields:

• First Name and Last Name
• Organization (optional)
• Email Address
• Phone Number
• Complete Mailing Address

Best practice: Match your Squarespace contact information exactly to avoid complications.

Review and Pay

1. Review transfer summary:
   • Domain name
   • Transfer fee ($15.99)
   • 1-year extension included
2. Enter payment information
3. Accept Terms of Service
4. Click Process Transfer

You'll receive an email confirming transfer initiation.

Step 3: Approve Transfer at Squarespace

Shortly after initiating the transfer, Squarespace sends an approval email.

Check Email for Approval Request

Email subject: "Approve transfer for [yourdomain.com]" From: Squarespace Domains ([email protected])

Email contains:

• Domain being transferred
• New registrar (DreamHost)
• Transfer expiration date
• Links to Approve or Reject transfer

Check spam if you don't see the email within a few hours.

Approve Transfer

Option 1: Approve via email link

1. Open the approval email
2. Click Approve transfer
3. You'll be redirected to Squarespace
4. Confirm approval

Option 2: Approve in Squarespace account

1. Log into domains.squarespace.com
2. Go to Domains dashboard
3. You'll see a pending transfer notification
4. Click Approve or View details
5. Confirm the approval

Auto-Approval

If you don't respond, Squarespace automatically approves after 5 days.

Recommendation: Approve immediately for fastest transfer (3-5 days vs. 7-10 days).

Step 4: Wait for Transfer Completion

After approval, the transfer processes automatically.

What happens:

• Your website remains online
• Email continues functioning
• DNS settings remain active
• No action required from you

Completion time: 24-48 hours after approval

Step 5: Confirm Transfer Completion

DreamHost sends confirmation when the transfer finishes.

Email subject: "Domain Transfer Complete for [yourdomain.com]"

Verify in DreamHost panel:

1. Log into DreamHost panel
2. Go to Domains → Registrations
3. Confirm domain is listed
4. Verify expiration date (extended by 1 year)

Success! Your domain is now at DreamHost.

Step 6: Post-Transfer Configuration

Enable WHOIS Privacy

DreamHost includes free privacy protection:

1. Go to Domains → Registrations
2. Click Edit next to your domain
3. Enable WHOIS Privacy
4. Click Save Changes

Verify DNS Settings

Ensure DNS transferred correctly:

1. Go to Domains → Manage Domains → DNS
2. Compare with your Squarespace screenshot
3. Verify all critical records:
   • A records (website)
   • MX records (email)
   • CNAME records (subdomains)
   • TXT records (verification)

If records are missing: Manually add them using your screenshot as reference.

Set Up Auto-Renewal

1. Go to Domains → Registrations
2. Click Edit next to your domain
3. Enable Auto-Renew
4. Verify payment method
5. Click Save Changes

Lock Your Domain

1. Go to Domains → Registrations
2. Click Edit next to your domain
3. Enable Transfer Lock
4. Click Save Changes

Troubleshooting Transfer Issues

Transfer Rejected: "Domain is Locked"

Solution:

1. Log into Squarespace Domains
2. Navigate to domain settings
3. Under Transfer, unlock the domain
4. Wait 10 minutes
5. Re-initiate transfer at DreamHost

Authorization Code Not Accepted

Possible issues:

• Extra spaces copied with code
• Wrong domain's code
• Code expired

Solution:

1. Get fresh auth code from Squarespace
2. Paste into text editor to verify no spaces
3. Copy only the code characters
4. Re-enter at DreamHost

Email Stopped Working After Transfer

Cause: MX records didn't transfer or were reset.

Solution:

1. Check Squarespace DNS screenshot
2. In DreamHost, add MX records:
   • Google Workspace: ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM (priority 1)
   • Microsoft 365: yourdomain-com.mail.protection.outlook.com
3. Wait 4-24 hours for propagation

Google Email Forwarding Stopped Working

Important: Google's free email forwarding ([email protected] → [email protected]) was tied to Google Domains and may not transfer.

Solutions:

1. Set up email forwarding in DreamHost (free)
2. Migrate to DreamHost email hosting ($1.67/month per mailbox)
3. Set up Google Workspace (paid)
4. Use Cloudflare Email Routing (free)

See: DreamHost documentation on setting up email forwarding.

Alternative: Point Your Domain Instead of Transferring

Instead of transferring registration, you can point your Squarespace domain to DreamHost hosting.

Benefits of Pointing vs. Transferring

Advantages:

• Keep legacy Google pricing if you have it ($12/year vs. $15.99/year)
• Instant setup – No 5-7 day wait
• Service separation – Domain and hosting remain independent
• Flexibility – Easy to change hosting later

How to point:

1. Log into Squarespace Domains
2. Go to domain settings → DNS settings
3. Update A record to DreamHost's IP address
4. Update MX records for email (if applicable)
5. Wait 4-48 hours for DNS propagation

Detailed guide: How to Point Your Domain to DreamHost

When to Point vs. Transfer

Point your domain if:

• You have legacy Google Domains pricing ($12/year)
• You want instant setup
• You prefer service separation
• You might change hosting providers later

Transfer your domain if:

• You're paying Squarespace's higher pricing ($20/year)
• You want unified management
• You value consolidated billing
• You're consolidating all services at DreamHost

Cost reality: If you have $12/year legacy pricing, pointing saves $19.95 over 5 years vs. transferring.

Squarespace Domains vs. DreamHost vs. Specialized Registrars

Best for consolidation: DreamHost (if you host there) Best for price: Porkbun Best for features: Namecheap Best for former Google users: Keep at Squarespace if you have legacy pricing; otherwise transfer away

Use Namr to compare real-time pricing across all registrars before deciding.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to my Google Domains account?

Google Domains was sold to Squarespace in 2023. Your domains automatically migrated to Squarespace Domains. Access them at domains.squarespace.com using your Google account.

Will I lose my Google Domains pricing?

Squarespace committed to honoring Google Domains pricing for existing customers initially, but there's no guarantee this continues indefinitely. Many users transfer to lock in predictable pricing elsewhere.

Can I still use Google email forwarding?

Google's free email forwarding may continue for legacy Google Domains users, but it's uncertain long-term. Consider setting up alternative email forwarding with DreamHost or another provider.

How long does transfer take?

Typical transfers complete in 5-7 days. With immediate approval, 3-5 days is possible.

Will my website go down?

No. Domain transfers don't affect website hosting. Your site remains online as long as DNS settings transfer correctly.

Can I transfer multiple domains at once?

Yes. DreamHost accepts multiple domains (one per line) in the transfer form.

Is transferring refundable?

Generally no. Domain registration fees are typically non-refundable.

Conclusion: Transfer or Keep at Squarespace?

Transferring from Squarespace Domains (formerly Google Domains) to DreamHost simplifies management if you host with DreamHost but costs slightly more than budget registrars.

Key takeaways: ✅ Check your current pricing – Legacy Google pricing ($12/year) beats DreamHost ✅ Unlock and get auth code from Squarespace before transferring ✅ Compare long-term costs – DreamHost vs. specialty registrars ✅ Consider pointing instead of transferring for flexibility ✅ Use Namr to find the absolute best domain prices

Our recommendation:

• If you have legacy $12/year pricing: Keep at Squarespace or transfer to Porkbun ($10.14/year)
• If you're paying $20/year: Transfer to DreamHost ($15.99/year) or cheaper registrar
• If you want simplicity: Transfer to DreamHost for unified management

Best value: Use Namr to compare current prices across 20+ registrars and make the most cost-effective decision for your specific situation.

Ready to decide? Whether transferring, pointing, or staying put, you now have all the information needed to make the best choice for your domains.