You can move supported Squarespace content to WordPress with Squarespace’s WordPress-format XML export, but it is not a full-site clone. Plan to rebuild the design and unsupported content, check images and URLs, and keep the Squarespace site public until the new site is ready. The steps below apply whether your destination is WordPress.com or self-hosted WordPress; image handling differs between them.
What transfers—and what you must rebuild
Squarespace exports supported content as an XML file. It does not transfer the complete site, its appearance, or every type of page and block. Squarespace says, “Not everything will export, as many features rely on our platform’s JavaScript and CSS.” See its Exporting your site guide for the current list.
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Content included in the XML
- Layout pages.
- One blog page and its posts, with up to 1,000 comments per post.
- Text blocks and image blocks.
- Minimally structured text from some other blocks.
- Gallery pages, including York project pages on Squarespace version 7.0.
Content and settings not included
- Album, cover, index, info, calendar, portfolio, and store pages.
- Content in page-specific headers, footers, and sidebars; additional blog pages; and dropdowns.
- Audio, product, and video blocks; drafts; style settings; and custom CSS.
Some linked files, such as PDFs, may appear in the XML but still fail to import. Treat these limits as a rebuild checklist, not as settings you can enable during export.
1. Inventory your Squarespace site and prepare WordPress
Before you change a domain or cancel Squarespace, list your important page and post URLs and identify anything the XML will not carry over. Include store products, embedded media, forms, custom CSS, and layouts that depend on Squarespace-specific features. This makes it easier to plan the manual work and test the pages that matter most.
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- Keep the Squarespace site active, published, and publicly accessible while you export and import. Squarespace says trial sites cannot use this export, and the site must be public for the export steps.
- Save a list of existing URLs so you can preserve paths where possible and identify changes that need testing.
2. Export supported content from Squarespace
- In Squarespace, open Import & Export Content.
- Choose Export, then select the WordPress icon.
- If prompted, select the primary blog page. Only one blog page can be selected for export.
- Download the generated XML file and keep it available for the WordPress import.
Use the export limits above to identify pages and assets you will need to recreate or handle separately; do not assume that a successful XML download means every item is included.
3. Import the XML into WordPress
With the WordPress destination prepared, use its importer to process the Squarespace XML. WordPress.com’s Squarespace import guide directs users to Tools → Import and the Squarespace importer, or its guided importer if the specific option is not listed. Self-hosted WordPress users use the WordPress Importer.
Check images after import
Image behavior depends on the destination. Squarespace warns that the self-hosted WordPress Importer may leave image references pointing to files on Squarespace. If the Squarespace site is deactivated, those references may stop working; Squarespace recommends downloading and uploading images manually when using that importer.
WordPress.com’s importer attempts to bring images onto its servers, but it may miss images created from external links. After import, inspect posts and pages as well as the Media Library, then upload missing images to the new site. Neither route guarantees that every image will transfer.
4. Rebuild the design and unsupported content
The XML does not carry Squarespace style settings or custom CSS. WordPress.com’s guide explains that the WordPress design is set by a theme. Choose a suitable theme and recreate the layouts, headers, footers, and other design elements you need.
Rebuild unsupported page types and blocks, and replace forms, embeds, or other features that depend on Squarespace. Review each important page on the new site; an imported page may contain text but still need its structure, media, or presentation repaired.
5. Preserve URLs and check search visibility
Set WordPress permalinks before launch and compare the resulting URLs with your inventory. WordPress.com gives this example: if a Squarespace blog post uses a path like /blog/[BLOG-POST-TITLE], the WordPress permalink pattern /blog/%postname% can match that structure.
Some paths may not be preservable. For each changed URL, record the old and new addresses, configure an appropriate redirect using instructions for your WordPress setup, and test the old address after the domain points to the new site. The cited migration guides explain URL planning and permalink patterns, but they do not establish a WordPress redirect configuration or guarantee search rankings. A migration can preserve paths where possible; it cannot promise a particular ranking outcome.
6. Migrate store products separately
Squarespace’s XML export excludes store pages and product blocks, so a store requires a separate product workflow. WordPress.com documents exporting products from Squarespace Inventory to CSV and importing that CSV through WooCommerce’s product importer. This is separate from the XML content import.
After importing, check product records, images, variants, checkout, and customer-facing shop pages before directing customers to the new site. The documented CSV workflow does not guarantee that every store configuration or associated data will migrate. Confirm that the required WooCommerce features and configuration are available for your particular WordPress setup.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.7. Review the finished site, then switch the domain
Keep Squarespace public while you finish the import and review. Check important pages and posts, images, changed URLs, and business-critical functions such as checkout. Once the content and design are satisfactory, WordPress.com’s guide says to add, connect, or transfer the domain to the new site.
If you use self-hosted WordPress, follow the DNS instructions from your chosen host; the required records depend on that provider and are not the same for every setup. Do not cancel Squarespace until you have reviewed the replacement and confirmed that the content, images, URLs, and key functions you need are working.
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Both destinations can use the Squarespace XML, but their documented setup and image handling differ. Choose based on the destination you have prepared and the amount of manual checking you can do.
Quick Recap
| Consideration | WordPress.com | Self-hosted WordPress |
|---|---|---|
| Import path | Use the Squarespace importer under Tools → Import, or the guided importer if the specific option is not listed. | Use the WordPress Importer. |
| Images | The importer attempts to copy images to WordPress.com, but may miss externally linked images. | The importer may leave references pointing to Squarespace files; manual download and upload may be needed. |
| Domain | The documented guide covers adding, connecting, or transferring a domain after the new site is ready. | DNS steps depend on the selected host and registrar; consult their current instructions. |
| Products | The WordPress.com guide documents a separate Squarespace product CSV import into WooCommerce. | Not stated in the cited migration guides; check the import and commerce workflow for your specific setup. |
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