How To Stop Squarespace From Being Live

If you’re looking to take your Squarespace site offline temporarily or permanently, there are several methods to do so. Whether you need to make extensive changes, perform maintenance, or simply want to keep your site private, this guide will walk you through the steps to stop your Squarespace site from being live.

Method 1: Set Your Site to Private

The easiest way to stop your Squarespace site from being publicly accessible is by changing its availability settings to “Private.” Here’s how to do it:

1. Log in to Your Squarespace Account: Start by logging into your Squarespace dashboard.
2. Go to Settings: Click on the “Settings” option in the left sidebar.
3. Select Site Availability: Under the “Website” section, find and click on “Site Availability.”
4. Change to Private: Select the “Private” option. This will prevent anyone who is not logged in from accessing your site. Visitors will see a “Private Site” message instead of your content.

This method is ideal for making your site accessible only to specific users while you work on updates or changes. For more details, you can refer to the Squarespace Help Center.

Method 2: Disable the Site

If you want to take your site completely offline, you can disable it:

1. Access Settings: Just like before, log in and navigate to “Settings.”
2. Site Availability: Click on “Site Availability.”
3. Disable Site: Choose the option to disable your site. This will make it completely inaccessible to all visitors.

Disabling your site is a more drastic measure and is useful if you plan to take it offline for an extended period.

Method 3: Use a Password

If you want to keep your site live but restrict access, consider using a password:

1. Settings: Log in and go to “Settings.”
2. Site Availability: Click on “Site Availability.”
3. Password Protect: Choose the option to password-protect your site. You’ll need to set a password that visitors will need to enter to access the site.

This option is great for sharing your site with specific individuals while keeping it hidden from the general public.

Method 4: Unpublish Your Site

If you’re ready to take your site down completely, you can unpublish it:

1. Go to Settings: Log in and navigate to “Settings.”
2. Site Availability: Click on “Site Availability.”
3. Unpublish: Select the option to unpublish your site. This will remove it from public access entirely.

Keep in mind that unpublishing your site is a permanent action, and you will need to republish it later if you wish to make it live again.

Conclusion

Whether you need to make temporary changes or take your site offline permanently, Squarespace offers several options to stop your site from being live. By adjusting your site’s availability settings, you can easily control who has access to your content. For further assistance, check the Squarespace Help Center.

Taking these steps ensures that your website remains under your control while you make the necessary updates or changes. Happy editing!