How to move from Squarespace to WordPress: what exports, what doesn't, and keeping your images

Squarespace can export much of your site as a WordPress-compatible XML file, but a lot of content doesn't come with it. The export is a starting point rather than a full copy of the site. This guide combines Squarespace's export documentation with WordPress.com's Squarespace import guide.

What exports and what doesn't

Squarespace says many of its features rely on its own JavaScript and CSS, so only some content can be exported.

Squarespace also notes that some content, such as linked PDF files, appears in the XML file but can't be imported into WordPress.

Before exporting, list every page on your site and mark which ones are in the "doesn't export" column. You will rebuild those by hand. Save copies of their text and media now, while the Squarespace site is still live.

Step 1: Prepare the Squarespace site

According to Squarespace:

• The site must be published with site availability set to Public.
• You can't export from a trial site.
• If your site has more than one blog, you have to choose a primary blog. Only one blog page exports.

WordPress.com adds that your Squarespace site should stay publicly accessible during the whole export and import. The importer fetches your images from the live site.

Step 2: Export the XML file

1. Open the Import & export content panel in Squarespace.
2. Click Export, then the WordPress icon.
3. If asked, choose the primary blog, then click Export.
4. Wait for the export to process. Squarespace says this can take a few minutes.
5. Click Download to save the .xml file.

Step 3: Choose WordPress.com or self-hosted WordPress

This choice affects your images. Squarespace explains that if you import into a self-hosted WordPress site using the WordPress Importer plugin, your images might not migrate. WordPress may only keep links to the images on Squarespace's servers, and those links stop working once you cancel your Squarespace site.

• If you import into WordPress.com, Squarespace says the images are copied to WordPress's servers. Check afterwards that they all appear in the Media Library.
• If you use self-hosted WordPress, plan to download your images and upload them to your site manually, or use a plugin that imports external images.

WordPress.com also warns that images created from external links might not all come through, so check for missing images whichever route you choose.

Step 4: Import into WordPress

On WordPress.com:

1. Go to your site's dashboard, then Tools, then Import.
2. Choose the Squarespace importer, or the guided importer if Squarespace isn't listed.
3. Upload the XML file.
4. If several authors are detected, assign each one to a WordPress user.
5. Click Start Import. The import continues in the background, and WordPress.com emails you when it is finished.

On self-hosted WordPress, use Tools, then Import, then WordPress, which installs the WordPress Importer plugin.

Step 5: Match your old blog URLs

Squarespace blog posts usually live at addresses like yourdomain.com/blog/post-title. To keep those URLs working, WordPress.com suggests:

1. Go to Settings, then Permalinks.
2. Choose Custom structure.
3. Enter /blog/%postname%/ and save.

On WordPress.com, WordPress says this needs a plugin-enabled plan. For pages that change address, set up 301 redirects from the old URLs. On self-hosted WordPress, a redirect plugin or your web server configuration can do this.

Step 6: Rebuild what didn't come across

Work through your list from the start:

• Recreate pages that didn't export, such as portfolio and index pages.
• Re-embed audio and video.
• Rebuild forms, navigation menus and footers.
• Choose a WordPress theme under Appearance, then Themes. Squarespace style settings and custom CSS don't transfer.

Step 7: Moving a shop to WooCommerce

Store pages don't export in the XML file. WordPress.com describes a separate route for products:

1. In Squarespace, go to Commerce, then Inventory, and click Export all to download a CSV.
2. In WordPress, install and activate WooCommerce.
3. Go to Products, then Import, upload the CSV, check the column mapping and click Run the Importer. Don't close the tab while it runs.

Orders, customer accounts, payment settings and shipping rules aren't covered by this import and need to be set up again in WooCommerce.

Step 8: Move the domain, then cancel Squarespace

Once the new site is ready, connect your domain to WordPress, or transfer the registration. Check that every image loads from WordPress rather than Squarespace before you cancel. Squarespace notes that if a site has expired, its content may eventually be deleted.

Checklist

• List every page and mark anything that won't export.
• Make the Squarespace site public, then export the XML file.
• Prefer WordPress.com for automatic image copying, or plan a manual image move.
• Import, assign authors and set /blog/%postname%/ permalinks.
• Rebuild missing pages, media, forms and design.
• Export products to CSV for WooCommerce if you have a shop.
• Check that images load from WordPress before cancelling Squarespace.

Sources

• Squarespace: Exporting your site content
• WordPress.com: Import from Squarespace

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