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Changing template in Squarespace 7.1 when they won't let you

By David NgeLast Updated: February 19, 2024

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Back in 2020, Squarespace released version 7.1 which made every new website use the same system for creating new designs.

In version 7.0, some sections like blogs, gallery, layouts, etc are tied to a specific template so you won't be able to customize them without switching the entire template.

Now in version 7.1, since every new website is using the same design system, there won't be any layout, page elements and design that are exclusive to a specific template.

You can change your website design (in 7.1) to however you want. They also introduce pre-made layouts and page sections to help you design faster and more efficiently.

This change gives you more flexibility when customizing your design, but it comes with a few downsides:

If you're currently using a Squarespace template in version 7.1, the only way to completely switch your template is to change your site design via Site Style.

Below, you'll find the step-by-step tutorial to change your site's design.

Let's get into it.

How to change template design in Squarespace 7.1

First, login to your Squarespace account and select a site to edit.

Select a site to edit
Select a site to edit

On the left panel, select DesignSite Styles.

Select Design
Select Design
head to Site Styles
head to Site Styles

You will then see the Site Styles setting pull up from the right panel.

Site Style design settings
Site Style design settings

Squarespace now allows you to completely customize the outlook on your site with these settings:

Note: These settings apply changes to the entire site.

Customize font options
Customize font options
Choose a custom color palette
Upload logo to generate a color palette
Upload logo to generate a color palette
Animation style options
Animation style options
Adjust page width and margin
Adjust page width and margin

You might notice Squarespace has made the conscious decision to pre-define certain elements (e.g. color palette, font pairings) so that it's easy for beginners to design an aesthetic site with minimal effort.

That's one of Squarespace's design philosophies for its users. Give ample control but easy enough to design a good-looking site effortlessly.

Within a couple of minutes of tweaking the site style you can end up with two completely different looking site:

Site header (before)
Site header (before)
Site header (after)
Site header (after)

Better yet, find a template you like and just emulate its site style. That way you could technically change your site to another Squarespace template.

Copy the site style from another template
Copy the site style from another template

You can change every aspect of your current site to look exactly like the new template you find. That's what the new design system in Squarespace version 7.1 allows you to do.

From the site header, content layout, buttons, images, footer layout, checkout page, social sharing, and more.

Every aspect of your site is customizable and Squarespace has done the leg work of pre-designing all these layouts so you can arrangement on your site like legos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the template on Squarespace?

Yes, you can. If you're on Squarespace template version 7.0, changing the template is relatively simple; just follow the instructions in the official documentation.

However, if you're on template version 7.1, then you have to change the design manually.

How to change the template on Squarespace v7.1?

If you're using template version 7.1, the only way to change the template is to start from scratch using templates from version 7.0.

Can I use both templates from Version 7.0 and 7.1?

Yes, you can use templates from version 7.0 and 7.1 under one Squarespace account.

Where do I find Squarespace templates?

Here's the link to templates from version 7.0, and here's the link to templates from version 7.1.

Conclusion

Ever since Squarespace released version 7.1, they have removed the ability to switch to another template.

Even though they claimed you no longer need to switch templates, and that every template is now the same, it's undeniable that changing a site's design has become more cumbersome.

Some might argue it's overwhelming, given the vast options to customize every element on the page.

But, there are genuine efforts to make the design process easier by offering pre-made layouts, page sections, buttons, color palettes, etc, so users can just assemble these design blocks like Lego pieces.

David Nge

David is the founder of MakingThatWebsite.com and started making websites for businesses back in 2014. He's a keen learner and wants to share his journey and knowledge with other business owners and freelancers. He launched MakingThatWebsite.com in 2021 to make website building more approachable and scalable for businesses.

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