> [!NOTE] > **Note:** On September 7, 2023 Squarespace acquired all domain registrations and related customer accounts from Google Domains. For more information about how this change affects Cloud Domains, see [Cloud Domains feature deprecations](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/deprecations/feature-deprecations), [Renew an expired domain registration](https://support.google.com/a/answer/6152355), and [Squarespace purchase of Google Domains FAQ](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/faq).
This page describes how to search for an available domain name and register the domain by using Cloud Domains. Cloud Domains lets you to choose your DNS provider and customize your DNS settings. After you register your domain, Cloud Domains automatically renews your domain registration as long as your [Cloud Billing](https://docs.cloud.google.com/billing/docs) account stays active. You can turn off automatic renewal at any time after your domain is registered. ## Before you begin Before you start using Cloud Domains to register your domains, complete the following steps: 1. In the Google Cloud console, on the project selector page, select or create a Google Cloud project. **Roles required to select or create a project** - **Select a project**: Selecting a project doesn't require a specific IAM role---you can select any project that you've been granted a role on. - **Create a project** : To create a project, you need the Project Creator role (`roles/resourcemanager.projectCreator`), which contains the `resourcemanager.projects.create` permission. [Learn how to grant roles](https://docs.cloud.google.com/iam/docs/granting-changing-revoking-access). > [!NOTE] > **Note**: If you don't plan to keep the resources that you create in this procedure, create a project instead of selecting an existing project. After you finish these steps, you can delete the project, removing all resources associated with the project. [Go to project selector](https://console.cloud.google.com/projectselector2/home/dashboard) 2. [Verify that billing is enabled for your Google Cloud project](https://docs.cloud.google.com/billing/docs/how-to/verify-billing-enabled#confirm_billing_is_enabled_on_a_project). 3. Enable the Cloud Domains API, if it is not already enabled. **Roles required to enable APIs** To enable APIs, you need the `serviceusage.services.enable` permission. If you created the project, then you likely already have this permission through the Owner role (`roles/owner`). Otherwise, you can get this permission through the Service Usage Admin role (`roles/serviceusage.serviceUsageAdmin`). [Learn how to grant roles](https://docs.cloud.google.com/iam/docs/granting-changing-revoking-access). [Enable the API](https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/enableflow?apiid=domains.googleapis.com) > [!NOTE] > **Note:** You can delete the project that you create, but the domain remains registered. ## Set up and register a domain To use Cloud Domains to register a domain, complete the following tasks: 1. Search for a domain name. 2. Configure DNS for the domain. 3. Choose privacy settings for your domain. 4. Specify your [contact information](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/overview#contact-info). > [!NOTE] > **Note:** Starting in August 2025: For generic TLD domains, the [ICANN Registration Data Policy](https://www.icann.org/en/contracted-parties/consensus-policies/registration-data-policy) no longer requires both administrative and technical registrant contact information. If you submit administrative and technical contact information, it is ignored for generic TLD domains. > > There are no changes for country-code TLD domains and all contact information continues to be required.
5. Verify your contact information. When registering a domain that is owned by a company, the registrant must provide the company's contact details, such as the email address and phone number. If the registrant provides their personal contact details, the company might lose access to the domain when the registrant leaves. > [!NOTE] > **Note:** Cloud Domains does not support [premium > domains](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/key-terms#premium-domains) for registration. #### Permissions required for this task To perform this task, you must have been granted the following permissions *or* the following IAM roles. **Permissions** - `domains.registrations.list` (to search for and to get register parameters for the domain) - `domains.registrations.create` (to register the domain) - `productrequirementsservice.requirements.check` (to verify that the Squarespace Terms of Service are accepted for the project) - `productrequirementsservice.requirements.record` (to record the acceptance of Squarespace Terms of Service) **Roles** - `roles/domains.admin` ### Console 1. In the Google Cloud console, go to the **Cloud Domains** page. [Go to Cloud Domains](https://console.cloud.google.com/net-services/domains/registrations/list) 2. Click **Register domain**. 3. You must accept the Squarespace Terms of Service for your project. If not previously accepted, you are prompted to first read the Squarespace Terms of Service page and then accept to continue. 4. Search for an available domain, and then identify the domain name that you want to purchase. Pricing is listed for each available domain. 5. Click **Select** next to the domain name that you want to purchase. You can add as many domains as you like, subject to your available quota. For details, see [Quotas and limits](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/quotas). The total pricing based on your selection is calculated and displayed in the **Search domain** section. To remove a domain from your cart, click **Deselect** next to the domain name. After you set up billing and complete your domain registration, Cloud Domains automatically sets the registration to **Auto-renew**. > [!NOTE] > **Note:** You can turn off automatic renewal at any time after you've registered your domain. For more information, see [Turn off automatic renewal for a domain name](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/edit-registration-settings#turn-off-renew). 6. Click **Continue**. 7. In the **DNS configuration** section, choose one of the following DNS providers for your name servers. If you are registering multiple domains, you can choose individual settings for each domain. | DNS provider | Description | Cost | |---|---|---| | **Cloud DNS** | Google recommends that you use Cloud DNS as your DNS provider for all your name servers. | Additional Cloud DNS charges apply. For details, see [the Cloud DNS pricing page.](https://docs.cloud.google.com/dns/pricing) | | **Custom name servers** | If you choose this option, you can use Cloud Domains to configure your name servers, and then use a third-party DNS provider to configure your DNS resource records. | Check with your DNS provider. |
- If you select the default value **Use Cloud DNS (Recommended)**, Google Cloud automatically creates a zone for you. To edit the zone name and other details, do the following: 1. In the **Cloud DNS zone** list, select **Setup new zone**. 2. Make the required edits, and then click **Save and continue**. If you already created a zone in Cloud DNS, Cloud Domains selects that zone by default. - If you select **Use custom name servers** , enter at least two name servers. To add more name servers, click **Add another name server**. 8. Click **Continue**. 9. By default, privacy protection is turned on. However, you can change the settings to one of the privacy options in the following table. | Privacy option | Description | |---|---| | **Privacy protection on** | > [!CAUTION] > **Caution:** If your domain uses the `PRIVATE_CONTACT_DATA` setting for [contact privacy](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/reference/rest/v1/projects.locations.registrations#ContactPrivacy), it is changed to `REDACTED_CONTACT_DATA` when the domains are migrated to Squarespace. Your data is not shared with a third-party contact privacy provider and is instead shown as redacted in public contact databases like WHOIS. For more information, see [Cloud Domains feature deprecation](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/deprecations/feature-deprecations).
Choosing this option ensures that your contact information is not available to the public. To help protect your contact information and prevent spam, a third party provides alternate (proxy) contact information for your domain in the public directory. The third-party provider forwards all messages that are sent to your proxy contact information to the actual private contact information. Cloud Domains does not offer privacy protection for all domain endings or [top-level domains (TLDs)](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/key-terms#terms-tld). [Registries](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/key-terms#terms-registry), the organizations that manage domain endings, have policies prohibiting the use of privacy protection for certain TLDs. | | **Limit your info available to the public** | Choosing this option makes limited non-identifying information available to the public. The actual information available publicly depends on the domain that you have chosen. If you provide an organization name, it might be publicly visible. | | **Make all contact info public** | Choosing this option makes all your contact information available to the public through the [WHOIS database](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/key-terms#terms-whois). | For information about how to use contact privacy, see the [`ContactPrivacy`](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/reference/rest/v1/projects.locations.registrations#contactprivacy) section in the reference documentation.
10. To limit which information is available to the public, select **Limit your info available to the public** . This option is only available for `.com` and `.net` domains. 11. To make all contact information publicly available, select **Make all contact info public**. 12. If you agree with the statement in the dialog, click **I agree**. 13. Click **Continue**. 14. Enter your [contact information](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/overview#contact-info) for the domain, which is necessary for [ICANN](https://www.icann.org/) to reach you if there are any problems. By default, the same contact details that you enter are applied to the registrant, administrative, and technical contacts. To enter different information for each type of contact, you can [edit your contact settings](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/edit-registration-settings#edit-contact-and-privacy-settings) later. If you are registering more than one domain, you can choose to apply the same contact details to all domains or choose to enter different contact details for each domain. 15. Click **Register**. Processing your registration can take a few minutes. Cloud Domains or Squarespace sends a verification email to the email address that you enter. ### gcloud 1. To search for an available domain name, use the [`gcloud domains registrations search-domains` command](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sdk/gcloud/reference/domains/registrations/search-domains): ``` gcloud domains registrations search-domains SEARCH_TERM ``` Replace `SEARCH_TERM` with any non-empty string to search for a domain name, such as `example`. This search returns suggestions for possible domain names that you can register. 2. To check up-to-date availability for a domain name and get the parameters needed to register a new domain, including price, availability, supported privacy modes, and notices, use the [`gcloud domains registrations get-register-parameters` command](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sdk/gcloud/reference/domains/registrations/get-register-parameters): ``` gcloud domains registrations get-register-parameters DOMAIN_NAME ``` Replace `DOMAIN_NAME` with the domain name that you want to check availability for, such as `example.app`. Your output looks similar to the following: ``` availability: AVAILABLE domainName: example.app domainNotices: ‐ HSTS_PRELOADED supportedPrivacy: ‐ PRIVATE_CONTACT_DATA ‐ PUBLIC_CONTACT_DATA yearlyPrice: currencyCode: USD units: '12' ``` 3. You can choose a DNS provider for your name servers based on the [DNS provider options](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/overview#dns-providers) explained in the overview. If you choose Cloud DNS as your DNS provider, you must first create a managed public zone for your domain. To create a managed public zone, use the [`dns managed-zones create` command](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sdk/gcloud/reference/dns/managed-zones/create): ``` gcloud dns managed-zones create CLOUD_DNS_ZONE_NAME \ --description="DESCRIPTION" \ --dns-name=DOMAIN_NAME \ ``` Replace the following: - `CLOUD_DNS_ZONE_NAME`: a name for your zone - `DESCRIPTION`: a description for your zone - `DOMAIN_NAME`: the DNS domain name for your zone, such as `example.com` Use the same domain name that you used in the previous commands, which is the domain name that you are registering. 4. To register the domain, use the [`gcloud domains registrations register` command](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sdk/gcloud/reference/domains/registrations/register): ``` gcloud domains registrations register DOMAIN_NAME ``` Replace `DOMAIN_NAME` with the domain name that you want to register, such as `example.app`. Your output looks similar to the following when you register the domain `example.com` by using name servers provided by Cloud DNS: ``` Yearly price: 12.00 USD Do you agree to pay this yearly price for your domain (y/N)? y You can provide your DNS settings by specifying name servers or a Cloud DNS Managed Zone name [1] Provide name servers list [2] Provide Cloud DNS managed zone name Please enter your numeric choice (2): NAME_SERVER_CHOICE Cloud DNS Managed Zone name: CLOUD_DNS_ZONE Cloud DNS Zone 'CLOUD_DNS_ZONE' is not signed. DNSSEC won't be enabled. Contact data not provided using the --contact-data-from-file flag. Do you want to enter it interactively (Y/n)? y Full name: NAME Organization (if applicable): ORGANIZATION Email: EMAIL_ADDRESS Enter phone number with country code, e.g. "+1.8005550123". Phone number: PHONE_NUMBER Enter fax number with country code, e.g. "+1.8005550123". Fax number (if applicable): FAX_NUMBER Enter two-letter Country / Region code, e.g. "US" or "PL". Refer to the guidelines for entering address field information at https://support.google.com/business/answer/6397478. Country / Region code: COUNTRY_CODE Postal / ZIP code: ZIP_CODE State / Administrative area (if applicable): STATE City / Locality: CITY Address Line 1: ADDRESS_LINE_1 Address Line 2 (if applicable): ADDRESS_LINE_2 Address Line 3 (if applicable): Specify contact privacy [1] private-contact-data [2] public-contact-data Please enter your numeric choice (1): DATA_PRIVACY_CHOICE Waiting for 'operation-1597880129306-5ad437580410d-2c65d582-0861c5b7' to complete...done. Created registration [example.com] Note: The domain is not yet registered. Wait until the registration resource changes state to ACTIVE. ``` Replace the following: - `NAME_SERVER_CHOICE`: choose the name server option based on your [DNS provider choice](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/overview#dns-providers) - `CLOUD_DNS_ZONE`: the Cloud DNS managed zone name - `NAME`: your full name---for example, `Alice Smith` - `ORGANIZATION`: (optional) your organization---for example, `Doe Corp` - `EMAIL_ADDRESS`: your email address for verification---for example, `alice@example.net` - `PHONE_NUMBER`: the phone number of the contact in international format---for example, `+1-800-555-0123` - `FAX_NUMBER`: (optional) the phone number of the contact in international format---for example, `+1-800-555-0123` - `COUNTRY_CODE`: the country or region code of the address---for example, `US` for United States - `ZIP_CODE`: the postal code or ZIP code of the address---for example, `94043` - `STATE`: the state or administrative area of the address---for example, `CA` - `CITY`: the city or locality of the address---for example, `Mountain View` - `ADDRESS_LINE_1`: the first address line of the registrant---for example, `1599 Bayview Parkway` You can have up to 5 address lines, but only the first one is required. - `ADDRESS_LINE_2`: (optional) the second address line of the registrant---for example, `APT. 123` You must enter the address accurately because it is used for domain recovery in case you lose access to your registration. For details, see the [guidelines for entering address field information](https://support.google.com/business/answer/6397478). - `DATA_PRIVACY_CHOICE`: your data privacy choice For detailed information about privacy options, see [Privacy protection](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/overview#privacy-protection). ### API 1. To search for an available domain name, use the [`registrations.searchDomains` method](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/reference/rest/v1/projects.locations.registrations/searchDomains) with an empty request body: ``` GET https://domains.googleapis.com/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/locations/global/registrations:searchDomains?query=SEARCH_TERM ``` Replace the following: - `PROJECT_ID`: the ID of the project where the domain registration is created - `SEARCH_TERM`: any non-empty string to search for a domain name, such as `example` This search returns suggestions for possible domain names that you can register. 2. To check up-to-date availability for a domain name and get the parameters needed to register a new domain, including price, availability, supported privacy modes, and notices, use the [`registrations.retrieveRegisterParameters` method](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/reference/rest/v1/projects.locations.registrations/retrieveRegisterParameters) with an empty body: ``` GET https://domains.googleapis.com/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/locations/global/registrations:retrieveRegisterParameters?domainName=DOMAIN_NAME ``` Replace the following: - `PROJECT_ID`: the ID of the project where the managed zone is created - `DOMAIN_NAME`: the domain name that you want to check availability for, such as `example.app` The resulting response contains the `yearlyPrice` for the domain, which you need to use in the `registrations.register` API call. 3. You can choose a DNS provider for your name servers based on the [DNS provider options](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/overview#dns-providers) explained in the overview. If you choose Cloud DNS as your DNS provider, you must first create a managed public zone for your domain. To create a managed public zone, use the [`managedZones.create` method](https://docs.cloud.google.com/dns/docs/reference/v1/managedZones/create): ``` POST https://dns.googleapis.com/dns/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/managedZones { "name": "ZONE_NAME", "description": "DESCRIPTION", "dnsName": "DOMAIN_NAME.", "visibility": "public" } ``` Replace the following: - `PROJECT_ID`: the ID of the project where the managed zone is created - `ZONE_NAME`: a name for your zone - `DESCRIPTION`: a description for your zone - `DOMAIN_NAME.`: the DNS suffix for your zone, such as `example.com` > [!IMPORTANT] > **Important:** The trailing dot in the `managedZones.create` method is required. The resulting response contains a `nameServers` list that you must use in the `registrations.register` API call. 4. To register the domain, use the [`registrations.register` method](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/reference/rest/v1/projects.locations.registrations/register): ``` POST https://domains.googleapis.com/v1/projects/PROJECT_ID/locations/global/registrations:register { "registration": { "domainName": "DOMAIN_NAME", "dnsSettings": { "customDns": { "nameServers": [ "NAME_SERVERS" ] } }, "contactSettings": { "privacy": "CONTACT_PRIVACY", "registrantContact": { "postalAddress": { "regionCode": "REGION_CODE", "postalCode": "POSTAL_CODE", "administrativeArea": "SUBDIVISION", "locality": "CITY", "addressLines": [ "ADDRESS" ], "recipients": [ "CONTACT_NAME" ], "organization": "ORGANIZATION" }, "email": "EMAIL_ADDRESS", "phoneNumber": "PHONE_NUMBER", "faxNumber": "FAX_NUMBER" }, "adminContact": { "postalAddress": { "regionCode": "REGION_CODE", "postalCode": "POSTAL_CODE", "administrativeArea": "SUBDIVISION", "locality": "CITY", "addressLines": [ "ADDRESS" ], "recipients": [ "CONTACT_NAME" ], "organization": "ORGANIZATION" }, "email": "EMAIL_ADDRESS", "phoneNumber": "PHONE_NUMBER", "faxNumber": "FAX_NUMBER" }, "technicalContact": { "postalAddress": { "regionCode": "REGION_CODE", "postalCode": "POSTAL_CODE", "administrativeArea": "SUBDIVISION", "locality": "CITY", "addressLines": [ "ADDRESS" ], "recipients": [ "CONTACT_NAME" ], "organization": "ORGANIZATION" }, "email": "EMAIL_ADDRESS", "phoneNumber": "PHONE_NUMBER", "faxNumber": "FAX_NUMBER" } } }, "yearlyPrice": { "currencyCode": "CURRENCY_CODE", "units": NUMBER_OF_UNITS } } ``` Replace the following: - `PROJECT_ID`: the ID of the project where you created the registration resource - `DOMAIN_NAME`: the domain name that you want to register, such as `example.com` - `NAME_SERVERS`: the name servers that you want to use If you are using Cloud DNS, use the `nameServers` field output that you got from the `managedZones.create.post` API call. - `CONTACT_PRIVACY`: the preferred privacy setting for the contact data For detailed information about the available privacy options, see the [`ContactPrivacy` resource](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/reference/rest/v1/projects.locations.registrations#ContactPrivacy) in the Cloud Domains API. Replace the following values for `registrantContact`, `adminContact`, and `technicalContact`. For detailed information about each type of contact, see [Contact information](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/overview#contact-info). - `REGION_CODE`: the region code of the address---for example, `US` for United States - `POSTAL_CODE`: the postal code of the address---for example, `94043` - `SUBDIVISION`: the highest administrative subdivision of an address, such as a state, a province, an oblast, or a prefecture---for example, `CA` for the state of California - `CITY`: the name of the city or town of the address---for example, `Mountain View` - `ADDRESS`: the lower levels of an address---for example, `1599 Amphitheater Parkway` - `CONTACT_NAME`: the name of the contact - `ORGANIZATION`: (optional) the name of the organization that is registering the domain---for example, `Doe Corporation` - `EMAIL_ADDRESS`: the email address of the contact---for example, `john@example.com` - `PHONE_NUMBER`: the phone number of the contact in international format---for example, `+1-800-555-0123` - `FAX_NUMBER`: (optional) the fax number of the contact in international format---for example, `+1-800-555-0123` You must enter the address accurately because it is used for domain recovery in case you lose access to your registration. For details, see the [guidelines for entering address field information](https://support.google.com/business/answer/6397478). Replace the following values for the yearly price of the domain. This is the amount obtained from the `yearlyPrice` field in the `registrations.retrieveRegisterParameters` API call: - `CURRENCY_CODE`: the three-letter currency code as defined in [ISO 4217](https://www.iso.org/iso-4217-currency-codes.html)---for example, `USD` - `NUMBER_OF_UNITS`: the whole units of the amount---for example, if `currencyCode` is `USD`, then one unit is one US dollar After the registration resource is created, it is in the state `REGISTRATION_PENDING`. It should transition to the state `ACTIVE` in a few minutes. This means that the registration process is successful and the domain is ready to use. To resolve any issues that arise, see the Troubleshooting section [During registration, a registration resource seems to be stuck in state REGISTRATION_PENDING](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/troubleshooting#during_registration_a_registration_resource_seems_to_be_stuck_in_state_registration_pending). See also [List registered domains](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/list-registrations). If you receive an error message during the registration process, see [Errors during domain registration](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/error-messages#errors_during_domain_registration). ## Verify your contact information After you register your domain, Cloud Domains sends a verification email to the address that you provided in your contact information for the domain. This email includes a subject line that states *Action required: Please verify your email address* or *\[Action Required\] Verify your Squarespace domain contact*. You must verify your contact information within 15 days or your domain becomes inactive. To verify your email address, complete the following steps: 1. Open the verification email from [no-reply@squarespace.com](mailto:no-reply@squarespace.com). 2. Click **Verify email now**. After Cloud Domains verifies your contact information, a confirmation message is displayed that indicates that your email address is verified. If there is an error in verifying your contact information, see the Troubleshooting section [Registrant email verification issues](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/troubleshooting#email-verification). ## What's next - To get an overview of Cloud Domains, see the [Cloud Domains overview](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/overview). - To make changes to your registration settings, see [Edit registration settings for a domain](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/edit-registration-settings). - To access API information, see the [Cloud Domains API](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/reference/rest). - To find solutions for common issues that you might encounter when using Cloud Domains, see [Troubleshooting](https://docs.cloud.google.com/domains/docs/troubleshooting). - To learn about Cloud DNS, see the [Cloud DNS overview](https://docs.cloud.google.com/dns/docs/overview).