Whether you're offering member-only content, sharing sensitive information with clients, or simply working on a draft, Squarespace provides tools to manage page visibility. Creating a private page allows you to restrict access while maintaining control over your website’s content. This guide will walk you through the process of setting up and managing private pages in Squarespace, from simple password protection to advanced member-only areas.
Understanding Page Visibility in Squarespace
Before making a page private, it's important to understand how Squarespace handles visibility settings. The platform offers multiple ways to limit access to specific pages or your entire website:
Draft pages
Keep content hidden until it's ready to go live. Squarespace automatically saves new pages as drafts before publishing.
Password-protected pages
Use a password to restrict access. Visitors must enter a code to view the page.
Hidden pages
These pages are not shown in the main navigation but remain accessible through a direct link.
Member-only areas
Restrict access to registered users. This is useful for exclusive content, paid subscriptions, or private client pages.
SEO visibility settings
You can block search engines from indexing your pages for additional privacy.
Creating A Draft Page
When working on a page that isn’t ready for public viewing, saving it as a draft ensures it remains private. Squarespace automatically keeps new pages as drafts until you publish them. Draft pages are useful for building content in phases, testing designs, or waiting for final approval before going live.
To create a draft, open the Pages panel and click the + icon. Choose a page type, add content, and save. The page will remain unpublished until you decide to make it public.
Password Protecting A Page
If you need to restrict access but still allow select people to view your page, setting up a password is an effective solution. This feature is ideal for client portals, exclusive content, or private event pages.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Go to Pages and locate the page you want to protect. |
| 2 | Click the gear icon to open Page Settings. |
| 3 | Under the General tab, find the Password field. |
| 4 | Enter a strong password and click Save. |
| 5 | The page is now locked and will prompt visitors to enter the password before accessing it. |
Hiding A Page from Navigation
If you want to keep a page active but remove it from your website’s main navigation, you can place it in the "Not Linked" section of the Pages panel. This is useful for creating landing pages, sales funnels, or content intended only for direct sharing.
To do this, go to the Pages panel, find the page, and drag it into the Not Linked section. While the page won’t appear in menus, anyone with the direct URL can still access it.
Restricting Access To Specific Users (Member Areas)
For advanced content privacy, Squarespace offers Member Areas, allowing you to limit access to registered users. This is the best option for paid memberships, gated resources, or private client pages.
Why use Member Areas?
This feature enables you to control access on a user-by-user basis. Unlike password protection, which uses a single code for everyone, Member Areas allow different levels of access depending on membership tiers.
How to enable Member Areas
Navigate to Settings → Member Areas in your Squarespace dashboard. From here, you can create new areas, set access rules, and assign users to specific sections.
Unpublishing A Page
If you need to remove a page without deleting it permanently, you can unpublish it. This saves the content but removes it from public access.
To unpublish a page, open the Pages panel, click the gear icon, and select Unpublish. The page will be stored as a draft until you choose to republish it.
Hiding Your Website from Search Engines
If you want to prevent Google and other search engines from indexing your page, you can adjust your SEO settings. This is ideal for private projects, staging websites, or confidential content.
Steps to hide a page from search engines
Go to Settings → SEO, find the Search Engine Visibility section, and enable the Hide site from search results option. Click Save to apply the changes.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Common issues with private pages include:
- Password not working: Double-check for typos and ensure visitors enter the correct password.
- Page still visible in navigation: Move it to the Not Linked section.
- Search engines indexing private pages: Enable Hide from search results in SEO settings.
- Users unable to access Member Areas: Verify that they have the correct membership tier assigned.
Useful Links
Enabling and Disabling Pages – This guide explains how to enable or disable pages on your Squarespace website, allowing you to control their visibility without deleting them. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Password Protecting Pages and Folders – Learn how to add password protection to specific pages or folders, restricting access to authorized visitors only.
Hiding Pages from Navigation – Discover how to hide pages from your website's navigation menu while keeping them accessible via direct URL.
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Conclusion
Squarespace offers multiple ways to manage private pages, from drafts and password protection to member-only areas and search engine restrictions. By choosing the right method, you can effectively control who accesses your content while keeping your website organized and secure. Whether you're working on a draft, sharing exclusive content, or setting up a private client portal, Squarespace provides the flexibility you need to manage privacy settings with ease.