Fist, figure our your version.
Open your Squarespace website editor, go to Pages, and scroll all the way to the bottom of the panel.
Here's what to look for:
IF YOU SEE "VERSION 7.1"
Congratulations. You're using Squarespace 7.1.
All 7.1 sites have the same core features and style options. The template you started with is just a design starting point.
IF YOU SEE A TEMPLATE NAME
You're probably using Squarespace 7.0.
Your template name might be Bedford, Brine, Rally, or something else entirely. Different template families can have different features, page structures, and design settings.
And yes, that matters.
Which Squarespace are you using?
7.0? 7.1? Bedford? Brine? What year is it?
If you've ever followed a Squarespace tutorial and wondered why your screen looks completely different, there's a good chance you're using a different version of Squarespace.
Let's figure out which one you've got, why it matters, and what you can do about it.
Now for the million dollar question:
can you change your template?!
Yes. No. Well, sort of.
Welcome to Squarespace.
ON VERSION 7.1
You can't switch template families because every 7.1 website belongs to the same family.
What you can do is change your site's styles, rebuild sections, rearrange layouts, and create a completely different design.
In other words, you don't need to find a new template to make your website look new.
You need to redesign it. Pro tip: Don’t try to redesign it when it’s live. Duplicate a page, then get to work.
ON VERSION 7.0
You can switch templates to change your site's design options and available features.
But here's the catch: different template families can handle certain content and layout features differently.
Don't assume everything will look or behave exactly the same after switching.
Get help with any version.
Whether you're upgrading from 7.0, customizing 7.1, or trying to finish a website that's almost there, I can help. I'm Becca, and I help people do more with Squarespace through creative design, custom solutions, and expert support.
if you want to DIY, why does all this matter?!
Same Squarespace. Different rules.
SQUARESPACE 7.0 HAS THEME FAMILIES
Your template family determines more than the way your website looks.
It can affect which page types are available, how layouts work, and which design settings you can change.
Two people using Squarespace 7.0 might have completely different editing experiences.
SQUARESPACE 7.1 IS ONE BIG FAMILY
Every Squarespace 7.1 website shares the same core platform features.
You can customize layouts, typography, colors, and page sections without switching to a different template family.
Your starting template doesn't lock you into a particular set of features.
The important part
Before you follow a tutorial, install custom code, or ask AI to create something for your website, make sure the solution is compatible with your version. A perfectly good solution for 7.0 might be completely wrong for 7.1. And vice versa.