If you registered a domain with Google and no longer want to pay for it, the steps to cancel have changed. Google sold its Google Domains business to Squarespace in 2023, and domains that were registered through Google Domains were moved to Squarespace Domains. That means the old domains.google.com dashboard is no longer where you manage most of these domains.
Where you cancel now depends on how you bought the domain. If you registered it directly through Google Domains, you will most likely manage it in Squarespace. If you bought it while signing up for Google Workspace, you can cancel the domain’s billing subscription from the Google Admin console. This guide covers both situations.
Before You Cancel: What Happens to Your Domain
Domains are not usually deleted the moment you cancel. In most cases, you turn off automatic renewal, and the domain stays active until the end of the period you already paid for. After that, it expires and eventually becomes available for someone else to register.
Before you stop renewal, think about what depends on the domain:
- Email: If you use the domain for Google Workspace email or another email service, mail to those addresses will stop working once the domain expires.
- Websites: Any site connected to the domain will stop loading at that address.
- Logins: Accounts that use an email address on the domain may be harder to recover later.
If you want to keep the domain but stop paying Squarespace, transferring it to another registrar is an alternative to canceling.
How to Cancel a Former Google Domain in Squarespace
Use these steps if you registered the domain through Google Domains and it was moved to Squarespace.
Step 1: Sign in to Squarespace
Go to the Squarespace website and sign in. Former Google Domains customers can sign in with the Google account that owned the domain.
Step 2: Open the Domains dashboard
Open your Domains dashboard to see a list of the domains on your account.
Step 3: Select the domain
Click the domain name you want to cancel. This opens its overview and settings page.
Step 4: Turn off Auto-renew
Switch the Auto-renew toggle off. This stops future renewal charges. The domain stays registered until its current expiration date and then lapses.
Step 5: Check the renewal date
Confirm the expiration date shown on the domain page so you know when the domain, and anything connected to it, will stop working.
According to Squarespace’s help center, if you registered or transferred a domain within the last five days, you may be able to cancel it right away for a refund instead of just turning off auto-renew. This option generally applies to generic domain endings like .com, and not to many country-code domains. If you do not see the Auto-renew toggle, contact Squarespace support with the domain name and ask them to turn renewal off for you.
How to Cancel a Domain Bought Through Google Workspace
If Google sold you the domain when you set up Google Workspace, its billing is handled in the Google Admin console.
- Sign in to the Google Admin console at admin.google.com with an administrator account.
- Go to Account > Domains > Manage domains.
- Click View details next to the domain.
- Choose the option to cancel the domain’s billing subscription.
- Review the consequences, then click Continue with cancellation.
Menu names in the Admin console change from time to time, so if you do not see these exact labels, look under Billing > Subscriptions as well. Canceling the domain does not automatically cancel Google Workspace itself. If you want to stop Workspace too, see our guide on how to cancel Google Workspace, and plan the order carefully so you do not lose access to email you still need.
If the Domain Was Bought Through Another Company
Some domains that look like Google domains were actually purchased through a reseller or website builder, such as Wix or Shopify. In that case, Google and Squarespace cannot cancel them for you. Sign in to the company that bills you and turn off renewal there.
Tips for Canceling a Domain
- Move email first. Set up a new email address and update your important accounts before the domain expires.
- Download your data. Export anything you need from services tied to the domain.
- Watch for the final charge. Check your billing history after canceling to make sure no new renewal goes through.
- Consider a transfer. If the problem is price or the registrar, transferring the domain keeps it in your hands.
Related: Cancel a subscription on your iPhone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still use domains.google.com?
Google Domains no longer manages registrations after the sale to Squarespace. Visiting the old site typically points you to Squarespace.
Will I get a refund?
Usually only if you cancel within the short window after registration or transfer. Otherwise, turning off auto-renew simply prevents the next charge.
Can I get my domain back after it expires?
Often there is a short grace period after expiration where you can renew, sometimes for an extra fee. Once that passes, the domain may be released for anyone to register.
Summary
To cancel a Google domain subscription today, sign in to Squarespace, open Domains, select the domain, and turn off Auto-renew. If the domain came with Google Workspace, cancel its billing subscription in the Google Admin console instead. Either way, move your email and website first so nothing breaks when the domain expires.
Managing other Google charges? See how to cancel a Google One subscription.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.