How To Customize Your Squarespace Cookie Banner: 2025 Guide
GDPR ushered us into a new era of more online data transparency. Above all, it emphasizes the importance of clearly informing visitors about tracking them with cookies. Whether you use Google Analytics, Squarespace Analytics, Quantcast, or another service to collect information about how people use a site, a straightforward statement about the use of cookies is needed.
Fortunately, Squarespace has made that process easy with its ability to implement a simple cookie banner on your site. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to style the Squarespace cookie banner to fit your overall brand style.
How To Activate the Squarespace Cookie Banner
To activate the cookie banner, access your Squarespace account, navigate to the site panel, and select Settings > Cookies & Visitor Data. Tick the box that says "Enable Cookie Banner."
If you want, customize your cookie banner message in the text box provided. Enriched with emojis, bold or italic formatting, and, if it suits you, a link to your privacy policy.
Scroll down to choose the banner style you like. Choose between a full-wide bar or a subtle corner pop-up on your website. For information, I prefer the less obtrusive corner popup. Choose whether to have the banner on the top or the bottom of your site and select the corner for the popup.
Leave the cookie banner theme as the default "dark" for the sake of this tutorial. We will explore custom color scheme building for using CSS.
Customizing the Squarespace Cookie Banner
1. Enable the Cookie Banner
Go to Settings > Cookies & Visitor Data, toggle it on, and edit the message.
2. Change Banner Style
Customize fonts, colors, and buttons under Design > Site Styles.
3. Adjust Position
Choose Top, Bottom, or Pop-up in cookie banner settings.
4. Edit Text
Modify the message in Settings > Cookies & Visitor Data to match your brand.
5. Use Custom CSS
Example: Change background color
.sqs-cookie-banner-v2 {
background-color: #2c2c2c !important;
color: #ffffff !important;
}
6. Add a Custom Button
Use JavaScript in Settings > Advanced > Code Injection:
document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function() {
let btn = document.createElement('button');
btn.innerText = "Decline";
document.querySelector('.sqs-cookie-banner-cta').after(btn);
});
Apply CSS under Design > Custom CSS.
Visualize the result with your brand colors incorporated.
What Is a Cookie Banner and Why Does It Matter?
A cookie banner is a notice that tells visitors about the website's use of cookies—those small data files that save user preferences and behavior. It usually gives options to accept, refuse, or adjust cookie settings.
Why Does It Matter?
Legal Compliance – Mandatory under regulations like GDPR (EU) and CCPA (California) for user notification and consent.
Transparency & Trust – Provides users full control of their data, making your platform credible.
Better User Experience – Assists in customizing how the website interacts with visitors according to their likes
Default Squarespace Cookie Banner: An Overview
Features of the Default Banner
Squarespace includes a basic cookie banner with:
Default text: Generic messaging about cookie use.
Limited design options: Predefined colors and layouts.
Basic functionality: Simple acceptance or dismissal actions.
Limitations of the Default Banner
Lack of Customization: Inability to fully match your brand’s design.
Limited Compliance: May not meet specific GDPR or CCPA requirements.
Generic Messaging: Fails to provide detailed legal information or personalization.
To create a professional and compliant user experience, customizing the banner is essential.
Preparing to Customize Your Squarespace Cookie Banner
Steps to Access Cookie Banner Settings
Log in to your Squarespace account.
Navigate to Settings > Cookies & Visitor Data.
Select the cookie banner to modify its default settings.
What You Need for Customization
Prepare the following:
Brand Elements: Colors, fonts, and logos for consistency.
Legal Text: GDPR/CCPA-compliant wording.
CSS Knowledge (optional): For advanced styling.
Legal Considerations
Clear Language: Use simple text explaining cookie usage.
Consent Management: Ensure users can opt in or opt out.
Link to Policies: Include links to privacy and cookie policies.
Best Practices for a Customized Cookie Banner
Design Tips
Visibility: Ensure the banner stands out without overwhelming the user.
Consistent Branding: Use your website’s colors and fonts.
Legible Text: Opt for clear, high-contrast text for readability.
Compliance Recommendations
Explicit Consent: Avoid pre-ticked boxes; let users actively consent.
Granular Options: Allow users to customize cookie preferences (e.g., essential vs. marketing cookies).
Policy Links: Include a direct link to your privacy policy.
Placement
The banner’s position can influence usability. Bottom placement is generally less intrusive but highly visible.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
1. Banner Not Displaying
Solution: Check if the cookie banner is enabled under settings.
Tip: Clear your browser cache to see changes.
2. CSS Conflicts
Issue: Custom CSS not applying.
Solution: Use browser developer tools to debug and ensure code specificity.
3. Compatibility Problems
Devices: Test the banner on multiple browsers and devices.
Solution: Use responsive design techniques to fix layout issues.
FAQs
How can I change the font of the cookie banner?
Yes, modify fonts in Design > Site Styles.
How can I prevent the banner from appearing again?
Users can remove it once they have accepted cookies unless they clear the data of the browser.
Can I add a "Decline" button?
Not by default, but you can use JavaScript in Code Injection.
First mobile implementation of cookie banner
Yes, it’s responsive, but you can modify it with a few lines of CSS.
How do you add a Privacy Policy link?
Go to Settings > Cookies & Visitor Data and edit the message and add a link using HTML.
