Squarespace form file upload is now built in: edit a Form block, switch on Google reCAPTCHA in the Storage tab (the upload field will not appear without it), then add a File Upload field, choose which file types and how many files (up to five, 10 MB each) to accept, and save. Uploaded files arrive as a link in the notification email and in the Contacts panel, not as attachments. That change, added in 2026, retired years of Dropbox and JotForm workarounds, and the older tutorials still ranking for this question describe those workarounds. Below: the exact steps, the reCAPTCHA and notification settings people miss, where files go, what to do on plans or forms where the field is not available, and how to make an upload form that clients actually complete.
How do you add a Squarespace form file upload field?
- Edit the page and click the Form block (or Add Block, Form, to create one).
- Open the Storage tab and make sure Google reCAPTCHA is on. It is on by default; if it was switched off, turn it back on, because Squarespace’s form fields guide requires it for the upload field.
- Back in the Content tab, click Add field and choose File Upload.
- Click the field to set a label (“Upload your brief”), a description (“PDF or Word, up to 10 MB”), the number of files allowed (one to five), and the accepted types. Make it required if the form is useless without it.
- Save. Test the form yourself with a real file before sending anyone the link.
By default the field accepts common images (JPG, PNG, WebP, HEIC, TIFF), documents (PDF, DOC, DOCX, TXT), presentations, and common video and audio formats. Narrow the list to what you need; a form for print files should not accept MP4s.
Where do uploaded files go?
| Destination | What you get | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Notification email | A link to each file, not an attachment | Sent to the account email of whoever added the form unless changed under Storage |
| Contacts panel | The submission with download links | Only owners, administrators and contributors with the right permission can open them |
| Google Drive / Sheets storage | A row with the file URL | Copy the link; the file itself stays on Squarespace |
| Zapier | The URL as a field you can route anywhere | Core plan or higher for Zapier and Mailchimp storage |
| Mailchimp | Subscriber data; file link as a field | Rarely useful for uploads |
Every file is virus-scanned before the submission sends. Squarespace does not publish how long uploaded files are kept, so download anything important promptly rather than treating the Contacts panel as an archive. For client files you need to keep, connect Google Drive storage and move the files into a project folder as they arrive.
How do you set the notification email and add a second address?
- Storage tab, Email: change the address that receives submissions; it defaults to the person who created the form, which is why a designer’s inbox sometimes receives the client’s enquiries for months after launch.
- Two people need it: Squarespace sends to one address; use a group address or a forwarding rule, or Google Sheets storage that both can open.
- Confirmation to the visitor: there is no built-in autoresponder in the Form block. Use the post-submit message to say when they will hear back, or connect Zapier or Mailchimp for an automatic reply.
- Not receiving emails: trial sites do not send submission emails at all unless the owner is a Circle member; on paid sites, check spam and the address under Storage first.
What if the File Upload field is not available?
Three cases, three answers:
- Add-to-cart and checkout forms: the field is only in standard Form blocks. For a product that needs a customer file (a print, an engraving), collect the file after purchase with a link to an upload form on a thank-you page, or with the order number as a form field.
- reCAPTCHA switched off on purpose (some sites find it hurts conversion): the upload field needs it. Accept the reCAPTCHA or use an external form.
- Larger files, more than five, or folder uploads: a Dropbox File Request link, WeTransfer, or an embedded JotForm or Tally form; embed via a Code block on Core or higher. Kerstin Martin’s Dropbox method was the standard answer until 2026 and still suits big video files.
How do you make an upload form clients finish?
- Say what to upload and in what format in the field description. “Your logo as SVG or PNG” gets a usable file; “Upload files” gets a screenshot of a Word document.
- Ask for the fewest fields the job needs; 30 is Squarespace’s practical limit, and the ones that convert have under ten.
- Put the upload last so the visitor has already invested in the form when they reach it.
- Set a realistic size note. 10 MB is fine for documents and photos, not for video; give a WeTransfer alternative in the description for anything larger.
- Link the form from the page that creates the need: the client onboarding process post uses an upload form for brand assets at exactly the point the client is looking for where to send them.
- Keep the form on a page with a clear purpose and one section; the Squarespace tips post covers the layout side.
Is a form upload the right tool?
For enquiries with a brief, applications, competition entries and brand assets, yes. For anything sensitive (ID documents, medical or financial files) a form on a marketing site is the wrong place; use a proper client portal or a service built for it, and say so on the form. For large media, use a transfer service. The upload field solves the common case well, and it means a Squarespace site no longer needs a third-party form just to receive a PDF, which is one less account for the designer or contributor to manage after launch.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Squarespace Form blocks now include a File Upload field. Turn on Google reCAPTCHA in the form’s Storage tab, add the field, choose the accepted file types and number of files (up to five, 10 MB each), and save.
Google reCAPTCHA must be on in the Storage tab first; the field is hidden until it is. It is also only available in standard Form blocks, not in add-to-cart or checkout forms.
You receive a download link in the notification email and in the Contacts panel; files are stored on Squarespace, not attached to the email. Google Drive, Zapier and Mailchimp storage receive the link as a field.
10 MB per file, up to five files per submission. Files are scanned for viruses before the form sends. For larger files, link to a Dropbox File Request or WeTransfer.
Edit the Form block, open the Storage tab, and change the email address. It defaults to whoever created the form. Squarespace sends to one address; use a group address or Google Sheets storage for a team.
Not by default. Use the post-submit message to set expectations, or connect Zapier or Mailchimp on the Core plan or higher to send an automatic reply.
