Why Editing Your Mobile Layout in Squarespace Affects Your Desktop Site
If you’ve spent hours tweaking your new Squarespace site, only to find that the changes you made in mobile view ruined the desktop experience, you’re not the first. So many site owners and creatives mistakenly think that these can be edited in isolation from one another, but in Squarespace 7.1, you can’t.
In this article, we will explain why and how it happens and how you can fix it professionally without needing to write a line of code.
The Common Misconception
(Users most often expect a builder like Squarespace to enable them to edit their site’s mobile view and desktop view separately, and like some other drag and drop builders do. But in Squarespace 7.1, what you see is not a separate mobile editor; it’s a responsive preview.
How Squarespace’s Layout System Works
Squarespace 7.1 uses a responsive design model, which means:
You build one universal layout
That design is automatically responsive for desktop, tablet, and mobile!
All views are responsible for any structural change (add, delete, move blocks), not just mobile
That means when you drag a text block, remove an image, or change the alignment on mobile view, it also changes on desktop.
The Issue: Mobile Edits Muddle the Desktop Experience
You might face:
Broken column layouts on desktop
Misaligned content
Overlapping sections
Unexpected spacing issues
The core issue? You’re not creating a separate mobile version; you’re editing a layout and viewing the different screen sizes.
The Solution: No-Code Workarounds That Actually Work
1. Use Spacer Blocks to Control Layout Flow
Spacer blocks help you manage white space and alignment.
Using them between or next to them will help to push one into alignment with the other.
While they collapse on mobile vertically to help things stack more nicely.
Resize spacers by dragging the edges, no coding required
Pro Tip: Work with spacers instead of manually dragging things out of alignment.
2. Use Section Duplication + Visibility Settings
Want a version of a section that looks better on mobile?
Here’s how:
Duplicate the section
Edit one version for desktop, another for mobile
Go to the section’s settings (gear icon) → Advanced → Device Display
Choose:
“Hide on Mobile” (for the desktop version)
“Hide on Desktop” (for the mobile version)
✔ Now your mobile layout is custom, without affecting the desktop.
3. Stick to Stacked Layouts for Better Responsiveness
Squarespace automatically stacks columns on smaller screens.
Use single-column layouts for better control on mobile
Avoid complicated side-by-side designs unless necessary
Design with stacking in mind to ensure visual consistency across all screen sizes
4. Use Built-in Mobile Style Controls
Squarespace gives you some mobile-specific control through:
Design → Site Styles → Fonts / Spacing / Buttons
Here, you can:
Adjust mobile font sizes separately
Set spacing that adapts to smaller screens
Customize mobile navigation styling
These changes apply based on the device, without affecting the desktop view.
5. Avoid Dragging Layout Elements While in Mobile View
You might be tempted to drag elements in the mobile preview, but doing so adjusts the global layout, not just the mobile one.
Instead:
Make layout changes in desktop view
Use the mobile preview only for reviewing, not for repositioning blocks
Think of the mobile view as a preview, not a separate canvas.
Final Thoughts
Squarespace is built to streamline the design process, but its one-layout responsive system can be confusing for users expecting platform-specific flexibility. While you can’t truly separate mobile and desktop editing, you can achieve professional, mobile-friendly designs using built-in features no coding required.
TL;DR: Key Takeaways
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Mobile edits affect desktop | All changes are global — it's one responsive layout |
| Mobile layout looks messy | Use Spacer blocks, stacking, and section visibility settings |
| Want a separate mobile look | Duplicate sections and hide them based on the device |
| Want better spacing/fonts | Use built-in Site Styles for mobile controls |
FAQ: Mobile vs Desktop Layout in Squarespace 7.1
1. Can I edit the mobile version of my Squarespace website independently of the desktop version?
No, you can’t. Squarespace 7.1 has a single responsive layout, so any tweak you make — whether it’s in mobile or desktop view — impacts every single device view. There is no distinct mobile editor; you’re just previewing what it looks like on various screen sizes.
2. Why do my desktop positions mess up my mobile (and vice versa) view?
It's because Squarespace applies your edits site-wide. Drag, delete, or reposition elements in mobile preview while you are viewing your site; you are not working on mobile layout only, but on the main layout, likewise. This may result in misalignment or spacing problems on larger screens.
3. How can I change the content for mobile view but not affect desktop?
Do section duplication with device visibility:
Duplicate the section.
Edit the other one for desktop, and the one for mobile.
Hide one on mobile and one on desktop via Advanced → Device Display.
This enables you to make a custom mobile layout without affecting the desktop version.
4. What are Spacer blocks, and how do they make mobile layout easier?
Spacer blocks enable you to control the alignment and spacing of your elements with no code. On the desktop, you can use them to shove content into columns, and on mobile devices, they’ll roll up and stack your content for you. They contribute to keeping things nice and tidy in the responsive layouts.
5. What’s the best approach to mobile for Squarespace?
Here are a few clever no-code tips:
If you want better responsiveness, use stacked (single-column) layouts.
Do not pull layout blocks in the mobile view that should be done in the desktop view.
Preview often with the mobile preview tool.
Adjust mobile font sizes, spacing, and navigation through Site Styles.
