How to Password Protect Individual Portfolio Projects in Squarespace 7.1

Want to password-protect a specific portfolio project on Squarespace 7.1 like a private client proposal, design case study, or NDA-bound content?

Here’s the problem: Currently, Squarespace does not allow passwords on individual projects within a Portfolio Page. But don’t fear: Disable’s got the step-by-step on a straightforward, pro-quality hack that enables you to lock a single project behind an on-brand password screen while maintaining a polished, public main portfolio.

Why You Can’t Password Protect Specific Projects in Squarespace 7.1

Squarespace Portfolio Pages are considered collections, so the password is applied to the collection (or Password Protect Your Whole Cover Page), not to anything within the page itself.

This becomes annoying when you want to:

  • Share private design proposals or case studies with clients

  • Gate-dependent images, proofing galleries, or exclusive content

  • Adhere to NDAs or other access restrictions for clients

The Solution: Convert Projects into Standalone Protected Pages

The most effective solution is to recreate your project as its page, then apply password protection to that page.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Create a New Page for the Project

  • Navigate to Pages → + → Blank Page

  • Name it clearly (e.g., “Project – Client ABC”)

2. Add Your Content

  • Use image blocks, galleries, video embeds, or text sections to recreate the project layout

  • You have complete design freedom on a blank page

3. Password Protect the Page

  • Click the Settings icon next to the page title

  • Go to Password

  • Enter a unique password like abc-client-access

  • Save

4. Organize It Professionally

  • Optional: Move the page into a “Client Projects” folder

  • Set the folder to Not Linked if you don’t want it in your main menu

  • Link to the protected page via a button or email

Why This Method Works

Looks just like a regular portfolio project
Easy for clients to access via a simple password
No need for advanced integrations
Keeps your main portfolio public and polished
You can customize every section visually

Bonus Tips

  • Add Instructions: Provide a brief note in the password page to assist the users (e.g., "Please enter your designer's access code")

  • Use Folders Smartly: Everything that's private, you should group under a folder per client

  • Brand the Experience: Style the project layout to match your brand with logos, colors, CTA buttons, and more.

  • Link Smartly: You can also put private project links into Proposals, Emails, and Hidden Navigation Buttons.

Need More Security?

If you need a full login system, subscription access, or an automatic expiration, you might consider using Squarespace Member Areas (which is a paid service). This enables:

  • Unique accounts for each client

  • Best before date or level of access

  • Content is restricted based on membership level

Final Thoughts

While it’s true that Squarespace 7.1 doesn’t support setting a password directly on files to protect each portfolio project, with Squarespace’s current setup and capability, the method we used is clean, simple, and professional.

Following this post, you will be able to:

  • Easily lock down proprietary or client-sensitive content

  • Keep control over how your design looks, with your own layout and design editor.

  • Have a branded experience without leaving your app.

Whether it's design mockups, photography proofing, or confidential proposals, this method offers security and peace of mind while keeping it all within the Squarespace platform.

Pro Tip: If your business needs user-specific access, automated permissions, or gated content libraries, check out Squarespace Member Areas for an advanced client portal solution.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I password-protect just one project inside a Squarespace Portfolio Page?

No, there is no password protection feature for 1 project within a portfolio collection on Squarespace. You can either password protect the entire Portfolio Page or none of it; you cannot password protect individual pieces within the Portfolio Page.

Workaround: You can transform the project into a single-page website and password-protect it (instructions in this tutorial).

2. Will my password-protected page be indexed by Google?

Out of the box, Squarespace’s password-protected pages won’t be indexed by search engines. This will ensure your private client work does not get exposed to public search results.

Just be sure to check under Page Settings → SEO that the page status is still set to “Hide from Search Results.”

3. Can I style the password screen to match my brand?

Yes. Squarespace didn't let editing of the password prompt page layout; instead, we could add a custom message on top of the password input and do some page design behind it via:

  • Brand logo

  • Background colors

  • Custom fonts

  • Consistent button styles

4. Can I track who views my password-protected project page?

Squarespace does not track who visits with a password. However, you can:

  • Use URL parameters (e.g.,? client=abc) for links sent to other clients

  • Add some fundamental tracking (such as Google Analytics or Facebook pixel), etc, onto the page for basic view data

To track more advanced data, you can utilize Squarespace Member Areas to have each user log in individually.

5. How is this different from using Squarespace Member Areas?

Password-protected pages are an easy and free way to limit access with a common password.

Member Areas, on the other hand, provide advanced features:

  • Individual client logins

  • Content restriction by membership tier

  • Automated access expiration

  • Subscription or paid access