Activate the Cloudflare CDN on your domain name

Definitions

The Cloudflare CDN (Content Delivery Network) enhances content availability by caching your website data globally and delivering it from the nearest server to each user, optimizing your site for visitors everywhere.

Before you start

❗When you activate the Cloudflare CDN for your domain, Cloudflare becomes your DNS provider, so you’ll manage all DNS settings on Cloudflare instead of your hosting control panel with us.

🚨Activating the Cloudflare CDN on your domain adds complexity to DNS management, so it’s recommended only if you’re experienced or have someone to handle DNS for you.

⚠️ If you use our email service, you must update your email records after activating the Cloudflare CDN on your domain. Without this step, your email won’t work.

ℹ️ After activating the Cloudflare CDN on your domain, it may take up to 24 hours to load across the internet. This process is called DNS propagation.

Step by step

1. Go to Cloudflare website

2. Click the Sign up button

3. Enter your email address, set a password, and click the Sign up button

4. Click the add a website or application button

5. Type in your domain name in the Enter domain name field and click the Continue button

6. Choose a plan. You can choose the Free plan and click the Continue button.

7. Wait for Cloudflare to scan your domain’s existing DNS records; this can take a few moments. Then, click the Continue button.

8. On the Change your nameservers step, Cloudflare will provide you with two nameservers under the 3) Update your nameservers section, keep your page open here, and open a new web browser window.

9. Go to your domain registrar, delete the current nameservers, and enter your assigned Cloudflare nameservers. If your domain is registered with us, follow these steps: Change the nameservers of a domain registered with us

10. Once you’ve changed your domain name nameservers, return to Cloudflare and click the Continue button

11. Cloudflare will now start the activation process and email you once your domain is active on their systems

⚠️ Note: Cloudflare’s systems can take up to 24 hours to process the activation.

12. On the next page, you can follow the Quick Start Guide if you’d like. To go directly to your main Cloudflare dashboard, click on Finish Later.

13. If you use our email service, you must complete all the steps in this guide: Update the email records on your domain name at Cloudflare. Without this step, your email won’t work.