How to Add a Domain into Cloudflare and Set Up DNS Records

Add a domain into Cloudfrale account

1. Login into Cloudflare or you can create a new one at https://dash.cloudflare.com/login.

2. At the Home page, click button.

3. Enter your domain name you would like to enable Cloudflare for and click on

4. On the next page you will need to choose a prefereable CDN plan. You can choose the Free plan. Click on button.

5. On the next screen, you will see the list of your existing host records. Be sure to double-check if the specified DNS records match the ones in your cPanel.

Note It is not recommended to modify DNS records at this stage as you will be able to do this after the setup is complete.

6. On the next page, you will be offered to change nameservers to the Cloudflare ones. You need to log into your account in your domain registrar and change the nameservers for the domain.

Change nameservers for the domain

7. In this case, my domain is registered with Namecheap.

Note Once the nameservers have been set up, it may take up to 24-48 hours (in rare cases more) for local ISPs to update their DNS caches so that everyone can see your website. Since the caching time varies between ISPs, it takes time for DNS changes to be totally in effect

8. Once the nameservers are set up, return to the Cloudflare tab and click Check nameservers:

9. If the nameservers have been successfully updated, you will see the Active status:

10. Now you may proceed with setting up DNS records in the DNS menu. On the DNS Records page, you may add or delete the DNS records for your domain.

In order to add any record, click +Add Record and choose the record type you need, the hostname (subdomains or domain itself) and value of the record. TTL will be set up automatically. When the record is ready, click on Save.

Note After the nameservers change all the DNS records for your domain in the old nameservers will be no longer active. That is why make sure they have been set up in your Cloudflare account. The new DNS records should be created in the Cloudflare account as well. For instance, if you wish to switch to another mail service or update the IP address for your domain, the MX and A records should be updated correspondingly.