Cloudflare Manage DNS records: A Guide for Website Owners

To manage DNS records for a domain in Cloudflare, open the Cloudflare dashboard’s DNS Records page. Select Add record to create a record, or select Edit beside an existing record to change or delete it. If your hosting address changes, update the Content value of the relevant A or AAAA record with the address supplied by your hosting provider.

Create a DNS record#

1. Open the domain’s DNS Records page in the Cloudflare dashboard.
2. Select Add record.
3. Choose the required record type.
4. Complete the required fields.
5. Select Save.

The record type and values should match the instructions for the website or service you are connecting. Cloudflare’s documented dashboard flow applies to domains managed through Cloudflare.

Edit or delete a record#

To change a record, select Edit beside it, make the required changes, and save. To remove one, select Edit, choose Delete, and confirm the deletion.

Delete a record only when you no longer need the resource or have instructions to remove it. A record can control access to a website or configure a service such as email.

Update a changed hosting address#

When a hosting provider or origin IP changes, update the Content value of the relevant A or AAAA record. If you do not know the correct address, check the hosting provider’s documentation before saving the change.

Change the record associated with the affected resource rather than assuming every DNS record for the domain needs an update.

Proxy and TTL settings#

For supported A, AAAA, and CNAME records, Cloudflare lets you choose whether hostname traffic is proxied through Cloudflare. The proxy choice is a Cloudflare setting and is not available in the same way for every record type.

TTL controls how long a DNS record remains valid and how quickly changes reach end users. Consider the TTL setting when planning a change, especially if you need updated DNS information to be recognized promptly.

If the domain was added through a hosting partner#

Cloudflare says that domains added through a hosting partner should have their DNS records managed through that partner. If the usual Cloudflare DNS controls are unavailable, check the partner’s instructions.

These steps describe Cloudflare’s dashboard and behavior. Other DNS providers may use different controls or terminology.