Update GoDaddy Nameservers to Cloudflare: A Step-by-Step Guide
Managing your domain’s DNS properly can significantly impact your website’s speed, uptime, and security. If you’re using GoDaddy and want to benefit from Cloudflare’s performance features and global CDN, it’s essential to update GoDaddy nameservers to Cloudflare. This guide will show you how to make the switch quickly and correctly.
Why Use Cloudflare With GoDaddy?
GoDaddy is one of the most popular domain registrars, but its native DNS services can’t compete with Cloudflare’s high-speed, globally distributed network. By updating your nameservers, you unlock benefits such as:
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Global content delivery via Cloudflare’s CDN
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Faster DNS resolution and lower latency
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Free SSL and automatic HTTPS redirection
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Enhanced security through DDoS protection and firewall rules
What Are Nameservers and Why Change Them?
Nameservers tell the internet where to find your website. When you update GoDaddy nameservers to Cloudflare, you shift DNS management from GoDaddy to Cloudflare, allowing you to configure DNS records directly through Cloudflare’s platform.
How to Update GoDaddy Nameservers to Cloudflare
Follow these simple steps to connect your domain to Cloudflare:
Step 1 – Sign Up on Cloudflare
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Visit Cloudflare.com and create a free account.
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After logging in, click “Add a Site” and enter your GoDaddy domain name.
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Cloudflare will begin scanning your current DNS records.
Step 2 – Confirm Your DNS Records
After scanning, Cloudflare will display all existing DNS records, including A, MX, CNAME, and TXT records.
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Make sure all essential records are present and correct.
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If needed, manually add or edit any missing ones.
Once confirmed, select the Free Plan or upgrade as needed, then click Continue.
Step 3 – Get Cloudflare Nameservers
Cloudflare will assign two nameservers (for example):
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ken.ns.cloudflare.com -
mira.ns.cloudflare.com
Keep this page open for reference.
Step 4 – Log In to GoDaddy and Access DNS Settings
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Go to GoDaddy.com and log in to your account.
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Navigate to My Products > Domains, then click DNS next to your domain.
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Scroll down to the Nameservers section and click Change.
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Choose Enter my own nameservers (advanced).
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Enter the two Cloudflare nameservers provided.
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Click Save.
Step 5 – Wait for DNS Propagation
DNS changes can take up to 24–48 hours to fully propagate, although most updates complete in a few hours.
During this time, your domain’s traffic will begin routing through Cloudflare’s network.
Verifying the Setup
Once Cloudflare detects that your GoDaddy nameservers have been updated successfully, it will show a confirmation message and enable your dashboard features, including:
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DNS management
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Speed optimization
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SSL/TLS security
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Traffic analytics
You can now manage all DNS records directly in Cloudflare, not GoDaddy.
Cloudflare Tools to Use After Updating Nameservers
After you update GoDaddy nameservers to Cloudflare, explore these valuable features:
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SSL/TLS: Activate free HTTPS encryption
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Page Rules: Customize URL behavior
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Caching: Enable “cache everything” for faster page loading
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Firewall Rules: Block unwanted bots and traffic
For an in-depth comparison of DNS speeds, visit DNSPerf to see how Cloudflare stacks up globally.
Troubleshooting Tips
If your site doesn’t load after updating:
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Double-check that all DNS records (especially A and CNAME) are correctly entered in Cloudflare.
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Make sure Cloudflare is proxying the records (orange cloud icon).
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Use tools like WhatsMyDNS to monitor propagation status.
Still stuck? Contact us and we’ll help resolve the issue.
Final Thoughts
Switching from GoDaddy’s default DNS to Cloudflare is a smart move for better performance, tighter security, and more flexible control. The process is straightforward, and the benefits are immediate.
By following the steps above, you can update GoDaddy nameservers to Cloudflare within minutes and start optimizing your site with world-class tools and services.
