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Just because you purchased your domain from GoDaddy doesn’t mean you have to continue using their DNS updater. Recently, GoDaddy removed support for API-based DNS updates, which led us to switch to Cloudflare for DNS management.

Below are the steps to switch your DNS provider from GoDaddy to Cloudflare.

Step 1: Create a Cloudflare Account

  • Go to Cloudflare and create an account if you don’t already have one.
  • Once logged in, click Add a Site and enter your domain name (e.g., yourdomain.com).

Step 2: Review DNS Records

  • Cloudflare will attempt to import your existing DNS records from GoDaddy. Review these records and ensure they are accurate.
  • If any records are missing, you can add them manually.

Step 3: Update Your Domain's Nameservers

  • Cloudflare will provide two nameservers that you need to use for your domain (e.g., ns1.cloudflare.com and ns2.cloudflare.com).
  • Log in to your GoDaddy account and go to the Domains section.
  • Select the domain you wish to modify and navigate to the Nameservers settings.
  • Choose the option to Use Custom Nameservers and enter the Cloudflare nameservers provided.
  • Save the changes.

Step 4: Wait for DNS Propagation

  • DNS changes can take up to 24-48 hours to fully propagate, but it often happens within a few hours.
  • You can check the status of the DNS propagation using tools like DNS Checker.

Step 5: Enable API-Based DNS Updates (Optional)

  • Once Cloudflare is set up as your DNS provider, you can leverage their API for DNS updates.
  • Go to the API Tokens section in your Cloudflare dashboard and create a new token with the necessary permissions for DNS updates.
  • Use this token in your scripts or applications to automate DNS changes going forward.

Step 6: Verify DNS Settings

  • After the DNS has propagated, verify that all your services (e.g., websites, email) are functioning as expected.
  • You can also manage your DNS records through the Cloudflare dashboard moving forward.

Summary

By switching to Cloudflare, you gain access to robust API support for managing DNS records, which is no longer available with GoDaddy. The process involves creating a Cloudflare account, updating your nameservers in GoDaddy, and waiting for the changes to propagate. Once complete, you can use Cloudflare's tools to manage your DNS efficiently.

networking #godaddy #dns