--- description: Learn how to minimize downtime while onboarding your domain onto Cloudflare. title: Minimize downtime image: https://developers.cloudflare.com/og-docs.png --- [Skip to content](#main-content) > Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developers.cloudflare.com/fundamentals/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Minimize downtime Last updated Aug 24, 2026|Copy as Markdown|[View as Markdown](https://docs-durable-objects-instance-replaced-errors.previews.developers.cloudflare.com/fundamentals/performance/minimize-downtime/index.md)|[Agent setup](https://docs-durable-objects-instance-replaced-errors.previews.developers.cloudflare.com/agent-setup/) When making any change to the routing of an Internet application, there is always a possibility of downtime due to certificate issuance, misconfigured settings, or limitations at your origin server. To avoid downtime when going live, it is important to review the most common configurations. ## Update and review DNS records Before activating your domain on Cloudflare (exact steps depend on your [DNS setup](https://docs-durable-objects-instance-replaced-errors.previews.developers.cloudflare.com/dns/zone-setups/)), review the DNS records in your Cloudflare account. ### Start with unproxied records With a new domain, make sure all of your DNS records have a [proxy status](https://docs-durable-objects-instance-replaced-errors.previews.developers.cloudflare.com/dns/proxy-status/) of **DNS-only**. This setting prevents Cloudflare from proxying your traffic before you have an active edge certificate or before you have allowed Cloudflare IP addresses. ### Confirm record accuracy Take extra time to confirm the accuracy of your DNS records before activating your domain, paying special attention to: * [Zone apex records (example.com)](https://docs-durable-objects-instance-replaced-errors.previews.developers.cloudflare.com/dns/manage-dns-records/how-to/create-zone-apex/) * [Subdomain records (www.example.com or blog.example.com)](https://docs-durable-objects-instance-replaced-errors.previews.developers.cloudflare.com/dns/manage-dns-records/how-to/create-subdomain/) * [Email records](https://docs-durable-objects-instance-replaced-errors.previews.developers.cloudflare.com/dns/manage-dns-records/how-to/email-records/) If you add DNS records to your authoritative DNS provider between onboarding your domain and activating your domain, you may need to also add these records within Cloudflare. ## Activate your domain Finish the [DNS setup](https://docs-durable-objects-instance-replaced-errors.previews.developers.cloudflare.com/dns/zone-setups/) for your domain, moving the [domain status](https://docs-durable-objects-instance-replaced-errors.previews.developers.cloudflare.com/dns/zone-setups/reference/domain-status/) to **Active**: * [Full setups](https://docs-durable-objects-instance-replaced-errors.previews.developers.cloudflare.com/dns/zone-setups/full-setup/setup/): Update the authoritative nameservers at your registrar and wait for that change to be authenticated. * [Partial setups](https://docs-durable-objects-instance-replaced-errors.previews.developers.cloudflare.com/dns/zone-setups/partial-setup/setup/): Add the verification TXT record to your authoritative DNS and wait for that change to be authenticated. ## Verify SSL/TLS edge certificates Before proxying your traffic through Cloudflare, [verify](https://docs-durable-objects-instance-replaced-errors.previews.developers.cloudflare.com/ssl/reference/certificate-statuses/#monitor-certificate-statuses) that Cloudflare has an active **Edge Certificate** for your domain. For more details about timing and certificate recommendations, refer to [Certificate issuance](https://docs-durable-objects-instance-replaced-errors.previews.developers.cloudflare.com/ssl/edge-certificates/universal-ssl/enable-universal-ssl/#full-dns-setup). ## Optional - Test configuration You may want to test your configuration using your local machine or proxying traffic from a development domain or subdomain. If you experience issues, you should make sure that you have [allowed Cloudflare IP addresses](https://docs-durable-objects-instance-replaced-errors.previews.developers.cloudflare.com/fundamentals/concepts/cloudflare-ip-addresses/) at your origin server. ## Update proxy status Once you have verified that your SSL/TLS edge certificate is active and you have allowed Cloudflare IP addresses, change the [proxy status](https://docs-durable-objects-instance-replaced-errors.previews.developers.cloudflare.com/dns/proxy-status/) of appropriate DNS records to **Proxied**. Was this helpful? YesNo ## On this page [![](https://docs-durable-objects-instance-replaced-errors.previews.developers.cloudflare.com/_astro/logo.te5VL_aD.svg)Docs](https://docs-durable-objects-instance-replaced-errors.previews.developers.cloudflare.com/) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"TechArticle","@id":"https://developers.cloudflare.com/fundamentals/performance/minimize-downtime/#page","headline":"Minimize downtime ยท Cloudflare Fundamentals docs","description":"Learn how to minimize downtime while onboarding your domain onto Cloudflare.","url":"https://developers.cloudflare.com/fundamentals/performance/minimize-downtime/","inLanguage":"en","image":"https://developers.cloudflare.com/og-docs.png","dateModified":"2026-08-24","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Cloudflare","description":"One platform for your apps, agents, and workforce. 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