🔍 What Is the Cloudflare DNS/API Integration?
The Cloudflare DNS/API integration connects Search Atlas directly to your Cloudflare account using an API token. This gives Search Atlas the ability to read and write your DNS configuration and interact with Cloudflare's edge network on your behalf — without requiring manual file uploads or plugin installations on your server.
This method is designed for websites that already use Cloudflare as their DNS provider and want an automated path to technical SEO optimization.
⚙️ How to Set Up the Cloudflare DNS/API Integration
Follow these steps to connect your Cloudflare account to Search Atlas:
- Generate a scoped API token in Cloudflare: Log in to your Cloudflare dashboard, go to My Profile > API Tokens, and click Create Token. Use the Edit zone DNS template or create a custom token scoped to the specific zone (domain) you want to connect. Make sure the token has at least Zone: DNS: Edit and Zone: Zone: Read permissions. Copy the token — you will only see it once.
- Enter the API token in Search Atlas: In Search Atlas, navigate to your site settings and select the Cloudflare DNS/API integration option. Paste the API token you generated into the designated field and save.
- Confirm the correct zone is detected: After saving, Search Atlas will display the domain zone associated with the token. Verify that the zone shown matches the domain you intend to connect. If it does not match, check that your token is scoped to the correct zone in Cloudflare.
- Verify the integration is active: Once connected, Search Atlas will be able to read and write your DNS configuration. Confirm the integration status shows as active or connected within your Search Atlas site settings. If you see an error, double-check the token permissions and that the token has not expired.
🔧 Troubleshooting Common Issues
If the integration is not working as expected, check the following before reaching out to support:
- Token permissions are too narrow: Make sure the token includes both Zone: DNS: Edit and Zone: Zone: Read at minimum. Missing permissions are the most common cause of connection failures.
- Token is scoped to the wrong zone: If you manage multiple domains in Cloudflare, confirm the token is scoped to the specific zone matching the domain in Search Atlas.
- Token has expired or been revoked: Cloudflare tokens can be set to expire. If the integration was working before and has stopped, regenerate the token in Cloudflare and update it in Search Atlas.
- Zone does not match the domain in Search Atlas: Ensure the domain added in Search Atlas exactly matches the root domain managed in the Cloudflare zone (e.g., example.com, not www.example.com).
🚀 What to Have Ready If You Need Support
If you have followed the steps above and the integration is still not connecting, please have the following ready before reaching out:
- Your domain name and the Cloudflare zone it belongs to
- A description of the specific behavior or feature you are asking about
- Any error messages you have encountered during setup
- The approximate date and time the issue started
If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.