Troubleshoot Cloudflare-related connectivity issues

Introduction

If your WordPress site is having connectivity problems, the cause may be an upstream network issue rather than a problem with your site itself. This guide explains how to check for a Cloudflare outage, review your DNS settings, and restore direct connectivity where possible.

Issue description

A Cloudflare outage can affect access to WordPress sites that use Cloudflare proxying, DNS, or security services. When this happens, visitors may see timeouts, connection errors, or intermittent site availability.

Signs

• Your WordPress site does not load in a browser.
• You see DNS, gateway, or connection timeout errors.
• The issue affects multiple sites or services using Cloudflare.
• The site works when accessed directly, but not through the proxied domain.

Basic troubleshooting steps

1. Check the Cloudflare status page for any active incidents or service disruptions.
2. If you have access to your Cloudflare account, temporarily disable the proxy for the affected DNS record.
3. Confirm that your DNS records point to the correct server and that the www record is configured correctly.
4. Test whether the site connects directly to the origin server without Cloudflare proxying.
5. Check whether the issue affects only one site or all sites behind the same Cloudflare setup.

Advanced troubleshooting steps

Step 1: Check Cloudflare status

Visit the Cloudflare status page and look for incidents related to DNS, proxying, or edge connectivity. If Cloudflare is experiencing an outage, the safest action may be to wait for service restoration while monitoring updates.

Step 2: Disable the Cloudflare proxy temporarily

In Cloudflare, locate the affected DNS record and switch the proxy status to DNS only. This allows traffic to connect directly to your origin server while the proxy service is unavailable or unstable.

Step 3: Review DNS settings

Make sure the A, AAAA, and CNAME records are correct. If your site depends on the www record, confirm that it is not forcing traffic through a proxied entry that is currently affected.

Step 4: Contact your hosting provider or Cloudflare support

If the issue continues after checking status and DNS, contact your hosting provider or Cloudflare support. Share the affected domain, the time the issue started, and any error messages you are seeing.

Contact support

For further assistance, contact our support team at [support email] or [support phone number]. If you are a LightSpeed hosting customer, please include your site URL, the affected records, and any recent DNS or Cloudflare changes.

Additional resources

• Cloudflare status page
• Your hosting provider’s support portal
• WordPress site health and DNS documentation

Disclaimer

This guide provides general troubleshooting steps for Cloudflare-related connectivity issues. It may not cover every hosting, DNS, or security configuration. If you are unsure about making changes, seek help from a qualified WordPress or hosting specialist.