What is this guide?
The purpose of this guide is to ensure that all Teachable customers that use Cloudflare to manage their DNS are able to properly configure their custom domains to minimize downtime to their site as we complete the migration process.
When setting up a custom domain on Cloudflare, some default Cloudflare settings can cause connection issues with your Teachable school. This guide shows you how to fix them.
What are the settings to update?
To minimize downtime, please follow these three steps. Details on how to complete these steps can be found below.
Double-check that your CNAME record is pointed to your specific Teachable subdomain
Set your DNS Proxy to “DNS only” (gray cloud)
Set your SSL/TLS to “Off”
NOTE: To ensure a smooth transition with no downtime, you may temporarily make your Teachable subdomain the primary domain for your school while updating your configuration. You can make this change by navigating within your admin to Site > Domains, where you can decide which domain is currently primary.
After taking these actions, contact [email protected] to share that you've update your configuration so our team can complete your update with no downtime required.
1. Double-check your CNAME record
As part of this update, it’s important to double-check that your CNAME record is pointing to your specific Teachable subdomain rather than a generic one.
You can find your correct subdomain by navigating within your admin to Site > Domains. In this area, you can view the Teachable subdomain currently in use for your school.
In the past, you may have used a generic CNAME (like school.teachable.com), but this setup will no longer work correctly moving forward. Using your unique subdomain is necessary to prevent site interruption.
2. Set your DNS Proxy to “DNS only” (gray cloud)
When creating a new CNAME record for your domain or subdomain on Cloudflare, the record will have the Cloudflare DNS Proxy on by default (orange cloud). For Teachable, this needs to be set to “DNS Only” (gray cloud) so we can properly resolve the domain.
This video walkthrough shows how to make the change:
How to update your domain DNS settings from "Proxied" to "DNS Only" within Cloudflare:
Log into your Cloudflare account at cloudflare.com
Select the account where you have the domain you use with Teachable
Select the domain you use with Teachable
Select “DNS” from the left hand menu
Select “Edit” for each CNAME record you use with your Teachable school with the Proxy status as “Proxied” and toggle to “DNS Only”
3. Set your SSL/TLS to "Off"
Cloudflare sets this as Full or Flexible by default, but for Teachable, this needs to be set to “Off.” This is because we already provide a free SSL certificate for all custom domains that users add to their school.
This video walkthrough shows how to make the change:
How to update your domain SSL/TLS settings from "Full" or “Flexible” to "Off" within Cloudflare:
Log into your Cloudflare account at cloudflare.com
Select the account where you have the domain you use with Teachable
Select the domain you use with Teachable
Select “SSL/TLS” from the left hand menu
Select “Configure” and update your encryption mode to “Off,” then select “Save” to make this update
FAQ
Why is this configuration change necessary?
We’re upgrading our infrastructure to improve performance, reliability, and scalability for all customers. This includes the system that handles custom domains. As part of this upgrade, your Cloudflare configuration may need adjustment so your site continues to function smoothly and securely.
We understand updates like this can be an extra step, but this change helps us serve you better with faster load times, stronger security, and a more stable platform going forward. We've provided clear instructions to make the process as simple as possible, and our support team is here if you need help at any point.
I use Cloudflare to manage SSL for both my primary website and my Teachable school. Will disabling SSL break my website? How do I disable SSL for just my Teachable subdomain?
Even if you use Cloudflare to manage SSL for another site that shares a root domain with your Teachable school, you must disable Cloudflare SSL on the connection to Teachable. This is solved using a page rule within Cloudflare.
How to create a page rule within Cloudflare to disable SSL for your connection to Teachable:
Log into your Cloudflare account at cloudflare.com
Select the account where you have the domain use you with Teachable
Select the domain you use with Teachable
Navigate to Rules > Page Rules on the left hand menu
Select "Create Page Rule"
In the URL field, enter the full custom domain that you use with Teachable. (Example: courses.mysite.com/*)
In the "Pick a Setting" dropdown, select "SSL"
In the "Select SSL/TLS encryption mode" field, select "Off"
Select "Save and Deploy Page Rule"
Before deploying the rule, Cloudflare will show a warning that you’re no longer proxying traffic for your Teachable custom domain, select "Ignore" and "Deploy rule"
Cloudflare Page Rules view
I don’t use Cloudflare at all, why does this apply to me? What steps should I take?
Even if you don’t manage Cloudflare yourself, your hosting provider or domain manager may be using it on your behalf. In this case, you’ll need to work with the person or company that manages your domain to make the necessary updates. Ensuring your domain is updated correctly will help keep your site running smoothly without interruptions.
We know this might require coordination, but we’re here to support you every step of the way. If you or your domain manager have any questions, our support team is ready to help.