Webflow sync, pageviews & more.
NEW

Why did my Webflow site stop working with a 526 error after using Cloudflare's proxy DNS?

TL;DR
  • Switch Cloudflare SSL mode from Full (Strict) to Full and ensure SSL is enabled in Webflow's hosting settings.
  • Confirm correct DNS records for your domain in Cloudflare and wait for propagation before re-testing the site over HTTPS.

A 526 error from Cloudflare means there is an invalid SSL certificate on your origin server (in this case, Webflow), and Cloudflare is set to expect a valid, trusted SSL certificate from the origin.

1. Understand the 526 Error

  • A 526 Invalid SSL Certificate means Cloudflare couldn't validate the SSL certificate on your Webflow-hosted domain.
  • This typically happens when Cloudflare is set to Full (Strict) mode, which requires a valid certificate on Webflow’s side.
  • Webflow does provide SSL, but timing, caching, or misconfiguration issues can interfere with validation.

2. Check SSL Mode in Cloudflare

  • Log into Cloudflare and go to your website’s dashboard.
  • Navigate to SSL/TLS > Overview.
  • If it's set to Full (Strict), try switching to Full (not Strict).
  • Full (Strict) requires Webflow to serve a certificate that Cloudflare can validate as trusted.
  • Full encrypts traffic but doesn’t perform strict certificate validation.

3. Confirm SSL is Enabled on Webflow

  • In Webflow, go to Project Settings > Hosting.
  • Make sure SSL is turned ON.
  • If SSL was recently turned on, it may take a few minutes to provision the certificate.
  • If you toggled SSL recently, re-publish your site to ensure settings take effect.

4. Recheck DNS Settings

  • In Cloudflare > DNS, your domain A/AAAA/CNAME records should point to Webflow correctly.
  • For custom domains, Webflow recommends:
  • A records pointing to (a) 75.2.70.75 and (b) 99.83.190.102
  • Or a CNAME for the root/apex domain using an alias provider (not always ideal with Cloudflare).
  • Ensure Cloudflare Proxy (orange cloud) is enabled only after confirming SSL is functional.

5. Wait and Test

  • After making changes, wait a few minutes and clear your browser and CDN cache.
  • Test your website using HTTPS via multiple devices or tools (like https://www.whynopadlock.com).

Summary

A 526 error usually means Cloudflare is set to Full (Strict) SSL mode, but Webflow’s SSL cert hasn't been verified or provisioned yet. Switch SSL mode to Full (not Strict) in Cloudflare and ensure SSL is enabled in Webflow hosting settings. Once Webflow issues the certificate, you can optionally revert to Strict mode.

Webflow Resources
Webflow templates
Webflow inspiration
Rate this answer

Other Webflow Questions

Explore Logic tutorials
How can I filter and display multiple collection lists separately in a dynamic page layout in Webflow?
How can I have precise control over placing elements side by side in Webflow? I want to create multiple element blocks within a section and stack them on top of each other or side by side with precision. Can you provide guidance on achieving this level of control? Thank you.
How can I make the first option in a drop-down field not selectable in Webflow?
How can Swiftype be integrated into a Webflow site?
How can I create AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) in Webflow? Can you provide guidance on how to implement AMP on my website built in Webflow?
How can I create a custom video player like the one in this Webflow demo reel?
How can I create a vertical scrolling menu with Webflow, similar to the one on Apple's website, that switches to horizontal scrolling when the menu doesn't fit on one screen?
Can the "Unsubscribe from notifications for this site." link be removed from the emails in Webflow to prevent third-party unsubscribes without warning?
What code can I use to deactivate the zoom in on my phone when I focus on the form (text input) elements in Webflow?
Where can I find Lottie animations like the ones shown in the picture? And how can I change the color of a Lottie animation like the ones in the picture?
Can I use JavaScript or any other method in Webflow to automatically change all instances of '®' to superscript in my chosen font?
How can I make an anchor link to a section on a new page in Webflow with a fixed header, without the top of the section being covered by the header?
Has anyone successfully used GIFs as thumbnails for "Made in Webflow" showcase projects? It used to work but now my GIF thumbnails won't play; instead, it selects the first still image frame as the thumbnail.
What is the best way to create a yellow line under the menu-item 'Projects' on the 'Projects' page in Webflow?
What could be causing my imported JSON file, created from a JPEG sequence using Bodymovin for Webflow and Lottie, to appear blank and corrupted when uploaded to Webflow?
Can Webflow be used to call a CSS or JS file stored on a different server, instead of hosting them on GitHub?
How can I dynamically redirect to a CMS created after form submission in Webflow?
In Webflow, how can I hide specific elements in the footer (such as "Ramin Khaze The Difference" and "Schedule showing") when the URL contains a certain parameter, such as "?mls"? I am a beginner in coding and would appreciate any help. Thank you!
How can I prevent the "w-current" class in Webflow from overriding the height of my custom class on a link block element?
Can I capture a screenshot of a Webflow page on click and convert it to a downloadable PDF?
How do I mirror user input from a form field to a non-form text field on the same Webflow page in real-time using JavaScript?
How can I close a dropdown in Webflow when clicking on a link?
Is there a more optimal way to create a portfolio section with a sticky image container that changes as you scroll, similar to the design on Deveb's website, that works across different web browsers, especially Safari, using Webflow or any other JavaScript tools?
How can I implement a multi-select field with a pre-selected option in a popup form on a collection page using Webflow?
How can I alternate the layout of the image and heading for each collection item in a two-column format on Webflow?
How can I execute JavaScript code when clicking a specific button with a given ID in a Webflow project?
How can I disable the Webflow success or failure state for a sign-up form and display a custom thank you page using jQuery and the Webflow form submit state?
How can I create a vertical scrolling menu with Webflow, similar to the one on Apple's website, that switches to horizontal scrolling when the menu doesn't fit on one screen?
How can I change the language of the Google Maps embed from English to Arabic in Webflow?
How can I reduce the vertical space between lines within a bullet point in Webflow? Can I replace the bullet points with icons on the "Services" page?