Transferring domain to Cloudflare, domain stuck in "pending", but can't correct

Application Performance DNS & Network
1

What is the name of the domain?

rechance.ai

What is the error number?

Content for NS record is invalid. NS records at the apex must not overwrite assigned nameservers.

What is the error message?

rechance.ai is pending until you complete the instructions on the Overview page and we are able to verify ownership. Learn more about pending domains.

What is the issue you’re encountering

Can’t change nameservers to get past “pending” state, domain about to get removed automatically (23 days)

What steps have you taken to resolve the issue?

I can’t change the nameservers through Cloudflare DNS management page, it gives the error:

"Content for NS record is invalid. NS records at the apex must not overwrite assigned nameservers. "

Aside from that, the listed nameservers on the page are already the ones that Cloudflare is telling me to change to.

I can’t change nameservers on the registrar (Godaddy) because the domain has already left them entirely, and is not even on my Godaddy account anymore. I’ve also asked their support, and they said there is nothing that can be done on their end and to speak to Cloudflare.

What feature, service or problem is this related to?

Nameservers

What are the steps to reproduce the issue?

I’ve tried contacting Cloudflare support - but their system doesn’t let me create support tickets because I’m not a “pro” user (when I try to go into the ticket I created, it just takes me to the blog saying to ask in the forum or on Discord).

I’ve contacted Godaddy who said to contact Cloudflare.

I’ve tried the “Check nameservers now” button multiple times, it’s been over 48 hours now and still nothing, doesn’t seem to work.

I’ve tried adding it manually, but cannot because it gives the NS record error as mentioned above. In saying that though, the records are already what it is telling me to add.

On the error page it says:

Add both of your assigned Cloudflare nameservers:

Delete your other nameservers:

As you can see from the screenshot, it’s already paloma and zeus.

Screenshot of the error

firefox_P0jXlR7fxW.png
firefox_P0jXlR7fxW.png1330×1576 168 KB

2

Not sure why the forum automatically replaced my nameservers with links to their sales page… But anyway, they were saying, change it away from:

anuj.ns.*
nia.ns.*

To:

paloma.ns.*
zeus.ns.*

Which is what I already have (* = cloudflare dot com)

3

The domain is active on Cloudflare so likely you are not in the correct Cloudflare account where the domain is registered and have instead added your domain to another Cloudflare account, see…
https://cf.sjr.dev/tools/check?dd70ad3644014a3891fe620e1e6d9f95#dns

You will need to log into the account where the domain is active. If you do not see the domain listed here, then you are in the wrong account…
https://dash.cloudflare.com/?to=/:account/domains

Check for emails from Cloudflare from when you registered the domain. Or log out of the dashboard and use “Forgot your email” or check for emails from Cloudflare for your domain registration to locate the login for the account where the domain is registered and active. You may have registered the domain using a Google or iCloud login.

4

Ah, yes, that is the case. I see it on my other account, with the anuj and nia nameservers.

What’s the best way to resolve this? Transfer the domain from the wrong account to the original one?

In the original account it says “active” instead of pending, but it won’t let me change the nameservers because I get this error:

“Content for NS record is invalid. NS records at the apex must not overwrite assigned nameservers.”

5

Use the domain in the account where it is registered if you have no reason to move it.

If you do want to move the domain registration to the other account (maybe due to moving a domain from a personal Cloudflare account to one for a business, or similar reason), then follow this guide…

6

The only option I have in terms of moving it, is to move it out of the account that says: “active”, to the account that says: “pending” (assuming it will let me actually do it).

I can’t send from the account that says “pending” to the account that says “active”, because pending state locks me from transfer to another cloudflare account.

So is this the correct way to fix this? Transfer to the pending account?

And then what? Because I still won’t be able to update the nameservers? or will I?

To be clear on what has happened, I had accidently transferred from Godaddy to the wrong cloudflare account. The original cloudflare account already had the domain because I was using cloudflare for DNS management, but it was still sitting on Godaddy as the registrar. Then I added it again on the new account, did a transfer from Godaddy, and the transfer has now finalized from Godaddy’s side.

But in both accounts, it does not give me the ability to change the nameservers.

Thank you!

7

You cannot change the nameservers. You can only move the domain registration between accounts - that process changes the nameservers at the registry to match those for the Cloudflare account it is moving into.

However as you’ve just moved the domain from Godaddy you will need to wait as the domain is currently transfer locked. There is a 30-day lock on inter-account transfers according to the docs I linked to prevent abuse - and it may be 60-days as it’s just transferred in from outside.

8

It says “Domain will be deleted in 22 days if nameservers are not updated.”

So what does this mean? Will it go back to godaddy? Will it go no where and I’d have to repurchase the domain? I had to pay for a renewal just to transfer it to Cloudflare, so I’m trying to avoid losing the domain + the money I spent.

Feels like something that Cloudflare staff needs to help with, but I have no way to contact them.

9

No, it means the zone you are using now will be deleted because it has not been activated - and you can’t activate it because the domain registration is not in that account. The domain is attached to an active zone in another account, it won’t be deleted from there.

10

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