KnowledgebaseFixing SSL Error After Changing Nameservers to Cloudflare

Domains recently moved to Cloudflare

Documentationβ€’Updated Nov 20, 2025

ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH after changing nameservers to Cloudflare

Applies to

  • Domains recently moved to Cloudflare

  • Nameservers changed to Cloudflare

  • Browsers showing:

    • Chrome:ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH

    • Firefox:SSL_ERROR_NO_CYPHER_OVERLAP

  • No Cloudflare error page is shown


Overview

This error occurs when Cloudflare has not yet finished issuing an SSL certificate for your domain.

Immediately after changing your domain’s nameservers to Cloudflare:

  1. DNS starts resolving via Cloudflare

  2. Cloudflare begins provisioning a Universal SSL certificate

  3. Until that certificate is issued, HTTPS connections fail

  4. Browsers display SSL handshake errors

This is temporary and usually resolves automatically.


Why this happens

StepDescription
Nameservers changedDomain now points to Cloudflare
Cloudflare activates the zoneDNS works
SSL issuance startsCloudflare requests a certificate
Certificate not ready yetHTTPS handshake fails
Browser shows SSL errorTemporary

How long does it take?

  • Usually 5–15 minutes

  • Sometimes up to 3 hour

  • Rarely up to 24 hours


How to verify

  1. Log in to Cloudflare Dashboard

  2. Select your domain

  3. Go to SSL/TLS β†’ Overview

  4. Check Universal SSL status

If you see:

  • Pending validation

  • Certificate provisioning

  • Initializing

Then the certificate is still being issued.


What to do

1. Wait for SSL to be issued

Most cases resolve without any action.


2. Retrigger SSL issuance (optional)

If it’s stuck:

  1. Go to SSL/TLS β†’ Edge Certificates

  2. Toggle Universal SSL OFF

  3. Wait 30 seconds

  4. Toggle Universal SSL ON again


When to contact support

Contact Middlehost support if:

  • SSL is still pending after 3 hour

  • HTTPS still fails after 24 hours

Provide:

  • Domain name

  • Time nameservers were changed

  • Screenshot of Cloudflare SSL status


Summary

ItemStatus
Server SSL configurationNot the issue
TLS / Cipher mismatchNot the real cause
Cloudflare SSL pendingRoot cause
Waiting / retriggering SSLFix

Notes

  • This issue is not related to your hosting server

  • No server-side changes are required

  • The error will disappear automatically once Cloudflare issues the certificate

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