Cloudflared-windows-amd64.exe -

cloudflared.exe service install This creates a service named “Cloudflare Tunnel Agent”. Start it:

net start cloudflared Or use the Services GUI ( services.msc ). The service automatically runs at boot. | Local Service | Example URL | Config service line | |------------------------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------| | IIS (default website) | http://localhost:80 | service: http://localhost:80 | | Node.js dev server | http://localhost:3000 | service: http://localhost:3000 | | Jellyfin / Plex | http://localhost:8096 | service: http://localhost:8096 | | SMB / RDP (via Access) | tcp://localhost:3389 | service: tcp://localhost:3389 | | SSH | tcp://localhost:22 | service: tcp://localhost:22 | cloudflared-windows-amd64.exe

Open or PowerShell and navigate to where cloudflared.exe lives, then run: cloudflared

cloudflared.exe tunnel create my-first-tunnel This creates a tunnel (with a UUID) and stores its credentials in .cloudflared . It also creates a tunnel configuration file template. | Local Service | Example URL | Config

Start small: run a one-off tunnel to a test website. Then graduate to a named tunnel with a custom domain and persistent Windows service. You’ll never mess with port forwarding again. Cloudflared is maintained by Cloudflare, Inc. This guide is unofficial but follows best practices as of 2025.