How to install a free SSL certificate (AutoSSL)

How to install a free SSL certificate (AutoSSL)

Every domain on your hosting can have a free SSL certificate, so your site loads over https:// with a padlock. These are issued and renewed automatically by cPanel's AutoSSL.

Check your certificates

  1. In cPanel, open SSL/TLS Status in the Security section.
  2. Each domain shows a green padlock (valid), or a warning if a certificate couldn't be issued.
  3. Click Run AutoSSL to request certificates for any domains missing one.

Why AutoSSL might fail

  • The domain doesn't point to our server yet (wrong nameservers or A record)
  • DNS changes are still propagating
  • A CAA DNS record blocks the certificate authority
  • Something on the site (such as an .htaccess rule) blocks the validation file

Fix the issue, wait for DNS to update, and run AutoSSL again. Certificates renew automatically before they expire.

Once the certificate is in place, set up a redirect so visitors always use HTTPS (see How to force HTTPS on your website).

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