Installing & Managing SSL in cPanel
Step-by-step guide to install, manage, and troubleshoot SSL certificates on a cPanel website.
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Methods of Installing SSL
- AutoSSL / Let’s Encrypt — free and automatic renewal.
- Purchased SSL Certificates — manual installation via cPanel.
- Third-party SSL Services — Cloudflare or external CA certificates.
Install Let’s Encrypt / AutoSSL
- Log into cPanel →
SSL/TLS→ Manage AutoSSL. - Choose provider (Let’s Encrypt or default AutoSSL).
- Select the domains and click
Run AutoSSL. - Wait for completion and check for success message.
- Verify via
https://yourdomain.com.
Tip: AutoSSL renews automatically. Some hosts require Let’s Encrypt to be enabled in cPanel features.
Install Purchased / Manual SSL
- Obtain certificate files:
certificate.crt,CA-bundle.crt,private.key. - cPanel → SSL/TLS → Manage SSL Sites.
- Select domain and paste/upload Certificate, Private Key, CA Bundle.
- Click
Install Certificate. - Verify installation via browser padlock.
Tip: Complete domain validation via email, DNS, or HTTP before installation.
Force HTTPS
Add the following at the top of your .htaccess in public_html:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} !=on
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}/$1 [R=301,L]
Verify SSL & Certificate Details
- Use SSL Labs: SSL Test for validity and chain issues.
- Check browser padlock → Certificate → Details for expiration and issuer.
- Ensure www and non-www domains are covered. Use redirects to standardize URLs.
Troubleshooting Common SSL Problems
Browser “Not Secure”:
- Ensure SSL is installed on correct domain (www vs non-www).
- Verify DNS points correctly.
- Clear browser cache or test incognito.
Mixed Content Warnings:
- Update all resources to
https:// - For WordPress, use plugins like “Really Simple SSL” to update database references.
AutoSSL fails:
- Check
/.well-known/acme-challenge/accessibility. - Ensure domain resolves to server IP.
- Check AutoSSL logs in cPanel.
SSL Not Renewing:
- Confirm AutoSSL is enabled and cron is running.
- For purchased SSL, schedule manual renewal.
SSL Checklist
- [ ] Choose SSL method (AutoSSL, Manual, Third-party) - [ ] Issue or obtain certificate - [ ] Install via cPanel - [ ] Verify SSL on all domains - [ ] Force HTTPS in .htaccess - [ ] Update internal references to HTTPS - [ ] Test in multiple browsers - [ ] Schedule renewals - [ ] Monitor expiration - [ ] Troubleshoot mixed content & chain issues© SSL Installation Guide
