Configuring SSL in cPanel
cPanel includes AutoSSL, a feature that automatically installs and renews free SSL certificates for your domains. This keeps your website secure without manual intervention.
How AutoSSL Works
AutoSSL runs automatically, checking your domains and installing SSL certificates for any that don't have one. It also renews certificates before they expire, typically when they have 30 days or less remaining.
Checking Your SSL Status
- Log in to cPanel
- Navigate to the Security section
- Click SSL/TLS Status
This page shows all your domains and their current SSL status. Green padlock icons indicate a valid certificate is installed.
Installing SSL on a New Domain
If you've just added a new domain and don't want to wait for the automatic check:
- Go to SSL/TLS Status
- Select the domain(s) you want to secure by checking the box next to them
- Click the Run AutoSSL button
- Wait for the process to complete (this may take a few minutes)
Once finished, the page will refresh and show the updated certificate status for your domains.
Requirements for AutoSSL
For AutoSSL to successfully issue a certificate, your domain must:
- Be pointed to your server (DNS must be configured correctly)
- Be accessible over HTTP on port 80
- Not have any redirects that interfere with validation
Troubleshooting
AutoSSL failing for a domain: Verify your DNS is pointing to the correct server IP. The domain must resolve to your hosting account for validation to work.
Certificate not renewing: Check that the domain is still active and DNS hasn't changed. Run AutoSSL from the SSL/TLS Status page to force a renewal attempt.
Mixed content warnings: After SSL is installed, your site may show warnings if it loads resources (images, scripts) over HTTP. Update these links to use HTTPS or relative URLs.
Forcing HTTPS
Once SSL is active, you can redirect all traffic to HTTPS:
- Go to the Domains section
- Click Domains
- Find your domain and toggle Force HTTPS Redirect to on
This ensures all visitors use the secure version of your site.
