Install a free Let's Encrypt SSL certificate in DirectAdmin

What is SSL?

SSL is a lock for your website. It scrambles the data that travels between your visitors and your site. A site with SSL shows a padlock and starts with https://. It builds trust, and browsers warn people away from sites without it.

A certificate is a small file that proves your site is real. Let's Encrypt is a non-profit group that gives out certificates for free. Each one lasts 90 days. DirectAdmin can renew it by itself.

Before you start

• Your domain must point to your hosting account. This is done through DNS, which is like the phone book of the internet.
• The domain must open in a browser.
• The Secure SSL option must be on for the domain. You find it in Domain Setup.

Steps

1. Log in to DirectAdmin.
2. Click SSL Certificates in the Account Manager section.

   

3. Choose Free & automatic certificate from Let's Encrypt.

   

   

4. The domain name is filled in. Add www and other names if you want them covered. Tick the box for the wildcard option only if you need it.
5. Pick the key size. The default is fine.
6. Click Save.
7. Wait a minute. A success message appears.

   

   

8. Open your site with https:// to check for the padlock.

Send visitors to the secure version

Visitors can still open the old http:// address. Add a redirect in your .htaccess file to send everyone to https://. Another guide shows how.

If it fails

• Check that the domain points to this hosting account.
• Wait a few hours if you only just changed DNS.
• Make sure nothing blocks the path /.well-known/acme-challenge. Let's Encrypt uses this path to confirm you own the domain.
• Do not request too many certificates in a short time. There are limits.

Quick recap

• Let's Encrypt SSL is free and renews on its own.
• Open SSL Certificates and pick the Let's Encrypt option.
• The domain must already point to your account.
• Test with https:// and the padlock.