How to install an SSL certificate in Plesk

What is an SSL certificate?

An SSL certificate is a digital ID card for your website. It proves your site is real and hides the data that moves between the visitor and the site. A site with a certificate shows a padlock in the browser and an address that starts with https.

When you get a certificate, you usually receive these parts:

• The certificate file. Its name often ends in .crt.
• The private key. It is a secret file made together with your request. Never share it.
• The CA bundle (also called the chain). It links your certificate to the company that issued it.

Step 1: Make a request (CSR)

A CSR is a coded request that you send to the certificate company. Plesk makes it for you.

1. Log in to Plesk.
2. Click Websites & Domains, then your domain.

   

3. Click SSL/TLS Certificates.

   

   

4. Click Add SSL/TLS Certificate.

   

5. Type a name for the certificate.
6. Fill in the form. Use your real domain name, and a real country and organisation.
7. Click Request.
8. Open the new item in the list and copy the CSR text. Send it to the company you buy from.

   

Step 2: Install the certificate

After the company sends your files, do this.

1. Open SSL/TLS Certificates for the domain.
2. Click the name of the certificate you made in step 1.
3. Find the section for uploading the files.
4. Under Certificate, upload the .crt file, or paste its text.

   

5. Under CA certificate, upload the bundle file.
6. Click Upload Certificate or Reload.

   

If you already have the private key, use the form to upload the key, the certificate and the bundle all together instead.

Step 3: Use it for your website

1. Go back to Websites & Domains.
2. Click Hosting Settings for your domain.

   

3. Find Certificate and choose the new one.
4. Tick SSL/TLS support.

   

5. Tick the option to redirect visitors from http to https if it is there.
6. Click OK.

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

Need help? Open a support ticket.

Quick recap

• A certificate gives your site https and a padlock.
• Make a CSR in Plesk, then send it to the certificate company.
• Upload the certificate and the bundle.

  

• Select the certificate in Hosting Settings.