Every website owner should know how to renew an SSL certificate. These certificates create an encrypted connection between the website and its visitors, keeping them safe online.

SSL certificates expire after approximately 13 months. When this happens, web browsers will flag your site for not meeting modern security standards. To keep your site up and running, you’ll need to renew SSL certificates regularly.

In this article, we’ll discuss different ways to renew your SSL certificate based on your domain’s hosting provider.

How to Renew SSL Certificate for a Domain

Renewing SSL Certificate for a WordPress Domain

WordPress partners with Let’s Encrypt to install SSL certificates on all of their websites. This means you won’t need to renew your certificate manually.

After connecting your domain name to WordPress, your new SSL certificate will be installed within 72 hours. Renewals will happen automatically, with no interaction from you.

To check that your SSL certificate is active, navigate to the Upgrades section of your WordPress account, and then select Domains. Scroll down to Domain Security to confirm that your SSL certificate is active.

Renewing SSL Certificate for a GoDaddy Domain

GoDaddy offers a Managed SSL feature for those who don’t want to renew SSL certificates on their own. This service handles your SSL certificates and domain control validation for you. GoDaddy also offers domain protection to prevent unauthorized domain actions.

You can also renew your SSL certificates manually using the following process:

• Navigate to the GoDaddy product page, scroll down to SSL Certificates, and select “Renew”
• Select the type of certificate you want, and continue to checkout and pay
• If your site is hosted on their platform, GoDaddy will install the certificate for you

Renewing SSL Certificate in CPanel

Source: fastserv.com

cPanel is a popular website management platform that integrates with many web hosts. You can renew SSL certificates manually through cPanel using the following process:

• Login to cPanel, select “Security”, and select “SSL/TLS Wizard”
• Select “private key”. Generate a new private key and keep it in a safe place
• Generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR). Keep the information in a safe place
• Purchase your new SSL certificate. This can be done through cPanel or through your hosting provider. In some cases, you may be able to renew your SSL certificate without generating a new CSR.
• Go to “Certificates” and upload your new certificate information
• Go to “Activate SSL” and enter your certificate information and private key to install it

How to Renew SSL Certificate on a Server

You can use your site’s web server to generate a new certificate signing request, or CSR. If you take this route, you’ll still need to secure your SSL certificate through a third-party certificate provider.

Renewing SSL Certificate on Windows Server

You can renew your SSL certificate on a Windows server using Microsoft IIS 10. Here’s how to do it:

• Open the server with the expired SSL certificate and select “Server Certificates”
• Choose “Create Certificate Request” from the sidebar
• Fill out the forms that pop up to complete your CSR. The CSR will be saved as a file on your computer.
• Upload the CSR to your preferred SSL provider and complete your purchase

Renewing SSL Certificate on Linux Server

To generate a new CSR on a Linux server, use the OpenSSL command line utility. Use the following command to generate a CSR and private key:

After entering this command, you’ll need to fill out the form that pops up to generate a CSR. Once you have your CSR, you can take it to your preferred SSL provider to purchase your renewal.

How to Renew SSL Certificate Purchased from Different Providers

Renewing SSL Certificate in SSLS

Source: SSLS.com

SSLS is an affordable provider of SSL certificates. This platform will start the SSL renewal process 30 days before your certificate expiry date. To renew your certificate:

• Open your account and select “My SSL”
• Find the certificate you want to renew and click “Renew”. Complete the certificate purchase.
• Find the certificate you want to renew and select “Activate”
• Create a CSR using SSLS’s browser tool or manually install one you already have
• Save your private key for future installation
• Review and confirm your domain information. You will receive your certificate via email.
• Install the certificate on your chosen control panel or server

Renewing SSL Certificate from Sectigo

Sectigo is a provider of SSL certificates and other security products. They even offer multi-year plans and extended validation options, which make it easier to keep your SSL certificate active. You can automate the renewal process with Sectigo’s Certificate Manager.

If you don’t automate the renewal process, you can renew your Sectigo SSL certificate using cPanel.

Renewing SSL Certificate from Let’s Encrypt

Source: dnsimple.com

Let’s Encrypt is a provider of free, short-term SSL certificates. These certificates have a validity period of 90 days, but Let’s Encrypt will start sending you renewal reminders 30 days before your SSL certificate expires.

To renew, log into your account and find the domain you’d like to renew. Select “Renew” and follow the provided instructions to complete the renewal process. You can also enable auto-renew with the certificate authority to keep your certificate working.

How to Renew SSL Certificate for Free

How much does an SSL certificate cost?

While they cost an average of $80 per year, there are many online platforms that offer free SSL certificates for customers. Let’s Encrypt is one of the most popular, with Cloudflare being another well-known option.

Additionally, many web hosts include a free SSL as part of your plan. While you’ll still need to pay for web hosting, you won’t have to pay extra for an SSL, making the cost manageable.

Some web hosts will even automatically renew your SSL certificate when it is due to expire soon.

What You Need to Know About Renewing SSL Certificate

How Often Do SSL Certificates Need to Be Renewed?

SSL expiration happens after 397 days, or approximately 13 months. This means that your certificate needs to be renewed every year.

What Is the Grace Period for SSL Renewal?

30 days before your SSL certificate expires, you’ll receive a notice stating that it’s time to renew. If you don’t complete the renewal process within those 30 days, your certificate will expire—there’s no grace period available.

Do You Need to Install SSL after Renewal?

After renewing your SSL certificate, you’ll need to install it. In most cases, you’ll be able to complete the process manually through cPanel. Check with your hosting provider for their specific installation process.

How Do You Know if Your SSL Certificate Is Renewed?

To check your SSL certificate’s status, enter your domain name in your browser and click the padlock icon to the left of the URL. Select the padlock icon again from the drop-down menu.

If your new SSL certificate has been installed properly, you’ll see “certificate is valid”. Click on the pop-up option for more detailed information about the site’s SSL certificate and expiration date.

What Happens If You Don’t Renew Your SSL Certificate?

If you don’t renew your SSL certificate, visitors will receive a security warning from their browser when they navigate to your site. This results in reduced web traffic.

When people do visit your website, their connection won’t be encrypted. This puts both their data and yours at risk.

Final Word

To keep your website secure, you’ll need to know how to renew an SSL certificate. Luckily, many modern web hosts have built-in SSL certificate renewal to make the process easier. There are even free SSL options available. Check out the best web hosts on the market and decide which one is right for your needs.

Next Steps: What Now?

• Find a web host that offers free SSLs and automatic renewal options
• If you have multiple domains or subdomains, find the appropriate SSL options
• Take further web security measures to protect your data and your users’ web traffic
• Choose one of the best website builders to put your site together

Learn More About Domain Privacy and Security

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• What Is Domain Protection? A Guide to Securing Your Website
• What Is Domain Privacy: Shielding Your Online Presence