How to Renew Your SSL Certificate: Complete Step-by-Step Guide for 2026

Meta Description: Learn how to renew your SSL certificate before it expires. Step-by-step guide covering cPanel, Plesk, Let’s Encrypt, and commercial SSL renewal in 2026.

Primary Keyword: renew ssl certificate
Secondary Keywords: ssl certificate renewal, ssl renewal process, how to renew ssl, certificate expiration

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Introduction

Your SSL certificate is about to expire, and you’re wondering how to renew it without breaking your website. Don’t panic—renewing an SSL certificate is straightforward once you understand the process.

An expired SSL certificate triggers browser warnings that scare visitors away and can tank your search rankings overnight. Google treats HTTPS as a ranking signal, making timely SSL renewal essential for both security and SEO.

This guide walks you through the complete SSL certificate renewal process for every major platform—whether you’re using cPanel, Plesk, a cloud provider, or managing certificates manually on a VPS.

Why SSL Certificate Renewal Matters

Before diving into the how-to, let’s understand why SSL renewal deserves your attention:

Security Concerns:
– Expired certificates expose your site to man-in-the-middle attacks
– Browsers display alarming “Not Secure” warnings
– Customer trust evaporates instantly when they see certificate errors

SEO Impact:
– Google penalizes sites with expired or invalid SSL
– Chrome and Firefox block access to sites with expired certificates
– Your organic traffic can drop 50% or more within days

Business Consequences:
– E-commerce sites lose sales when checkout pages show security warnings
– Form submissions decline as users avoid “insecure” pages
– Brand reputation suffers from perceived unprofessionalism

How to Check Your SSL Certificate Expiration Date

Before renewing, verify when your certificate actually expires:

Method 1: Browser Check
1. Visit your website in Chrome
2. Click the padlock icon in the address bar
3. Select “Connection is secure” → “Certificate is valid”
4. Check the “Valid to” date

Method 2: Command Line (Linux/Mac)
bash
echo | openssl s_client -servername yourdomain.com -connect yourdomain.com:443 2>/dev/null | openssl x509 -noout -dates

Method 3: Online Tools
– SSL Labs (ssllabs.com/ssltest)
– SSL Checker (sslshopper.com/ssl-checker.html)

How to Renew SSL Certificate in cPanel

cPanel makes SSL renewal simple, especially if you’re using AutoSSL or Let’s Encrypt:

Renewing AutoSSL (Free SSL)

1. Log into cPanel
2. Navigate to Security → SSL/TLS Status
3. Click Run AutoSSL to force renewal
4. Wait 5-10 minutes for certificate generation
5. Verify the new expiration date

AutoSSL automatically renews certificates 30 days before expiration. If it hasn’t renewed automatically, check that:
– Your domain points to the server correctly
– No .htaccess rules block the validation path
– The domain isn’t on AutoSSL’s exclusion list

Renewing Commercial SSL in cPanel

For paid certificates (DigiCert, Comodo, Sectigo):

1. Generate a new CSR:
2. Go to Security → SSL/TLS
3. Click Generate, view, or delete SSL certificate signing requests
4. Fill in your organization details

5. Save the CSR

6. Submit CSR to your certificate provider:

7. Log into your SSL provider’s dashboard
8. Choose “Renew Certificate”
9. Paste your new CSR

10. Complete domain validation (email, DNS, or HTTP)

11. Install the renewed certificate:

12. Download the new certificate files
13. Return to cPanel → SSL/TLS → Manage SSL sites
14. Select your domain
15. Paste the certificate and private key
16. Click Install Certificate

How to Renew SSL Certificate in Plesk

Plesk users have similar options:

Let’s Encrypt Renewal in Plesk

1. Go to Websites & Domains → your domain
2. Click SSL/TLS Certificates
3. Find your Let’s Encrypt certificate
4. Click Renew or Reissue

Let’s Encrypt certificates in Plesk auto-renew 30 days before expiration. Check the Plesk scheduler if auto-renewal fails.

Commercial SSL in Plesk

1. Navigate to SSL/TLS Certificates
2. Click Add SSL/TLS Certificate
3. Generate a new CSR
4. Submit to your certificate authority
5. Upload the renewed certificate and CA bundle

How to Renew Let’s Encrypt SSL Manually

For VPS or dedicated servers using Certbot:

Automatic Renewal Check

bash
sudo certbot renew --dry-run

Force Renewal

bash
sudo certbot renew --force-renewal

Renew Specific Domain

bash
sudo certbot certonly --webroot -w /var/www/html -d yourdomain.com -d www.yourdomain.com

Set Up Auto-Renewal Cron Job

bash
0 0 1 * * /usr/bin/certbot renew --quiet

SSL Renewal Best Practices

Follow these practices to avoid certificate emergencies:

1. Set calendar reminders 30 and 7 days before expiration
2. Enable auto-renewal wherever possible
3. Monitor with external tools like UptimeRobot or Pingdom
4. Keep contact emails updated with your certificate authority
5. Test after renewal to ensure the new certificate is serving correctly
6. Document your renewal process for future reference

Troubleshooting Common SSL Renewal Issues

Certificate Not Updating After Renewal

Problem: Installed new certificate but browsers still show the old one.

Solution:
– Clear your browser cache
– Wait for DNS/CDN cache to expire (up to 24 hours)
– Restart your web server: sudo systemctl restart nginx or apache2
– Check if a CDN (Cloudflare) is caching the old certificate

Domain Validation Failing

Problem: Certificate authority can’t verify domain ownership.

Solution:
– Ensure DNS points to your server
– Check for conflicting DNS records
– Temporarily disable WAF or security plugins
– Try alternative validation methods (DNS TXT record instead of HTTP)

Mixed Content Warnings After Renewal

Problem: Browser shows “partially secure” despite valid SSL.

Solution:
– Scan for HTTP resources using browser developer tools
– Update hardcoded HTTP URLs in your database
– Install a plugin like Really Simple SSL (WordPress)

Frequently Asked Questions

How often do SSL certificates need to be renewed?

Most commercial SSL certificates are valid for 1-2 years, while Let’s Encrypt certificates expire every 90 days. The industry is moving toward shorter validity periods for security reasons, with some certificates now limited to 13 months maximum.

Can I renew my SSL certificate before it expires?

Yes, and you should. Most certificate authorities allow renewal up to 90 days before expiration without losing validity time—the remaining days get added to your new certificate. Renewing early prevents last-minute emergencies.

What happens if my SSL certificate expires?

When an SSL certificate expires, browsers display prominent security warnings that prevent most visitors from accessing your site. You’ll see immediate drops in traffic, conversions, and search rankings. The site remains accessible but marked as “Not Secure.”

Is SSL certificate renewal free?

It depends on your certificate type. Let’s Encrypt provides free SSL certificates with automatic renewal. Commercial certificates (OV, EV) require paid renewal, typically costing $10-$300+ annually depending on validation level and warranty.

How do I know if my SSL certificate was renewed successfully?

Check the certificate details in your browser—click the padlock icon and verify the new expiration date. You can also use command-line tools like openssl or online checkers like SSL Labs to confirm the renewal.

Conclusion

Renewing your SSL certificate doesn’t have to be stressful. Whether you’re using cPanel’s AutoSSL, Plesk’s Let’s Encrypt integration, or managing certificates manually on a VPS, the process follows predictable steps: check expiration, generate CSR (if needed), validate ownership, and install the new certificate.

The key is staying ahead of expiration dates. Set reminders, enable auto-renewal where possible, and test your certificates after renewal. Your visitors and search rankings will thank you.

Need help with SSL certificate management for your hosting environment? Check out our guides on cPanel security hardening and server administration best practices.

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