How to Install a Free SSL Certificate Using Let's Encrypt via cPanel

An SSL certificate enables encrypted and secure communication between your website and visitors, helps improve your site's ranking on Google, and increases visitor trust.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to install a free SSL certificate quickly and easily using Let’s Encrypt, directly from your cPanel interface.
 
Step 1: Accessing Your cPanel Interface
 
Log in to your website management interface:
Enter the following URL in your browser (replace yourdomain.com with your actual domain or server IP address):arduino
CopyEdit
https://yourdomain.com:2083
Enter your cPanel username and password.
 
Step 2: Locating the Let’s Encrypt Installation Tool
 
Once logged into cPanel:
Scroll down and look for the "Security" category.
Click on "Let's Encrypt SSL".
(Depending on your cPanel version, the tool may also appear as "SSL/TLS Status" or "AutoSSL.")
Important: If you don’t see Let’s Encrypt in your cPanel, you may need to request activation from your hosting provider.
 
Step 3: Installing an SSL Certificate on Your Domain
 
Within the Let’s Encrypt SSL interface:
You’ll see a list of domains associated with your account.
Find the domain you want to secure and click the "Issue" button.
A screen with several options will appear:
Recommended settings:Include Wildcard? – Leave unchecked unless you specifically need a wildcard SSL.
Add cPanel subdomains? – Keep checked.
Ensure "HTTP-01" is selected (this is usually the default option).
Click "Issue" to complete the process.
The installation will take a few seconds, and upon completion, you will receive a success message.
 
Step 4: Checking Your SSL Certificate
 
 
Open your website in a browser using https://:
arduino
CopyEdit
https://yourdomain.com
If everything is working correctly, a lock icon  should appear next to your website's address in the browser.
If the lock icon does not appear:
Ensure the SSL certificate was installed correctly.
Try opening your website in Incognito mode to rule out browser cache issues.
 
Step 5 (Optional but Recommended): Redirecting All Traffic to HTTPS
 
To ensure all visitors are automatically redirected to the secure HTTPS version of your site:
Option 1: Using cPanel
Go back to cPanel.
Under the "Domains" category, click "Domains" or "Redirects".
Set up a 301 Redirect from:bash
CopyEdit
http://yourdomain.com → https://yourdomain.com
Option 2: Using .htaccess File
Add the following lines to your .htaccess file in your website’s root directory (via the File Manager):
perl
CopyEdit
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]
 
Step 6: Enabling Automatic Certificate Renewal (Recommended)
 
One of the key benefits of Let’s Encrypt is that SSL certificates renew automatically.
To ensure your certificate is always up to date:
In the "Let's Encrypt SSL" or "AutoSSL" section, confirm that "AutoSSL Enabled" is activated.
This ensures that your SSL certificate is renewed automatically every 90 days without requiring any manual action.
 
Important Tips & Recommendations
 
Install SSL as soon as you launch your website – it improves security and SEO rankings.
If you have multiple domains, install SSL for each one separately.
Regularly check that automatic renewal is working properly.
Common Troubleshooting Issues
SSL Certificate Not Issued?
Ensure the domain is pointing to the correct server (verify DNS records).
Check for any security restrictions or firewalls blocking the process.
No Green Lock Icon in Browser?
Inspect for mixed content issues (non-secure elements loading on the page).
Verify that the HTTPS redirect is set up correctly.
 
Need Additional Help?
 
The OMC support team is always here to assist you at any stage. Feel free to reach out for further guidance!