{"id":48,"date":"2026-09-10T11:00:55","date_gmt":"2026-09-10T11:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kb-staging.interprowebhost.com\/?p=48"},"modified":"2026-09-10T11:00:55","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T11:00:55","slug":"how-to-install-free-ssl-certificate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.interprowebhost.com\/knowledgebase\/how-to-install-free-ssl-certificate\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Install a Free SSL Certificate"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your InterProWebHost hosting includes free SSL certificates for your domains, installed automatically by the server. In most cases there is nothing to buy and very little to do. This article walks you through checking that SSL is active on your domain, turning it on if it is not, and making sure your whole site uses the secure HTTPS version.<\/p>\n

Step 1: Check whether SSL is already active<\/h2>\n

Open your website in a browser and look at the address bar. If the address starts with https and shows a padlock, SSL is already working and you can skip to Step 3. If it shows http without a padlock, or the browser shows a warning, continue to Step 2.<\/p>\n

For a more thorough check, open cPanel from your client area, then open SSL\/TLS Status<\/strong>. This page lists your domains and shows which ones have a valid certificate. Domains with an active certificate are marked accordingly. If your domain is listed without one, select it and run the AutoSSL check from that page.<\/p>\n

Step 2: Let the server issue the certificate<\/h2>\n

The free certificate is issued automatically once your domain points at your InterProWebHost hosting and the server can verify it. Two things must be true first. Your domain\u2019s DNS must already resolve to your hosting account, which you can confirm with How to Point Your Domain to InterProWebHost<\/a>. And you need to wait until DNS propagation has finished, because the certificate authority checks your domain from several locations. If you just changed nameservers, give it up to 24 hours, then run the AutoSSL check in cPanel again.<\/p>\n

If the certificate still will not issue after DNS has settled, open a support ticket<\/a> with your domain name. There may be a DNS record blocking verification, and we can spot it quickly.<\/p>\n

Step 3: Force your whole site to use HTTPS<\/h2>\n

Having a certificate is only half the job. Your site must actually serve pages over HTTPS, or visitors can still land on the insecure version. For WordPress sites, the simplest reliable method is a redirect so every http address sends visitors to the https version. Many sites handle this with a small redirect rule or a reputable redirection plugin set to force HTTPS sitewide.<\/p>\n

After forcing HTTPS, visit several pages on your site, including the homepage, a contact page, and any checkout or login pages. Every one should show the padlock with no warnings. If some pages warn about insecure content, you have mixed content, which is covered in Why Browsers Warn About Your Site (and How to Fix It)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Step 4: Update the addresses your site uses<\/h2>\n

In WordPress, go to Settings, then General, and make sure both the WordPress Address and Site Address start with https, not http. If your site was built before SSL was installed, old http links may be stored in content and settings. Update menus, widgets, and any hardcoded links to the https versions so visitors never bounce between secure and insecure pages.<\/p>\n

How to confirm renewals keep working<\/h2>\n

Free certificates renew automatically, but automatic systems deserve an occasional glance. Once a quarter, open SSL\/TLS Status in cPanel and confirm your domains still show valid certificates with future expiry dates. If you change DNS, move the domain, or point it elsewhere temporarily, recheck afterward, because verification depends on the domain resolving to your hosting. A thirty second check four times a year prevents the unpleasant surprise of an expired certificate warning.<\/p>\n

When free SSL is not enough<\/h2>\n

Free certificates cover encryption for standard websites. Consider a paid certificate from RapidSSL, GeoTrust, or DigiCert if you need organization validation, coverage for many subdomains under one certificate, or a warranty. The encryption itself is the same; you are paying for identity assurance and flexibility. If you are unsure which fits, open a support ticket<\/a> and describe your setup.<\/p>\n

Still stuck? Open a support ticket<\/a> with your domain name and what you see in SSL\/TLS Status. We will get the padlock showing.<\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Your InterProWebHost hosting includes free SSL certificates for your domains, installed automatically by the server. In most cases there is nothing to buy and very little to do. 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