Installing Let’s Encrypt on cPanel

UPDATED: 01/21/2024

The guide below will allow you to utilize free SSL certificates from Let’s Encrypt on your cPanel Server. Yesterday we discussed the Importance of SSL certificates and today we’re giving you one of the many ways your business can implement SSL certificates for all of your websites on a cPanel server for no additional fee. This is actually the way we handle SSL certificates for most of our business customers on our Managed Webhosting plans. Installing Let’s Encrypt on cPanel is actually very easy, just follow these steps:

1. 1. Establish SSH or console connection to your cPanel server as root
   2. Run the following command: /scripts/install_lets_encrypt_autossl_provider
   3. Log in to your main control panel ( https://IP.Or.Hostname:2087 )
   4. Select ‘Manage AutoSSL’ under ‘SSL/TLS’
   5. Under ‘providers’ you should now see Let’s Encrypt. This is the new option that was created by running the command in step 2 as root.
   6. Select Let’s Encrypt and agree to their terms of service and select the checkbox to create a new registration with Let’s Encrypt.
   7. Now under the control panel of each account you should be able to go to Security > SS/TLS and under ‘Install and Manage SSL for your site’ you should be able to select ‘Manage SSL Sites’ and see the Let’s Encrypt certificate.

All of your website accounts should now have an SSL certificate. You will still need to redirect all of your non-SSL traffic to the SSL version. You can do this a variety of ways depending on the CMS your websites are currently utilizing or alternatively edit the .htaccess file and add the following:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
RewriteRule (.*) https://%{HTTP_HOST}/%{REQUEST_URI}

Now all of your websites will also automatically redirect any and all NON-SSL (http) traffic to the SSL version (https) and a green lock icon should now appear in the address bar.

Unable to get it to work for your business or simply don’t feel like installing let’s encrypt on cPanel?

Contact us today and we’ll set all of this up for you when you switch to our Managed Webhosting or Managed IT Services.