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Troubleshooting SSL Certificate Installation Errors for Your Website

Last updated on Jul 24, 2025

Troubleshooting SSL Certificate Installation Errors for Your Website

Description:
This step-by-step guide will help you resolve common SSL certificate installation issues on your Eco Web Hosting shared hosting account. Learn how to verify installation, regenerate certificates, check DNS and browser compatibility, and ensure your website is secure.

Before You Begin

You’ll need to access your hosting control panel (DirectAdmin) to manage SSL certificates.
If you’re unsure how to log in, see our guide: How to Access Your Web Hosting Control Panel

Common SSL Installation Issues & Solutions

1. Certificate Not Issued or Installation Failed

Possible Causes:

  • Your domain is not pointed to Eco Web Hosting nameservers or the correct IP
  • DNS records haven’t propagated yet
  • There’s a mismatch with existing certificate keys

Steps to Resolve:

  1. Check Domain DNS:

  2. Wait for DNS Propagation:

    • DNS changes can take up to 24 hours. If you’ve just updated records, please wait and try again later.

  3. Retry Certificate Installation:

    • In DirectAdmin, go to SSL Certificates
    • Select Get automatic certificate from ACME Provider (recommended: Let’s Encrypt)
    • Tick the domains/subdomains you wish to secure
    • Click Save to request a new certificate

  4. Resolve Key Mismatch:

    • If you see a message about a key mismatch, tick “Find matching key if mismatch” before saving.

2. Certificate Installed But Site Not Showing Secure (HTTPS)

Possible Causes:

  • Your browser is caching old data
  • Mixed content (HTTP resources on HTTPS page)
  • SSL not forced

Steps to Resolve:

  1. Clear Browser Cache:

    • Clear your browser’s cache, or try loading your site in a private/incognito window.

  2. Force HTTPS Redirect:

    • In DirectAdmin, open SSL Certificates
    • Tick "Force SSL with https redirect"
    • Click Save
      This ensures all visitors are redirected to https:// automatically.

  3. Check for Mixed Content:

    • Use your browser's developer tools (F12 > Console tab) to check for insecure HTTP resources.
    • Update all URLs in your site content, CSS, and scripts to use https://.

    Example (HTML):

    <!-- Change this -->
<img src="http://yourdomain.com/image.jpg">
<!-- To this -->
<img src="https://yourdomain.com/image.jpg">

3. Browser Shows Invalid Certificate Warning

Possible Causes:

  • Certificate not installed for all subdomains (e.g., www, mail)
  • Certificate expired
  • Old certificate cached by browser

Steps to Resolve:

  1. Check Certificate Coverage:

    • In DirectAdmin, go to SSL Certificates
    • Scroll to Automated SSL Certificates Information
    • Make sure all needed domains (including www.yourdomain.com) are listed and active

  2. Renew Certificate:

    • Certificates renew automatically, but if you see an expiry warning, click Save to force a renewal.

  3. Clear Browser SSL State:

    • In Chrome: Go to settings > Privacy and security > Security > Manage certificates > Clear SSL state

4. Certificate Regeneration/Removal

If you need to regenerate or remove an SSL certificate:

  1. Regenerate:

    • In SSL Certificates, select your domains and click Save again to reissue.

  2. Remove:

    • Untick the domains, save settings, and then re-add them to generate a fresh certificate.

Troubleshooting Tools & Tips

  • File Manager:
    Use DirectAdmin’s File Manager to update code/files for mixed content issues.
  • SSL Checker:
    Use an online SSL checker (e.g., SSL Labs) to verify your certificate’s status.
  • phpMyAdmin:
    Update any hard-coded URLs in your database for CMS sites (like WordPress).

Practical Example: Forcing HTTPS in .htaccess

If you use a CMS or custom code and HTTPS is not forced, add this to your .htaccess file in File Manager:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} !=on
RewriteRule ^ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]

❓ Still Stuck?

If you’ve tried these steps and your SSL issue persists, please raise a support ticket via your Eco Web Hosting client area. Include:

  • Your domain name
  • The exact error message
  • Steps you’ve already tried

We’re here to help you get your site secure and running smoothly!