SSL certificates have an expiry date and need to renew to keep your site secure. For most Exact Hosting sites this happens automatically, but occasionally a certificate fails to renew or shows an error. This article explains how renewal works and how to fix the common problems.
How SSL renewal works
Your free certificate is issued and renewed automatically by AutoSSL in cPanel, as long as your domain continues to point to your Exact Hosting account. There is normally nothing to renew by hand. See Your Free SSL Certificate (AutoSSL) for how the free certificate is issued.
Renewal can fail when something prevents AutoSSL from validating your domain — most often because the domain's DNS no longer points here, or because of a configuration conflict.
Before you begin
- cPanel access, to check certificate status and re-run AutoSSL.
- Confirmation of which certificate you use — the free AutoSSL certificate or a paid certificate you installed. The troubleshooting differs.
Step 1: Check your certificate status
- Sign in to cPanel.
- In the Security section, open SSL/TLS Status.
- Review each domain's certificate and its expiry date.
Step 2: Renew a free (AutoSSL) certificate
If a domain's free certificate has not renewed:
- On the SSL/TLS Status page, select the affected domain.
- Select Run AutoSSL to trigger a fresh validation and renewal.
- Wait a few minutes, then refresh the status.
If AutoSSL still cannot issue the certificate, work through Step 4.
Step 3: Renew a paid certificate
A paid certificate does not auto-renew through AutoSSL. To continue using one, renew the certificate with its provider and reinstall it. See the SSL installation article.
Step 4: Troubleshoot common SSL errors
Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
Certificate not issuing via AutoSSL | Domain DNS does not point to Exact Hosting | Confirm the domain points here — see Pointing Your Domain to Your Exact Hosting Account. |
"Not Secure" despite a valid certificate | Mixed content (insecure elements on the page) | |
Certificate expired | Renewal failed to run | Re-run AutoSSL (Step 2), then check DNS. |
Name mismatch warning | Certificate does not cover the exact address used | Confirm you are visiting a domain the certificate covers (including www). |
Warning: An expired or invalid certificate causes browsers to block visitors with a full-page security warning. Resolve certificate errors promptly to avoid losing traffic.
Step 5: Confirm the fix
- Visit your site at https://yourdomain.com.
- Confirm the padlock appears and the certificate shows a valid future expiry date.
Next steps
- Review how your free SSL works. See Your Free SSL Certificate (AutoSSL).
- Clear a mixed-content warning. See Fixing 'Not Secure' / Mixed-Content SSL Warnings.
Questions? Contact Exact Hosting Support.
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