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Customer Portal - SSL Certificates

You can now order and manage SSL certificates directly from your Customer Portal. This is the fastest, easiest, and best way to order an SSL and have it installed.

Important Note: Verification is an essential step when purchasing an SSL certificate. Here are the different methods we use to verify the domain when you purchase an SSL from HostGator.
  • CNAME Verification: This method requires that your domain uses HostGator name servers at the time of verification.
  • HTML Verification: This method will only work for websites that do not deny access to HTML files on your hosting package. Sites that deny access to HTML files, such as WordPress, may not be able to successfully install via this method.
  • Email Verification: Only the primary domain on the account may verify with email verification. Any other domain will require an alternative method.

If you are moving an SSL from a third-party provider, you will not have to verify your domain. For more information about installing third-party SSL certificates, please visit the following article.

HostGator offers Free Positive SSL, which is included in Shared Business or Enterprise packages. The Free Let's Encrypt SSL is also available for all hosting plans, which you can enable for your website anytime.

This article discusses the following topics:

How to purchase an SSL

  1. Log in to your Customer Portal.
  2. Click Hosting from the left-side menu.

    HostGator - Customer Portal - Menu

  3. Locate the hosting package where you want to install the SSL certificate, then click its Manage link.

    HostGator Customer Portal Hosting Packages

  4. Under the Overview tab, locate the SSL Management tile box, then click Manage.

    HostGator Customer Portal SSL Card

  5. Locate the domain where you wish to install SSL, then click its Upgrade button.

    Customer Portal - SSL Upgrade

  6. Select your preferred SSL plan.

    Select SSL Options

  7. Fill out the fields required to complete your purchase, and enter your payment method:
    • Provide the Certificate Information that will be displayed on your certificate.

      Provide Certificate Information

  8. After paying, you will be redirected to your SSL tool page. From here, you can see when the SSL installation completes and easily renew your SSL when it is time for it to expire.

    SSL Certificate Status

If you're already logged into your Customer Portal, you can click this link to go directly to the SSL Order Form, where you can select and purchase your preferred SSL certificate.

How to verify your domain

There are 3 methods used to verify your domain name when purchasing SSL through the Customer Portal.

Please click the links below for more information.

HTTP

Note: Websites that prevent access to HTML files, such as WordPress sites, will prevent this method from succeeding.

The HTTP method involves a file automatically uploaded to the document root of the domain you selected for the SSL certificate after your invoice is paid. This may take up to 15 minutes before the file is generated.

If you are using HostGator name servers, your domain will be verified automatically by this process.

Users with domains pointed elsewhere will need to copy this file to the server where your domain is currently hosted.

To locate this file, navigate to the document root with FTP or File Manager and look for a file similar to the one in this example:

Example .txt file

The name of the file will be randomly generated, so it may be difficult to locate. Users using the File Manager in cPanel can use the search function in the top right corner to look for the .txt files in the directory.

File Manager - Search for .txt file

If you need to verify that you have found the correct file, you may inspect its contents (either locally by downloading it with FTP or via the Code Editor in File Manager). The contents of the correct file will be similar to the following example:

Check validity of file

After identifying the correct file, please download it, then upload it to the document root of your website host to complete the verification.

CNAME

Note: Domains that are not using HostGator name servers will not work with the CNAME method.

This method involves a CNAME record added to your DNS zone. After a successful purchase and after the CNAME record has time to propagate, the service will automatically verify you with no extra steps on your part.

If you are using HostGator name servers, your domain will successfully verify even if your domain is not pointed to your server yet.

If you are not using your HostGator name servers, you will need to find the CNAME record created, then add it to your actual DNS host.

To locate the CNAME record:

  1. Log in to your cPanel.
  2. Under the Domains section, click Zone Editor.

    Domains - Zone Editor

  3. Locate the domain where you installed your SSL certificate, then click Manage.

    Zone Editor - Manage

  4. From the list of DNS records, locate the newest CNAME record (this is usually found at the bottom of the list).
     
  5. You can copy the string of text next to CNAME.

    Example of SSL's CNAME

  6. After retrieving your CNAME record, you need to add this to your host's control panel (where your name servers are connected to) to complete the validation process.

Email

After purchasing the SSL, an email will be sent to the email address you selected. It will contain instructions on how to complete the domain verification process.

If you need to create an email address in cPanel to receive the verification email, here is an article to guide you:

Need further assistance? Please contact us via phone or chat so we can assist you!