How SSL Certificates Work on Unisolva Hosting (AutoSSL)
Every Unisolva hosting plan includes free SSL certificates for all your domains and subdomains. SSL certificates encrypt the connection between your website and visitors' browsers, showing the padlock icon and https:// in the address bar. This article explains how SSL is managed on Unisolva hosting and what AutoSSL does automatically.
What Is an SSL Certificate?
An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate does two things:
- Encryption - it encrypts data transmitted between your server and the visitor's browser, protecting sensitive information like passwords, form submissions, and payment details
- Authentication - it verifies that the website the visitor is connecting to is genuinely yours, not a fake impersonation
Without SSL, your site loads over http:// and browsers display a "Not Secure" warning in the address bar. With SSL, your site loads over https:// and shows a padlock icon - building trust with visitors and improving your Google search ranking.
What Is AutoSSL?
AutoSSL is cPanel's built-in system for automatically issuing and renewing SSL certificates using the Let's Encrypt certificate authority. On Unisolva hosting:
- SSL certificates are issued automatically for every domain and subdomain on your account
- Certificates renew automatically every 90 days - you never need to manually renew them
- New domains and subdomains added to your account receive an SSL certificate within minutes
- No annual SSL fees - it is included free with every Unisolva hosting plan
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???? Tip AutoSSL covers all subdomains you create in cPanel, including staging.yourdomain.com and any other subdomains. You do not need to do anything for SSL to work on new subdomains. |
Checking Your SSL Certificate Status
- Log in to cPanel at yourdomain.com/cpanel
- Scroll to the Security section and click SSL/TLS Status
- You will see a list of all domains and subdomains on your account
- Each domain shows its SSL status:
- Green padlock / Certificate Present - SSL is active and valid
- Yellow / Pending - AutoSSL is in the process of issuing or renewing
- Red / No Certificate - SSL is not yet active (AutoSSL will attempt to issue one)
- To manually trigger AutoSSL to run now, click Run AutoSSL at the top of the page
How AutoSSL Renews Certificates
Let's Encrypt certificates are valid for 90 days. AutoSSL renews them automatically, typically 30 days before expiry. The renewal process:
- Runs in the background - your website stays online during renewal
- Requires your domain to be publicly accessible and resolving to your server (DNS must be correct)
- Sends no notification when it succeeds - you only receive an alert if renewal fails
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???? Note If AutoSSL renewal fails, cPanel sends an alert to the email address associated with your cPanel account. Check this email address is current in cPanel > Contact Information. Common causes of renewal failure: domain not pointing to the server, domain not publicly accessible, or a firewall blocking the Let's Encrypt verification request. |
Wildcard Certificates and Custom SSL
AutoSSL issues individual certificates per domain and subdomain. If you need a wildcard certificate (*.yourdomain.com, covering all subdomains under one certificate) or a custom/paid certificate (e.g. for an OV or EV certificate showing your company name in the browser), contact support at my.unisolva.com - the team can assist with installing a custom certificate in cPanel > SSL/TLS > Install and Manage SSL.
Verify SSL Is Working
- Visit your website at https://yourdomain.com in a browser
- Check the address bar for a padlock icon - this confirms SSL is active
- Click the padlock to view certificate details: issued to your domain, valid dates, and issued by Let's Encrypt
- Try https://www.yourdomain.com as well - the www version should also show a padlock
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???? Tip After confirming SSL is working, enable HTTPS redirection to ensure all visitors always land on the secure https:// version. See: How to Force HTTPS on Your Website. |
Related Articles
- How to Force HTTPS on Your Website
- Troubleshooting SSL Certificate Errors
- How to Manage DNS Records in cPanel (Domains & DNS category)
