Securing your website with HTTPS is no longer optional it’s essential. An SSL Certificate not only protects your users’ data but also improves SEO rankings and builds trust. One of the most popular and free solutions today is Let’s Encrypt, a nonprofit certificate authority that provides SSL Certificates at no cost.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to install a Let’s Encrypt SSL Certificate on your server and keep it updated with minimal effort. Whether you’re running a shared hosting environment or managing a dedicated server, Let’s Encrypt makes HTTPS encryption accessible for everyone.
What Is Let’s Encrypt?
Let’s Encrypt is a free, automated, and open certificate authority (CA) that provides SSL Certificates to enable HTTPS on websites. It’s backed by major organizations like Mozilla, Google, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), and is trusted by all major browsers.
Let’s Encrypt certificates:
Are valid for 90 days
Support automatic renewal
Use strong encryption (TLS)
Work seamlessly with most hosting environments and control panels
Why Use Let’s Encrypt SSL Certificates?
Free of Charge – No licensing or renewal fees
Trusted Globally – Recognized by all modern browsers
Automated Installation & Renewal – Save time and avoid manual updates
SEO Boost – Google gives preference to HTTPS-secured websites
Secure Data Transmission – Encrypts data between browser and server
Using a Let’s Encrypt SSL Certificate helps protect sensitive user data while meeting modern web security standards.
Prerequisites Before Installation
Before installing your SSL Certificate, ensure the following:
You have root or sudo access to your server
A valid domain name is pointed to your server IP
Port 80 (HTTP) and 443 (HTTPS) are open in your firewall
Your web server is running (Apache, Nginx, or another)**
Let’s Encrypt uses a client called Certbot to request, install, and renew certificates automatically.
How to Install Let’s Encrypt SSL Certificates with Certbot
Step 1: Install Certbot
For Ubuntu/Debian:
For CentOS/RHEL:
Step 2: Obtain and Install the SSL Certificate
For Nginx:
For Apache:
Certbot will:
Detect your domain
Automatically configure your server
Install the Let’s Encrypt SSL Certificate
Redirect HTTP traffic to HTTPS if you choose so
Step 3: Verify HTTPS
After successful installation:
Open your browser and go to
https://yourdomain.comYou should see a padlock icon, indicating your SSL Certificate is active
You can also verify the certificate using:
Setting Up Auto-Renewal
Let’s Encrypt certificates expire every 90 days, but you can set up automatic renewal with a simple cron job:
Add the following line:
This command checks for renewal every day at midnight and renews if necessary.
How to Install Let’s Encrypt on cPanel (with AutoSSL)
Most cPanel hosting providers now offer Let’s Encrypt via AutoSSL:
Log in to cPanel
Navigate to SSL/TLS Status
Click on Run AutoSSL
The system will automatically install a free Let’s Encrypt SSL Certificate
Once complete, your website will be accessible via HTTPS with no additional action required.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
DNS Not Propagated: Make sure your domain is fully pointing to your server before running Certbot
Firewall Blocking Ports: Ensure ports 80 and 443 are open
Expired Certificate: Run
sudo certbot renewmanually if auto-renew fails
You can always check your SSL setup using SSL Labs Test.
Why You Should Install Let’s Encrypt Today
Securing your website with an SSL Certificate is a best practice—and Let’s Encrypt makes it easier than ever. It’s free, fast, trusted by browsers, and improves both site security and search rankings.
If you haven’t already secured your website, setting up a Let’s Encrypt SSL Certificate is one of the smartest and simplest steps you can take.