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How to Install a Free SSL Certificate in aaPanel

Last updated August 14, 2026

A free SSL certificate turns on the padlock and encrypts traffic between your site and its visitors — and aaPanel can issue one for you in a few clicks using Let's Encrypt. Every site should have SSL today; here is how to add it in aaPanel.

Before you start

Your domain must already point to the server for the certificate to be issued, because the process verifies you control the domain. If you have just added the site, confirm DNS has propagated — see creating a website in aaPanel.

Step 1: Open the site's SSL settings

  1. Log in to aaPanel and open the Website section.
  2. Find your site and click Settings (or the SSL icon beside it).
  3. Open the SSL tab.

Step 2: Issue a Let's Encrypt certificate

  1. Choose the Let's Encrypt option.
  2. Select the domain and any subdomains (like www) you want covered.
  3. Click Apply. aaPanel verifies the domain and issues the certificate automatically.

Step 3: Force HTTPS

Once the certificate is active, enable the Force HTTPS toggle so every visitor is sent to the secure version of your site. Then load your site with https:// and check for the padlock.

If you see a mixed-content warning

If the padlock does not appear cleanly, some page resources may still load over HTTP. This is the same issue covered in fixing SSL mixed content — update those links to https://.

Frequently asked questions

Does the certificate renew automatically?

Let's Encrypt certificates are short-lived, and aaPanel is designed to renew them automatically before they expire. It is still worth checking occasionally that renewal is working.

The certificate failed to issue.

The usual cause is DNS not yet pointing to the server, or a redirect interfering with verification. Confirm the domain resolves to your server's IP and try again.

Is a free certificate as good as a paid one?

For encryption, yes — a Let's Encrypt certificate secures traffic just as strongly. Paid certificates mainly add extended validation or warranties that some businesses want; see SSL certificate types.

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