Seoxpert.io
mediumSecurity

SSL Certificate Expires in 40 Days

Your SSL certificate will expire in 40 days. Take action now to renew it and prevent security warnings, loss of user trust, and potential SEO penalties.

By Seoxpert Editorial · Published · Updated

Why it matters

An expired SSL certificate leads to browsers displaying security warnings or blocking access, which deters users and reduces conversions. Search engines may demote sites with expired certificates, negatively impacting SEO and organic traffic. Maintaining a valid SSL certificate is essential for user trust, secure data transmission, and search visibility.

Impact

If not renewed, your site will become inaccessible to most users, display security errors, and potentially lose search engine rankings. This can result in lost revenue, damaged reputation, and increased support costs.

How it's detected

This issue is detected by monitoring certificate expiration dates using automated tools, server logs, or notifications from your certificate authority (CA). Many monitoring services and web security scanners also flag certificates nearing expiration.

Common causes

  • Forgetting to renew the certificate before expiration
  • Auto-renewal not configured or failing
  • Renewal notifications sent to inactive or incorrect email addresses
  • Manual renewal processes not scheduled or overlooked

How to fix it

Log in to your certificate authority (CA) dashboard and initiate the SSL certificate renewal process. If your CA offers auto-renewal, enable it and verify it is functioning correctly. Update notification email addresses to ensure alerts reach responsible parties. After renewing, deploy the new certificate to your server and test your site using SSL checking tools to confirm the update. Document the renewal process and schedule reminders for future renewals.

Code examples

Check SSL certificate expiration date (Linux command line)

echo | openssl s_client -servername yourdomain.com -connect yourdomain.com:443 2>/dev/null | openssl x509 -noout -dates

Update SSL certificate in Nginx configuration

server {
    listen 443 ssl;
    server_name yourdomain.com;
    ssl_certificate /etc/ssl/certs/yourdomain.com.crt;
    ssl_certificate_key /etc/ssl/private/yourdomain.com.key;
    # ... other settings ...
}
# After updating the certificate files, reload Nginx:
sudo systemctl reload nginx

Update SSL certificate in Apache configuration

<VirtualHost *:443>
    ServerName yourdomain.com
    SSLEngine on
    SSLCertificateFile /etc/ssl/certs/yourdomain.com.crt
    SSLCertificateKeyFile /etc/ssl/private/yourdomain.com.key
    SSLCertificateChainFile /etc/ssl/certs/yourdomain.com-ca-bundle.crt
    # ... other settings ...
</VirtualHost>
# After updating the certificate files, reload Apache:
sudo systemctl reload apache2

FAQ

What happens if I don't renew my SSL certificate before it expires?

If your SSL certificate expires, browsers will show security warnings or block access to your site. This can lead to loss of user trust, decreased traffic, and negative SEO impact.

How can I check when my SSL certificate expires?

You can check the expiration date using online SSL checker tools or by running the OpenSSL command line tool: echo | openssl s_client -servername yourdomain.com -connect yourdomain.com:443 2>/dev/null | openssl x509 -noout -dates

Can I renew my SSL certificate before it expires?

Yes, most certificate authorities allow you to renew your SSL certificate up to 90 days before expiration. Renewing early does not shorten your certificate's validity period.

What should I do after renewing my SSL certificate?

After renewal, you must install the new certificate on your server and reload or restart your web server (e.g., Nginx or Apache) to apply the changes. Then, verify the certificate is active using SSL checking tools.

How do I enable auto-renewal for my SSL certificate?

Check your certificate authority's dashboard or documentation for auto-renewal options. Some CAs support automated renewal via ACME protocols (e.g., Let's Encrypt), while others require manual setup or payment confirmation.

Why didn't I receive a renewal notification?

Common reasons include outdated or incorrect contact email addresses in your CA account, email filters marking notifications as spam, or notifications being sent to an unmonitored mailbox. Always verify your contact details with your CA.

Found this issue on your site?

Run a scan to see if SSL Certificate Expires in 40 Days affects your pages.

Scan my website →