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SSL Certificate Expires in 56 Days

Your website's SSL certificate is set to expire in 56 days. You need to renew it soon to maintain secure HTTPS connections and avoid browser security warnings o

By Seoxpert Editorial · Published · Updated

Why it matters

An expired SSL certificate triggers browser security warnings, which can deter users and erode trust. This can result in significant traffic loss and negatively impact your site's search engine rankings, as HTTPS is a ranking factor. Timely renewal is essential for maintaining both security and SEO performance.

Impact

If the SSL certificate is not renewed before expiration, users will see security errors when visiting your site. This can lead to lost conversions, decreased traffic, and potential removal from search engine indexes. APIs or integrations relying on HTTPS will also fail, potentially breaking site functionality.

How it's detected

This issue is typically detected by automated monitoring tools, server management dashboards, or notifications from your Certificate Authority (CA). Web browsers may also display warnings if the certificate is close to expiring.

Common causes

  • Forgetting to renew the SSL certificate manually
  • Auto-renewal not enabled or failing
  • Renewal notifications sent to an inactive email
  • Certificate Authority (CA) account issues
  • Domain validation problems during renewal

How to fix it

Log in to your certificate authority (CA) dashboard and schedule a renewal within the next 30 days. Enable auto-renewal if your CA supports it, and verify that renewal notifications are sent to an actively monitored email address. After renewal, confirm the new certificate is installed and valid on your server. Test your site using SSL validation tools to ensure proper installation.

Code examples

Check SSL certificate expiration date (Linux)

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

Install new SSL certificate (Nginx example)

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 config ...
}

Install new SSL certificate (Apache example)

<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/ca-bundle.crt
    # ... other config ...
</VirtualHost>

FAQ

What happens if my SSL certificate actually expires?

If your SSL certificate expires, browsers will display prominent security warnings to users, and many will refuse to connect. This can result in lost traffic, broken integrations, and damage to your site's reputation.

How can I check the expiration date of my SSL certificate?

You can use online tools like SSL Labs' SSL Test, or run a command such as 'openssl s_client -connect yourdomain.com:443' and check the 'notAfter' date in the certificate details.

Will renewing my SSL certificate cause downtime?

No, if you renew and install the new certificate before the current one expires, there should be no downtime. However, improper installation or configuration can cause temporary issues.

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

Most major Certificate Authorities offer auto-renewal options in their dashboard. Check your CA's documentation or support for specific instructions. For Let's Encrypt, use automated tools like Certbot.

Do I need to update my server configuration after renewing the certificate?

Yes, after renewing, you must install the new certificate files on your server and reload or restart your web server software (e.g., Nginx or Apache) to apply the changes.

Will renewing my SSL certificate change my site's SEO rankings?

Renewing your SSL certificate maintains your site's secure status and avoids negative SEO impacts. Letting it expire can harm rankings, but simply renewing does not directly improve them.

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