SSL Certificate Errors: What They Mean And How To Fix Them

When your browser shows an SSL error, your visitors can’t access your site, and your credibility is on the line. These errors pop up for different reasons, but each has a fix. This guide explains the most common SSL certificate errors, explains their causes, and shows how to fix each one.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Every SSL certificate error has a specific cause and a direct fix.
• Always identify the root cause before reinstalling or replacing a certificate.
• Use free SSL checker tools to diagnose errors fast.
• Auto-renewal and SSL monitoring prevent most errors before they happen.
• A hosting provider with free SSL and managed installation removes the guesswork entirely.

SSL Certificate Error? Here’s How to Fix it

Most SSL errors happen because of common problems. Here’s where to start:

First, check if your certificate has expired. If it has, renew it immediately. Next, ensure the certificate is installed correctly on your server. A bad configuration triggers errors even when the certificate itself is valid. Then, confirm that the certificate matches your exact domain name. Finally, update any HTTP links on your site to HTTPS to avoid mixed content warnings.

What is an SSL Certificate?

An SSL certificate is a small file that encrypts the data flowing between your visitor’s browser and your web server. It works as a secure tunnel so passwords, payment details, and personal information can travel without anyone else seeing them.

Before a browser loads your site, it checks for a valid SSL certificate. If one is found, the browser displays a padlock icon and an HTTPS prefix in the address bar, which informs visitors they can trust your site with their information. These certificates are issued and verified by trusted organizations called Certificate Authorities (CAs).

Why SSL Errors Happen

SSL certificate errors appear when a browser cannot confirm that your certificate is valid or trustworthy. On every page load, the browser runs a quick check on your SSL certificate. If something doesn’t pass, it blocks the site and shows a warning instead.

One of the most common triggers is an expired certificate. SSL certificates are valid for only one year, and if you miss the renewal date, browsers will flag your site immediately.

Configuration problems are another frequent cause. Maybe the certificate wasn’t installed correctly, the encryption settings on your server are outdated, or the certificate was issued for a different domain than the one your visitors are trying to reach.

The good news is that each of these errors has a clear fix to protect your website and visitors. In the next section, we explain every common SSL certificate error and show you exactly how to resolve it.

Most Common SSL Certificate Errors & How to Fix Them

Every SSL error has a specific cause and a direct fix. This section covers the most common ones you are likely to run into. Find the corresponding error and follow the steps to resolve it.

Expired SSL Certificate

An expired SSL certificate means the certificate has passed its valid date, and the browser no longer trusts it. As already discussed, SSL certificates are only valid for one year. If you don’t renew before that deadline, browsers will immediately stop trusting your site and display a warning to every visitor.

Here’s the SSL certificate expired fix:

1. Check your certificate’s expiration date in your hosting control panel or with your SSL provider.
2. If it’s still in its validity period, generate a new Certificate Signing Request (CSR) and reinstall it.
3. If it’s fully expired, purchase a new SSL certificate and have it installed on your server.
4. Then open your site in a browser and confirm that the https:// prefix appears in the address bar.

To avoid this in the future, turn on auto-renewal if your provider supports it. If you’re hosting with Hosted.com®, the AutoSSL feature automatically renews your certificate every three months.

Our team also handles SSL installation for you, so you won’t have to worry about the technical setup.

SSL Certificate Not Trusted

This error means the browser can’t verify who issued your certificate, so it blocks the site to protect visitors.

It usually occurs when the certificate was issued by a Certificate Authority (CA) that the browser doesn’t recognize. It can also appear if you’re using a self-signed certificate or if the certificate has been tampered with.

Here’s how to fix it:

1. Replace the certificate with one from a trusted, widely recognized CA. Virtually all browsers accept providers like Comodo, Certum, and RapidSSL.
2. If you’re using a self-signed certificate, switch to a proper CA-issued one. Self-signed certificates work for internal testing, but they will always trigger warnings on a live site.
3. Reinstall the new certificate on your hosting server to ensure everything is configured properly.

If you’re unsure which CAs are trusted, Mozilla maintains a public list of recognized Certificate Authorities to reference.

Domain Name Mismatch

This error means the domain name on your SSL certificate doesn’t match the URL the browser is trying to reach. So, the browser treats it as a security risk and blocks access.

There are a few reasons this occurs. The certificate might have been issued for a different domain entirely. Or, you may have moved your site to a new domain but never updated the certificate. It can also show up when your current certificate doesn’t cover a subdomain.

Here’s how to fix it:

1. Check the domain listed on your certificate and compare it with the URL visitors use to reach your site.
2. If they don’t match, issue a new certificate that covers your exact domain name.
3. If you recently changed domains, update your DNS records and get a new certificate for the updated domain.

However, if the error involves a subdomain, consider getting a Wildcard SSL certificate. It covers your primary domain and all its subdomains under a single certificate.

IMPORTANT:

DNS updates can take up to 48 hours to fully propagate, so you may still briefly see this error after making changes.

Revoked SSL Certificate

A revoked certificate means the CA that issued the SSL has canceled it before its expiration date. Once revoked, the certificate can’t be used again, and browsers will block your site until it’s replaced.

This usually happens for one of three reasons:

• Fraudulent or incorrect information was submitted during the certificate application.
• The certificate’s private key was compromised.
• The wrong type of certificate was issued in the first place.

Here’s how to fix it:

1. Before doing anything else, find out why the certificate was revoked. Contact your CA directly if the reason isn’t clear, because you should address the root issue before installing a replacement.
2. Purchase a new SSL certificate from a trusted CA.
3. Generate a new Certificate Signing Request (CSR) from your server. This ensures the new certificate is tied to your current domain and server details.
4. Then, install the new certificate and verify that your site loads with the https:// prefix.

Untrusted Certificate Authority

These SSL certificate errors mean the browser doesn’t recognize the organization that issued your SSL. It’s different from the SSL Certificate Not Trusted error we covered above. That one is about the certificate itself failing verification. This one is specifically about the issuer not being on the browser’s approved list.

Remember, every browser comes with a built-in list of trusted CAs. If your certificate was signed by a CA, but isn’t on the browser’s trusted list, the browser has no way to verify its legitimacy and will block your site as a result. This also happens when a self-signed certificate is used, since no third-party CA has verified it.

Here’s how to fix it:

1. Find out which CA issued your current certificate. You can do this by clicking the tune icon in your browser’s address bar, selecting Connection is secure, and then clicking Certificate is valid to view the certificate details.
2. If the issuer isn’t a recognized CA, generate a new CSR from your server.
3. Submit the CSR to a trusted CA and get a new certificate issued.
4. Install the replacement certificate on your server and confirm that the error is gone.

IMPORTANT:

If you’re a Hosted.com® client, you don’t need to worry about this. Your web hosting plan already includes free SSL certificates from trusted CAs, which ensures 99.9% compatibility across all major web browsers and mobile devices.

SSL Mixed Content Error

A mixed-content error means your page loads over HTTPS, but some elements still load over HTTP. Those elements could be images, scripts, stylesheets, or embedded videos. Because some part of the page isn’t encrypted, the browser flags the entire page as insecure.

This usually happens after a website changes from HTTP to HTTPS, but not all the internal links and resources are updated. It can also appear when third-party content embedded on your page doesn’t support HTTPS.

Here’s how to fix it:

1. First, find exactly which resources are causing the issue. Open your browser’s developer tools (press F12), navigate to Console and look for mixed-content warnings. They will tell you which URLs are still loading over HTTP.
2. Update all internal URLs across your site from HTTP to HTTPS. If you’re running WordPress, a plugin like SSL Insecure Content Fixer can handle this in a few clicks.
3. For any third-party resources that don’t support HTTPS, either replace them with HTTPS-enabled alternatives or remove them from your site entirely.
4. Set up a server-level redirect to force all HTTP traffic to HTTPS. This prevents mixed content issues from creeping back in after future updates.

For your convenience, we’ve covered all these steps in detail in the article, How To Fix Mixed Content Error in WordPress.

Generic SSL Protocol Error

This error means something went wrong during the SSL connection, but the browser can’t pinpoint a single cause. It’s one of the more frustrating SSL certificate errors because the message itself doesn’t tell you much.

Here, the problem usually comes down to one of three items:

• The certificate wasn’t installed correctly on the server.
• The server is using outdated encryption algorithms.
• A firewall is interfering with the SSL connection.

Here’s how to fix it:

1. Start by verifying that the certificate is installed on the correct server and matches the correct domain name. A mismatch here can trigger this generic error instead of a more specific one.
2. Check your server’s encryption settings. Your server should be running TLS 1.2 or TLS 1.3. Older protocols like TLS 1.0 and 1.1 are no longer considered secure and can cause connection failures.
3. Review your firewall rules and ensure they aren’t blocking port 443, which is the port used for HTTPS traffic.

If none of the above resolves it, reinstall the certificate from scratch. A clean installation often clears issues that are hard to diagnose individually.

IMPORTANT:

We’ve covered the most common SSL error fixes in different tutorials, which you can find in the Browser Errors category on our Articles page.

Get Your Trusted SSL Certificate

How to Check Your SSL Certificate for Errors

Whether you’ve already spotted an error or wish to ensure everything is working correctly, it’s important to run a proper check before making any changes. You can do this with online tools or directly through your browser.

SSL Checker Tools

These three free tools can scan your certificate and tell you exactly what’s going on:

1. TrackSSL monitors your SSL certificate for validity, expiry dates, and CA authenticity. It also tracks any changes made to the certificate over time, which is useful if you want ongoing alerts rather than a one-time check.
2. SSL Certificate Checker scans your domain to confirm that your certificate is installed correctly and still valid. It displays details about the issuing CA and the expiration date. The tool also includes a CSR generator if you need to create one during the fix process.
3. SSL Server Test by SSL Labs goes deeper than the others. It performs a full analysis of your server’s SSL configuration, including key size, signature algorithm, and encryption strength. If you’re dealing with a stubborn error and need a detailed breakdown, this is the tool to use.

Manual Browser Check

You don’t always need a third-party tool to fix SSL certificate errors. Every major browser lets you inspect your SSL certificate directly from the address bar.

1. Look for the Connection is secure option after clicking the Tune icon on the left side of your URL. If it’s missing or shows a warning symbol, there’s a problem with your certificate.
2. Confirm that the URL starts with https://. If it shows http:// instead, the certificate either isn’t installed or isn’t active.
3. Click Connection is secure, then the Certificate is valid to view the certificate details. This will show you the issuing CA, the expiration date, and the domain the certificate was issued for. Compare those details against your actual domain to spot any mismatches.

Step-by-Step: How to Fix SSL Errors

If you’re unsure which error you’re dealing with or where to begin, follow this process from start to finish. It works for any SSL certificate error.

Step 1: Identify the Error Message

First, read the exact error message your browser is showing. Most browsers will tell you whether the certificate has expired, isn’t trusted, or is mismatched with the domain. Once you know which error you’re facing, scroll up to the corresponding section in this guide for specific instructions on how to fix it.

Step 2: Check Certificate Status

Run your domain through one of the SSL checker tools mentioned earlier.

Pay attention to three things:

• SSL certificate’s expiry date.
• The CA that issued it.
• Whether the domain on the certificate matches the one your visitors are using.

This step helps you confirm the error and catch any additional issues you might have missed.

Step 3: Fix the Root Cause

Don’t jump straight to reinstalling. If the SSL certificate has expired, it needs to be renewed. If the CA isn’t trusted, you need a new certificate from a recognized provider. However, if it’s a mixed-content issue, the URLs on your site need updating. Address the actual cause first, or the same error will return.

Step 4: Reinstall or Replace the SSL Certificate

Once the root issue is resolved, install the certificate on your server. If the original certificate was revoked or was issued by an untrusted CA, you will need a completely new one rather than reinstalling it.

Step 5: Test Again

After installation, clear your browser cache and reload your site. Check for the https:// prefix. Then, run your domain through an SSL checker tool one more time to ensure everything passes cleanly.

How to Prevent SSL Certificate Errors

Fixing SSL errors is crucial but preventing them in the first place will save you time and protect your visitors from seeing warning screens.

Here’s how to prevent it:

• Enable Auto-Renewal: Most SSL providers and hosting platforms allow you to turn on automatic renewal. This ensures your certificate is renewed before the expiration date, so you never have to deal with an expired certificate catching you off guard.
• Set Up SSL Monitoring: A tool like TrackSSL can send you alerts when your certificate approaches its expiry date, or when anything about it changes unexpectedly. It’s a simple way to stay ahead of problems instead of reacting to them after visitors are already affected.
• Use a Trusted Provider: Always get your certificate from a CA recognized by browsers. Our SSL certificates are issued by trusted CAs and include free installation on their servers, eliminating the risk of configuration errors during setup.
• Enforce HTTPS Site-Wide: Set up a server-level redirect to automatically redirect all your HTTP traffic to HTTPS. This prevents mixed content issues from sneaking in whenever you add new content, update plugins, or embed third-party resources down the road.

Fix SSL Errors Fast with Reliable Hosting

SSL certificate errors are always easier to prevent than to fix after the damage is done. With Hosted.com®, every cPanel Web Hosting and WordPress Hosting plan comes with a free SSL certificate. The team handles installation for you, so there’s no room for configuration mistakes. And, if something ever goes wrong, the Hosted.com® support team is ready to assist.

Need a standalone certificate? Browse our SSL certificate options and get your site secured today.

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