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Here is how to view a free SSL certificate that is included with your web hosting plans that provides essential encryption for your website at no additional cost. This SSL secures the data exchanged between your website and its visitors, protecting it from interception or tampering. Once active, the certificate enables HTTPS and displays a padlock icon in the browser, confirming that the connection is secure.
The free SSL certificate is issued automatically and is well-suited to personal websites, blogs, portfolios, and small business sites that do not require advanced validation. It uses the same strong encryption standards as paid SSL certificates, but relies on automated domain validation and renewals for convenience.
Free SSL certificates are issued with a three-month validity period and are automatically renewed, provided the hosting account remains active and the domain continues to point to the correct server. While automatic renewal is designed to be seamless, configuration changes or validation issues can occasionally interrupt the renewal process. For this reason, it is important to verify that the SSL certificate is active and correctly applied.
This guide explains how to view, verify, and manage the free SSL certificate included with your Hosted.com® web hosting plan.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
How to View a Free SSL Certificate
1. Login to your Hosted.com® account dashboard.
2. Open the Manage Services menu and select Login to Your Hosting Account to access cPanel.
3. Scroll to the Security section and click SSL/TLS Status.
4. Review your domain status to confirm whether the SSL certificate is installed.
5. Click the Run AutoSSL button on the right-hand side to generate or reinstall the free SSL certificate if necessary.
Once completed, AutoSSL will attempt to issue or renew the certificate automatically.
Install or Reinstall a Free SSL Your Hosted.com® Account
1. Login to your Hosted.com® account dashboard.
2. Open the Manage Services menu and select SSL Certificates.
3. If you need an additional certificate, click Add SSL Certificate.
4. Choose your hosting plan and domain.
The system will automatically generate and install the free SSL certificate for your selected domain.
Once installation is complete, your website will be accessible via https://, and the padlock icon will appear in your browser.
Additional Information
- The free SSL certificate included with your hosting plan uses industry-standard encryption and provides the same level of data protection as paid SSL certificates.
- Free SSL certificates are valid for three months and are automatically renewed as long as the hosting service remains active, and domain validation requirements are met.
- If automatic renewal fails, browsers may display security warnings or block access to the website until the SSL issue is resolved.
- Mixed content warnings usually occur when images, scripts, or links are still loading over HTTP instead of HTTPS.
- Websites built with content management systems such as WordPress may require additional configuration or plugins to ensure all content loads securely over HTTPS.
- While free SSL certificates are suitable for many websites, businesses that require uninterrupted security, longer validity periods, or higher trust indicators may benefit from upgrading to a paid SSL certificate.
- Purchased SSL certificates provide greater control, predictable renewals, and added peace of mind, helping ensure your website is constantly secure.
- Hosted.com® support is available to assist with SSL activation, renewals, HTTPS configuration, and troubleshooting if required.
Login to Hosted.com® Account
1. Go to the Hosted.com® website Account Login page.
2. Enter your Email and Password and click the Sign In button.
3. You will see the Hosted.com® Dashboard, displaying the Manage Account menu on the left and your Account Information, Account Overview and Open Support Tickets on the right.
Login to cPanel from your Hosted.com® Dashboard
4. Click on Manage Services to view the sub-dropdown menu and select the hosting package for the domain you want to work with – in our example we are using WordPress Hosting.
5. Click the Manage button to the right of the domain name you want to access.
6. The display will now show Product Information, Quick Manage, Resource Usage and Site Statistics for that domain name.
7. Under Product Information, scroll down to Control Panel, which will display cPanel to the right, and click on the Login button.
8. The cPanel Dashboard will now be displa
