Manual installation applies when your cPanel hosting account requires you to install a certificate yourself. Check for an included or automatically managed certificate first. Managed WordPress, Website Builder and other platforms may handle installation differently.

Before installation

Confirm the domain names the certificate covers, the hosting account serving them and the certificate's expiry date. Complete the certificate request and validation, then obtain the issued certificate and chain from its issuer. The matching private key must be available to the server and kept secret.

Install in cPanel

  1. Open the intended hosting product and cPanel for the affected domain.
  2. Find the SSL/TLS certificate controls. Labels vary with cPanel version.
  3. Upload or select the issued certificate, then choose its installation action for the correct domain.
  4. Supply the matching private key and CA bundle if the panel requires them. Use the issuer's chain instructions rather than guessing the bundle order.
  5. Review the domain and save the installation.

Verify before redirecting

Open the intended hostname over HTTPS. Check that the certificate is valid for the name, trusted and served with its intermediate chain. Test both the root domain and www if both are used.

Once HTTPS works, configure the HTTPS redirect. Check renewal responsibility separately: installing a certificate does not guarantee automatic renewal.

Reference and product help

Manual cPanel certificate installation reference. If your account shows different controls, use the product help centre for your exact product.