How to renew an SSL certificate

The certificate expiration date is encoded in its body and cannot be changed. To extend the secure connection, it is necessary to replace the expiring certificate on hosting server by a new one with an extended validity period. For this, please follow the steps below:

Purchase renewal SSL
Activate renewal SSL
Validate renewal SSL
Install renewal SSL

Step 1: Purchase renewal SSL

The option to purchase an SSL renewal becomes available 30 days before its expiration. The email and account notifications will let you know about the necessity to renew your SSL in time.

You can add renewal for your SSL to your cart from the following options:

Via Renewal email:

The renewal notifications are sent to the account email address 30, 15, 7 and 1 day prior to expiration date.

To start the renewal process via the renewal email, open it.

Click Renew now, and you’ll be redirected to cart.

Once you complete the purchase, activate SSL, and install it.

Via the Expiring/Expired tab:

Log in to your Namecheap account;
Navigate to Expiring/Expired >> Products in your Namecheap account. Then click the cart icon next to the certificate you want to renew. You will be redirected to cart.

Via the SSL Certificates list:

In order to use this option, log in to your Namecheap account and locate the SSL Certificates menu within your account Dashboard.

You'll see all the certificates listed on the next page. The expiring certificate will have a Renew button near it.

Via the Early SSL Renewal option:

Since January 2019, it is possible to renew SSL certificate during domain renewal earlier than 30 days before the SSL expiration (up to 120 days prior to the expiration date) if both services are purchased with Namecheap.

Note, that all the remaining days of the existing certificate will be added to the renewal one as usual.

For this, make sure you add the renewal certificate to the Shopping Cart along with the domain renewal. The certificate associated with this domain name will be given as a suggested item to renew.

Once the SSL renewal item is added to the order and purchased along with renewal domain, please proceed with the below steps getting it activated and installed.

Please keep in mind that if your domain is using Namecheap Shared hosting and the renewal certificate is either PositiveSSL or EssentialSSL, our "Namecheap SSL" cPanel plugin will install the renewal certificate automatically right after its purchase, please refer to this guide.

Step 2: Activate renewal SSL

Generate a new CSR code from your hosting control panel or contact your hosting provider for assistance;
Go to the SSL Certificates tab;
Click Activate next to the newly purchased renewal SSL:

You will get to the same activation flow as for the expiring SSL.

Note: If your domain is using Namecheap Stellar Hosting, you may activate your PositiveSSL and EssentialSSL certificates using our exclusive cPanel plugin as described here.

Step 3: Validate renewal SSL

Complete the DCV using the method you’ve chosen during activation:

Add CNAME record
Upload a validation file
Receive an email

If you’re renewing an OV or EV, certificate authority may request company re-validation, which requires paperwork.

Important for OV/EV owners:

To speed up OV/EV issuance, please make sure that legal company info you submit during activation is identical to public listings (DnB, Bloomberg, qualified governmental information sources).

Step 4: Install renewal SSL

To install your updated SSL certificate please refer to SSL installation guide or contact your hosting provider for assistance.

Updated

7/16/2024

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