How to add an SSL Certificate to Plesk

Get your Files

For the purposes of this example I’ve already ‘renewed’ my certificate (not ‘re-issued’ it) and gone through the validation process.

Once you’ve purchased your SSL certificate, download all of your certificate files. Instructions for this will vary depending on your hosting/certificate provider. I’ll be using the control panel for 1&1 IONIS in this example:

• Sign in to the 1&1 Control Panel (or other provider’s customer area)
• Click on ‘SSL Certificates’
• Click on your domain name
• From advanced settings download all of your certificate files (SSL, PFX, Intermediate etc)

Add SSL Certificate to Plesk

• Sign in to Plesk
• Go to ‘Websites & Domains’
• Click on ‘SSL/TLS Certificates’ for the appropriate domain name
• Click ‘Add SSL/TLS Certificate
• Fill out the general details: name, address, domain name, email etc
• Further down you’ll see ‘upload the certificate files’. You’re asked to attach a private key, certificate and CA certificate. For each of those attach the following:
  • Private key (*.key) = your file with .key extension
  • Certificate (*.crt) = your file with .cer extension (NOT intermediate)
  • CA certificate (*-ca.crt) = your file with .cer extension (intermediate)

Employ SSL

Lastly, you’ll need to associate your SSL certificate with your domain name and enable it:

• Sign in to Plesk
• Go to ‘Websites & Domains’
• Click on ‘Hosting Settings’ for the appropriate domain name
• Check the ‘SSL/TLS support’ check box and choose your certificate from the drop down list (the one you named earlier)
• Apply changes