How to Install an SSL Certificate in DirectAdmin #

An SSL certificate encrypts traffic between your website and visitors, enabling ‘https://‘ and the padlock icon in browsers. DirectAdmin offers three distinct ways to get one — pick the path that matches your needs.

Option 1: Free Automatic Certificate (Let’s Encrypt) #

The fastest path for most sites — free, auto-renewing, and requires no paperwork.

1. Log in to your DirectAdmin control panel by accessing https://yourdomain:2222
2. Click on the SSL Certificates button (under Account Manager)
3. Select Free & automatic certificate from Let’s Encrypt.
4. Click Save.

**Note:** Let’s Encrypt certificates are domain-validated only (they confirm you control the domain, not your business identity). This is fine for the vast majority of sites, including most e-commerce. If your payment processor or compliance requirements specifically call for an Organization or Extended Validation certificate, use Option 2 instead.

Option 2: Purchased Certificate from a Commercial Vendor #

If you need an Organization Validation (OV) or Extended Validation (EV) certificate, or a specific vendor your business already uses:

1. Log in to your DirectAdmin control panel by accessing https://yourdomain:2222
2. Click on the SSL Certificates button (under Account Manager)
3. Select Create a Certificate Request (not “self-signed”) to generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) and private key together.
4. Copy the generated CSR and submit it to your chosen Certificate Authority (e.g., DigiCert, Sectigo, GoDaddy) to purchase the certificate.
5. Once the CA issues your certificate, return to the SSL Certificates page and paste the certificate they provide into the Paste a pre-generated Certificate and Key field.
6. Click Save.

Option 3: Self-Signed Certificate (Testing Only) #

A self-signed certificate encrypts traffic but isn’t verified by any CA — browsers will show a “not secure” or “not trusted” warning. Use this only for internal testing or staging environments, never for a public or e-commerce site.

1. Log in to your DirectAdmin control panel by accessing https://yourdomain:2222
2. Click on the SSL Certificates button (under Account Manager)
3. Select Create your own self-signed certificate.
4. Enter the required details and click Save.