How to Generate a CSR and Install an SSL Certificate in Plesk February 4, 2025

Securing your website with an SSL certificate protects user data and ensures trust. This guide will walk you through generating a Certificate Signing Request (CSR), ordering an SSL certificate, installing it in Plesk, and configuring your domain to use SSL.

Table of Contents:

• Generating a CSR in Plesk
• Ordering an SSL Certificate
• Installing the SSL Certificate in Plesk
• Configuring SSL for Your Domain

Generating a CSR in Plesk

A Certificate Signing Request (CSR) is required to obtain an SSL certificate. Follow these steps to generate a CSR in Plesk:

1. Log in to Plesk.
2. Navigate to Websites & Domains from the left sidebar.
   
3. Click SSL/TLS Certificates.
4. Select Add SSL/TLS Certificate.
   
5. Complete the certificate request form:
   • Certificate Name: Use your domain name for easy identification.
   • Domain Name: Enter your domain (e.g., www.example.com) to cover both example.com and www.example.com.
   • Email: Enter an email where the CSR will be sent.
6. Click Request to generate the CSR.
   
7. Navigate to the SSL Certificates page and select the generated certificate.
8. Scroll down to the CSR section and copy the entire text, including BEGIN CERTIFICATE REQUEST and END CERTIFICATE REQUEST headers.

Ordering an SSL Certificate

Once you have the CSR, you can order an SSL certificate from your preferred SSL provider. The following steps outline the process:

1. Log in to your SSL provider’s portal.
2. Navigate to the SSL certificate ordering section.
3. Choose your preferred SSL certificate type.
4. Enter your domain name and paste the CSR text from Plesk.
5. Fill in the required contact details and complete the order.
6. After validation, the SSL provider will send the certificate to your registered email.

Installing the SSL Certificate in Plesk

After obtaining the SSL certificate, follow these steps to install it:

1. Log in to Plesk.
2. Navigate to Websites & Domains > SSL/TLS Certificates.
3. Select the SSL certificate you created earlier.
4. Scroll to the Upload the certificate as text section:
   • Paste the Certificate (.crt) content, including the BEGIN CERTIFICATE and END CERTIFICATE headers.
   • If the CA Certificate (*-ca.crt) is not automatically filled, paste the Intermediate Certificate bundle manually.
5. Click Upload Certificate to complete the installation.
   

Configuring SSL for Your Domain

After installing the SSL certificate, enable SSL support for your domain:

1. Log in to Plesk.
2. Navigate to Websites & Domains.
3. Click Hosting Settings.
   
4. Under Security, check the box for SSL Support.
5. From the Certificate dropdown, select the installed SSL certificate.
6. Click on the Save button to save the changes.
   

Your domain is now secured with SSL, ensuring encrypted connections for visitors.

By following these steps, you can effectively secure your website with SSL in Plesk, ensuring enhanced encryption and trust. This enhances security, boosts trust, and improves search engine rankings. If you encounter any issues, reach out to our support team.

For managing service SSL certificates in WHM, check out our guide on How to manage service SSL certificates in WHM