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Cannot issue Let's Encrypt Certificate or Renewal Failures Print

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Let's Encrypt is an amazing tool that allows you to issue free valid SSL Certificates on the domains that you host with us.

When issuing a certificate you may see an error like this one:
Let's Encrypt Error

This generally means one of two things:

  1. The domain or subdomain is not pointed at our service / we are not actively hosting the site.
  2. There is code within the '.htaccess' file of the domain that is preventing Let's Encrypt from accessing the verification file.


In the event that the domain is not pointed at us - the only solution is to point the domain at us.  Due to the way Let's Encrypt verifies domains it is not possible to issue a certificate for a domain that we are not actively hosting.  This isn't a limitation we've put in place - but simply due to the nature of the file verification process.

Please note unless you are using our Nameserver records subdomains may not be pointed at our hosting. Each subdomain that Lets Encrypt attempts to renew needs a valid A record pointing to the accounts IP address.  

If the domain is pointing at our servers then there is a good chance that the '.htaccess' file in the folder for the domain is preventing Let's Encrypt from accessing the verification file.  The solution to this issue is to add the following lines to the top of the '.htaccess' file in the folder for the domain:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^.well-known - [L]

Should you still have issues with Let's Encrypt do please reach out to our Technical Support department and we'll be happy to assist you.


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