---
title: "SSL Certificates - Let's Encrypt & Custom | FPS.ms"
description: "Set up free Let's Encrypt SSL or upload custom certificates on your FPS.ms web hosting. Verify SSL status and troubleshoot issues."
url: https://fps.ms/docs/webhosting/ssl-certificates
---
# SSL Certificates

SSL certificates encrypt the connection between your visitors and your website, showing the padlock icon in the browser. FPS.ms supports free Let's Encrypt certificates and custom SSL uploads.

## Requesting a free Let's Encrypt certificate

Let's Encrypt provides free, automatically renewed SSL certificates.

1. Go to the **SSL** section of your web hosting server
2. Select the domain you want to secure
3. Click **Request Let's Encrypt**
4. Choose whether to include the `www` subdomain (enabled by default)
5. Click **Request**

The certificate is typically issued within a few minutes.

!!! warning "DNS Must Point to Your Server"
    Your domain's A record must already point to your hosting server's IP before requesting a Let's Encrypt certificate. The verification process requires your domain to be reachable on the hosting server.

## Uploading a custom SSL certificate

If you have a certificate from another provider:

1. Go to the **SSL** section and select your domain
2. Click **Upload Certificate**
3. Paste the following:
    - **Certificate** -- your SSL certificate (PEM format)
    - **Private Key** -- the matching private key
    - **CA Certificate** -- the intermediate/chain certificate (optional but recommended)
4. Click **Upload**

## Verifying SSL is active

After requesting or uploading a certificate:

1. Go to the **SSL** section and check the status for your domain
2. Visit your website using `https://` in your browser
3. Look for the padlock icon in the address bar

## Troubleshooting common SSL issues

- **Certificate not issuing:** Make sure your domain's DNS points to the hosting server. Let's Encrypt needs to verify domain ownership.
- **Mixed content warnings:** Your site loads over HTTPS but includes resources (images, scripts) using `http://`. Update all URLs to `https://` or use relative URLs.
- **Certificate expired:** Let's Encrypt certificates auto-renew. If renewal fails, request a new certificate manually.
- **Rate limits:** Let's Encrypt has issuance limits. If you hit a rate limit, wait an hour, delete the failed certificate, and try again.

!!! tip "Force HTTPS"
    After installing your certificate, update your site to redirect all HTTP traffic to HTTPS for the best security.

---

[FPS.ms](https://fps.ms/index.html.md) · [All pages](https://fps.ms/llms.txt) · [Documentation](https://fps.ms/docs/llms.txt)