Auto-Install SSL Premium manages free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates from WordPress. It automates domain ownership verification, certificate generation and renewal, with installation options that depend on your hosting access.

Certificate generation and renewal

Let’s Encrypt certificates are valid for 90 days, and renewal is recommended 30 days before expiry. Premium schedules automatic renewal 30 days before expiry using a cron job, so you do not need to configure a separate cron job manually. Let’s Encrypt account registration and Certificate Signing Request generation are also automatic.

Automatic certificate installation requires cPanel or root access. If neither is available, the first installation can be completed manually, with documentation provided. Automatic installation may also be possible on a VPS or dedicated server without cPanel; contact the provider after purchase to discuss this setup.

Wildcard certificates and DNS

A wildcard certificate covers a domain and its subdomains. Premium can make wildcard certificates and automatically set the DNS TXT record used for domain verification through Cloudflare, GoDaddy, Namecheap or cPanel. The extension supports WordPress Multisite and sites hosted on cPanel or web hosting.

HTTPS settings and support

After the certificate is installed, one-click Force SSL activation enables an HTTPS redirect and helps address insecure links and mixed-content warnings. You can also use the one-click option to revert to HTTP if required. Premium includes one-to-one support and SSL installation training for non-cPanel websites. The unlimited websites license also includes certificate revocation and Let’s Encrypt account-key changes.

Requirements and setup

The stated minimum requirements are Linux or Windows hosting, WordPress 4.1 or later, PHP 5.6 or later, the OpenSSL and cURL extensions, an accessible domain name and a web server that can serve static files.

After installing and activating the plugin, use the Premium controls to verify the domain and generate the certificate. Choose automatic installation when cPanel or root access is available; otherwise, follow the manual installation documentation for the first certificate. Once installed, activate Force SSL to redirect visitors to HTTPS. For a wildcard certificate, choose a supported DNS provider so the plugin can set the verification TXT record.