SSL Certificate Renewal Guide: What to Do Before It Expires?
· Guide
SSL certificate validity is currently capped at 398 days. Letting it expire causes browsers to display a full-screen "Your Connection Is Not Private" warning, destroying user trust instantly.
Consequences of Expiry
Full-page browser warnings, potential search ranking drops, blocked payment flows on e-commerce sites, and serious reputational damage for corporate users.
When to Start Renewal
Begin 30–45 days before expiry. This buffer accommodates CA validation delays and server configuration issues.
Renewal Steps
1. Generate a new CSR (recommended: new key pair for security). 2. Submit to your CA and complete validation. 3. Install the new certificate and updated intermediate chain. 4. Verify HTTP→HTTPS redirects still work. 5. Run an SSL Labs test to confirm correct configuration.
Automated Renewal
Let's Encrypt users can set up automatic renewal via Certbot/ACME. For paid certificates, PekiSSL's renewal notification system removes the burden of manual tracking.
Visit the PekiSSL product page to find the right certificate for your needs.