Enable HTTPS for your website in DirectAdmin Печать

HTTPS encrypts traffic between visitors and your website. This guide covers a website managed in DirectAdmin, not the certificate for the hosting panel or your email service.

1. Check the domain and DNS first

• Make sure the domain is attached to the correct hosting account. Use the website IP supplied for your service, not a guessed server address.
• At your authoritative DNS provider, check the main domain and www if you use both. For web-based validation, each requested name must reach the hosting service answering the request. Its validation URL must be publicly reachable on HTTP port 80; ask support if it is blocked.
• Check A records for IPv4 and any AAAA records for IPv6. An old AAAA record pointing elsewhere can cause certificate validation to fail even when the A record is correct.
• Preserve your email MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC records and any mail-server address records. Enabling website HTTPS does not require moving email or changing nameservers.

If you use a CDN or proxy, ask support to confirm the validation route and certificate setup. Do not change proxy settings blindly. Cached DNS answers can remain until the previous TTL expires, so check the published records before retrying.

2. Check or request a certificate

1. Open your active hosting service in the ArkHost Client Area and select Login to DirectAdmin.
2. Select the website's domain and open SSL Certificates. In the Evolution layout this is usually under Account Manager; other layouts may differ.
3. Check whether a valid certificate is already installed and covers the names you use. If so, test HTTPS before requesting a replacement.
4. Where available, open ACME settings or select Free & automatic certificate from Let's Encrypt. The wording depends on the DirectAdmin version. If neither option is present, ask ArkHost to confirm the certificate method for your account.
5. Choose Let's Encrypt if a provider choice is offered. In the certificate request form, enter your main domain without https:// or a path, and a working email address if requested. Select only website names configured for this service, including www if needed and ready for validation. Do not select unrelated mail hostnames or a wildcard for this basic setup.
6. Save or submit the displayed request. Wait for a success result and check the certificate details. If validation fails, save the exact error and fix the cause before retrying.

3. Test HTTPS, then redirect HTTP

Open https:// followed by your domain. Check the browser's connection information: the certificate should be trusted, unexpired and valid for that hostname. Test www separately if used. Never bypass certificate warnings or enter passwords through them.

If HTTPS serves different files, contact support about the domain's public_html and private_html configuration. Do not delete either folder to fix it.

Once HTTPS works, enable Force SSL with https redirect in the domain settings if available. If the option is absent, ask support for the supported method. Avoid adding competing redirects in the panel, CMS and CDN. Reopen the HTTP address and confirm it reaches HTTPS without a loop.

4. Check content and renewal

Test pages, images and forms. Replace remaining HTTP asset links with HTTPS URLs where supported. DirectAdmin supports automatic ACME renewal, but validation must continue to work. Keep DNS correct and act on renewal errors. Send support your domain and exact error if issuance or renewal fails, not your private key or passwords.

Need help? Contact ArkHost support with your domain and the exact error.