Installing a free SSL certificate manually using SSH gives you full control and works perfectly on Namecheap cPanel hosting. This guide uses acme.sh with Let's Encrypt.
Requirements June
Before you begin, ensure:
- Your domain is pointed to your Namecheap hosting
- SSH access is enabled in cPanel
- Website is accessible via HTTP (not forced HTTPS yet)
- Port 80 is open
Step 1: Login to SSH
Connect using Terminal or PuTTY.
Step 2: Install acme.sh
Run:
curl https://get.acme.sh | sh
Then reload your environment:
source ~/.bashrcStep 3: Verify Installation
Check if acme.sh is installed:
ls -a && pwd
You should see a .acme.sh folder in your home directory.
Step 4: Generate SSL Certificate
Run the following command:
~/.acme.sh/acme.sh --issue -d yourdomain.com -d www.yourdomain.com -w /home/username/public_html/ --server letsencrypt
What this does:
- Verifies your domain
- Generates SSL certificate using Let's Encrypt
- Stores files in .acme.sh directory
Step 5: Install SSL in cPanel
Deploy the certificate automatically:
~/.acme.sh/acme.sh --deploy -d yourdomain.com --deploy-hook cpanel_uapi
This installs:
- SSL Certificate (CRT)
- Private Key
- CA Bundle
Final Check
Visit your site: https://yourdomain.com You should now see a secure lock.
Optional: Single Command Setup
You can issue and install SSL in one line:
~/.acme.sh/acme.sh --issue -d yourdomain.com -d www.yourdomain.com -w /home/username/public_html/ --server letsencrypt && ~/.acme.sh/acme.sh --deploy -d yourdomain.com --deploy-hook cpanel_uapiCommon Issues & Fixes
1. Incorrect webroot path
- Use correct path:
/home/username/public_html/2. Domain not resolving
- Check DNS settings in Namecheap
3. Port 80 blocked
- Disable firewall or contact hosting support
4. SSL installed but not working
- Add HTTPS redirect
- Clear browser cache
Manual SSL installation using SSH may look technical, but it's fast, reliable, and gives you full control over your certificates. Once set up, renewal is automatic—no extra work needed.