Description
Auto-Install Free SSL
‘Auto Install Free SSL’ is the first WordPress Plugin that Automatically issues and installs Free SSL Certificates.
Let’s Encrypt™ SSL Certificate is FREE. But they provide it through their API. If you are not a programmer, you need to study and practice programming for years to be able to use the API of Let’s Encrypt™ to generate a single Free SSL Certificate for your WordPress website.
Here is where ‘Auto-Install Free SSL’ comes into play. This WordPress plugin provides a hassle-free way to obtain and install the Let’s Encrypt™ free SSL certificate for your website. You don’t need programming or coding experience to set it up. With this plugin, you don’t need to spend hours configuring SSL or waste money purchasing SSL certificates. All you need is a few minutes.
300,500+ DOWNLOADS!!
Minimum System Requirements
- Linux or Windows hosting
- WordPress 4.1
- PHP 5.6
- OpenSSL extension
- Curl extension
- PHP directive allow_url_fopen = On
- The website should be assigned to a domain name (e.g., example.com) accessible online.
FREE PLUGIN FEATURES
- Generate and renew Free SSL Certificate.
- One-click Download the generated SSL certificate, Private key, and CA Bundle files.
- Video tutorial on cPanel: (1) How to upload HTTP-01 challenge files to verify domain ownership. (2) How to Install the Free SSL Certificate.
- Written tutorial on Plesk for the above two topics.
- One-click Force SSL activation, i.e., HTTPS redirect, fix insecure links and mixed content warning, display the padlock in the browser’s address bar with ONLY ONE CLICK.
- One-click revert to HTTP if required.
- Automatic renewal reminder by email and admin notice before the SSL expiry date.
Use this plugin only for HTTPS redirects too.
If your WordPress website has an SSL certificate installed and you are looking ONLY for Force SSL activation (i.e., HTTPS redirect, fix insecure content), you can use the FREE version.
PREMIUM PLUGIN FEATURES
- Automatic Verification of Domain Ownership.
- Automatic Generation of Free SSL Certificate.
- Automatic Installation of Free SSL Certificate (cPanel or root access is required for this automation). [However, if you have neither cPanel nor root access, we’ll Install the SSL manually for the first time and provide documentation on how to install SSL manually].
- Automatic Renewal of Free SSL Certificate (30 days before expiry).
- Automatic Cron Job. No need to set the Cron Job manually.
- One-click Force SSL activation.
- One-click revert to HTTP if required.
- One-to-one Premium Support.
- Automatic WildCard SSL certificate for free! (Generation and installation of an SSL certificate for a domain that covers all its sub-domains.)
- Automatically sets the DNS TXT record to verify the domain and generate WildCard SSL (supported DNS service providers: Cloudflare, Godaddy, Namecheap, and cPanel.)
- Supports Multisite.
- Works on all the websites hosted on a cPanel / web hosting.
- SSL installation training for non-cPanel websites.
- If needed, you can revoke any SSL certificate and change your Let’s Encrypt™ account key.
Benefits of installing an SSL certificate on your WordPress website
-
Protect your users’ data: If an SSL certificate is installed, your WordPress website’s data travels through the internet with 2048-bit (or more) encryption. No computer or hacker in between can read your users’ encrypted data. Only the intended recipient (users’ browser or your server) can decrypt and read the encrypted data. The data may be credit card-like necessary payment details, user input with a contact form, or a simple login form.
-
Display PADLOCK: Installing an SSL certificate is not optional anymore, even if your WordPress website doesn’t accept credit cards. Since July 2018, with version 68, Google Chrome has started to mark all HTTP (no SSL) websites as ‘Not secure’, even if it doesn’t accept user input. All other browsers followed the same path. When users visit an SSL-secured website, all browsers display a secured PADLOCK in the address bar.
-
Boost the Search Engine Ranking: Google and other search engines aim to create a secure web. So, search engines now favor SSL-secured HTTPS websites and discourage insecure ones in the search results. If your WordPress website doesn’t have an SSL certificate installed, you are missing something significant regarding SEO and staying away from potential customers.
-
Gain the trust of your users: If users see the secured PADLOCK and HTTPS connection in the URL, they are assured that your website is secured. Now you are gaining the trust of your potential customers. They are confident to purchase your product or service.
Documentation
Please check the installation tab for documentation.
Support and Report a Bug
Please check the existing topics in the WordPress support forum before creating a new topic for support or reporting a bug.
‘AUTO-INSTALL FREE SSL’ IN YOUR LANGUAGE?
Translations can be added easily here if you want to translate in your language.
Credits
- Let’s Encrypt™
- I developed this plugin based on the PHP client/app ‘FreeSSL.tech Auto’, which I developed with a massive rewrite of Lescript.
- cPanel
Let’s Encrypt™ is a trademark of the Internet Security Research Group. All rights reserved.
Screenshots
Admin Menu of 'Auto-Install Free SSL' The first step to generating a Free SSL Certificate Second step: verify the domain by uploading the challenge files Final step: download the generated SSL files and install them on the server Only step [Pro]: one-click installation of Free SSL Certificate SSL certificate has been generated and installed with a single click [Pro] Information on the installed SSL from the browser The SSL will be automatically renewed before expiry [Pro] Email confirmation when the plugin automatically renews and install a free SSL certificate [Pro] Activate Force HTTPS and get the padlock with one-click Automated email with a link to revert to HTTP Revert to the HTTP option in the plugin's dashboard
Installation
(Please check the Details tab for MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS.)
Video Tutorial: [cPanel] How to install the plugin and generate & install a Free SSL Certificate for your WordPress website
Video Tutorial: [Plesk] How to install the plugin and generate & install a Free SSL Certificate for your WordPress website
AUTOMATIC INSTALLATION (POPULAR AND EASIEST)
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard (backend/ admin area).
- Then navigate to the ‘Plugins’ menu in the sidebar, and click the ‘Add New’ option.
- In the ‘Search plugins…’ field, type this keyword: ‘Auto-Install Free SSL’, or you may type ‘Auto-Install’ too.
- Once you find this plugin, click ‘More Details’ and the ‘Install Now’ button.
- Finally, click the ‘Activate’ button.
Now, check the AFTER ACTIVATION section below.
MANUAL INSTALLATION
- Download the ‘Auto-Install Free SSL’ plugin zip file by clicking the ‘Download’ button at the top-right of this page.
Now check either the cPanel or FTP section below. If your web hosting control panel is other than cPanel, the steps are similar to cPanel.
cPanel
- Log in to your cPanel and click the ‘File Manager’ menu.
- Browse to the document root of your WordPress website and then open the
/wp-content/plugins/
directory. - Click the ‘Upload’ menu at the top.
- You see a new window. Drag and drop the plugin’s zip file. It will be uploaded in a few seconds (depending on your internet connection speed). Click Go Back to the “/home/username/public_html/wp-site-document-root/wp-content/plugins” link at the bottom.
- Right-click on the plugin’s zip file, click ‘Extract’, and then click the ‘Extract Files’ button. After completion, you get Extraction Results. Click the ‘Close’ button here.
- Click the ‘Go’ button (at the top-left) to refresh the directory structure. You see the ‘auto-install-free-ssl’ directory here.
- Now check the point-number 2 below.
FTP
- Extract the plugin’s zip file to your computer. You see a folder ‘auto-install-free-ssl.3.3.1’ (the latest version in place of 3.3.1), and inside it, the ‘auto-install-free-ssl’ folder. You need to upload this.
- Log in to your web server with your favorite FTP client (e.g., FileZilla).
- Browse to the document root of your WordPress website and then the
/wp-content/plugins/
directory. - Upload the ‘auto-install-free-ssl’ folder here.
- Now check the point-number 2 below.
2.- Log in to your WordPress dashboard and go to the ‘Plugins’ page. You see, ‘Auto-Install Free SSL’ is listed here. Click the ‘Activate’ option here. You’re done!
AFTER ACTIVATION
After activating ‘Auto-Install Free SSL’, you’ll be redirected to a page (powered by freemius) where we request you opt-in to our security & feature update notifications and non-sensitive diagnostic tracking. You’ll get links there to learn about this in detail. Then you may or may not allow us to opt-in as you wish. We appreciate your help improving the plugin by letting us track a few non-sensitive usage data.
How to generate a Free SSL Certificate
Generating a free SSL certificate is straightforward. Please follow the steps below:
- After the previous step, you’ll be redirected to the Generate SSL page (in most cases). Otherwise, navigate to the ‘Auto-Install Free SSL’ menu in the sidebar, and click the ‘Generate SSL’ option. Screenshot here.
- On the next page, i.e., the ‘Generate Free SSL Certificate’ page, read & agree to the Let’s Encrypt Subscriber Agreement and FreeSSL.tech Terms of Service & Privacy Policy by clicking the relevant checkboxes. Then click the ‘Generate Free SSL’ button and ‘OK’ in the confirmation dialog box. Screenshot here.
- Wait a few seconds. Then you see the second step: ‘Verify Domain’. Please check the screenshot. You have two methods, HTTP-01 and DNS-01, to verify your domain ownership. You need to complete any one method. We are discussing only the HTTP-01 method, the most popular, easiest, and time-saving method.
HTTP-01
Please follow these steps:
- Log in to your web server with an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla) or the file manager of your web hosting control panel.
- Browse to the document root of your WordPress website. It will be like:
/home/username/public_html/wp-site
. Create a directory, ‘.well-known’ and another directory, ‘acme-challenge’, inside the ‘.well-known’ directory. - Click the links’ Challenge File 1′ and ‘Challenge File 2’ to download the HTTP-01 challenge files. Please remember that if the www. alias of your WordPress website doesn’t point to your web server (i.e., offline), you get only one challenge file.
- Upload the downloaded challenge files to the ‘acme-challenge’ directory.
- Uploaded files should be available at ‘Link 1’ and ‘Link 2’. Please click the links. The content/text of the links should EXACTLY match the content of the downloaded files. If it matches correctly, click the ‘Verify Domain & Get SSL’ button, and in the confirmation dialog box, click ‘OK’.
Now wait a few seconds, and you will see a free SSL certificate has been issued to your WordPress website. The page looks like this screenshot. Download the SSL, Private Key, and CA Bundle files (.pem) by clicking the links.
After this, log in to your web hosting control panel and install the SSL certificate on your WordPress website.
How to install the SSL certificate with cPanel
- Log in to your cPanel.
- Type ‘SSL’ in the ‘Search Tools’ text box (in the upper-right corner).
- You get a few search results instantly. Click on the ‘SSL/TLS’. (Don’t click the ‘SSL/TLS Status’.)
- On the SSL/TLS page, you get an option ‘INSTALL AND MANAGE SSL FOR YOUR SITE (HTTPS)’ at the bottom with a link ‘Manage SSL sites.’ Click it.
- On the next page, i.e., ‘Manage SSL Hosts’, you get a section at the bottom, ‘Install an SSL Website’. Here you get a form to install the SSL certificate.
- From the ‘Select a Domain’ drop-down menu, select the domain of your WordPress website.
- Open the ‘certificate.pem’ file (you downloaded it) in a text editor and copy all its content/text, including ‘—–BEGIN CERTIFICATE—–’ and ‘—–END CERTIFICATE—–’. Paste it in the ‘Certificate: (CRT)’ text area.
- Similarly, paste all the content of the ‘private.pem’ file in the ‘Private Key (KEY)’ text area.
- Then paste all the content of the ‘cabundle.pem’ file in the ‘Certificate Authority Bundle: (CABUNDLE)’ text area.
- Now click the ‘Install Certificate’ button and wait a few seconds. Then you get the confirmation dialog box ‘SSL Host Successfully Installed.’ Click ‘OK’.
How to install the SSL certificate with Plesk
- Log in to your Plesk control panel.
- Click the ‘Websites & Domains’ option in the left menu.
- Click on the website for which you need an SSL certificate. There are several options under it.
- Click the option ‘SSL/TLS Certificates’.
- Click the ‘Manage’ button on the next page in the ‘Download or remove existing certificates’ option.
- Click the ‘Add SSL/TLS Certificate’ button on the next page.
- You got the ‘Add SSL/TLS Certificate’ page.
- In the ‘Certificate Name’ text field, write a name.
- You got a section at the bottom of the page, ‘Upload the certificate as text’. Here you have a form to install the SSL certificate.
- Open the ‘certificate.pem’ file (you downloaded it) in a text editor and copy all its content, including ‘—–BEGIN CERTIFICATE—–’ and ‘—–END CERTIFICATE—–’. Paste it in the ‘Certificate’ text area of Plesk.
- Similarly, paste all the content of the ‘private.pem’ file in the ‘Private key’ text area of Plesk.
- Then paste all the content of the ‘cabundle.pem’ file in the ‘CA certificate’ text area of Plesk.
- Now click the ‘Upload Certificate’ button.
- The uploaded SSL certificate is listed on the next page.
- Again, click ‘Websites & Domains’ in the left menu.
- Click the website for which you need an SSL certificate.
- Click the ‘Hosting & DNS’ tab and the ‘Hosting Settings’ option.
- On the next page, i.e., the ‘Hosting Settings’ page, click the ‘Certificate’ selection field and select the certificate we just uploaded.
- Click the ‘Apply’ button and then click ‘OK’.
- Congratulations! The SSL certificate has been installed successfully.
Now you can access your website with ‘https://’.
The options will differ if your web hosting control panel is anything other than cPanel and Plesk, but the concept is similar.
NOTE: The free SSL certificate issued by Let’s Encrypt expires in 90 days. So you need to spend time repeating the process of generating and installing an SSL certificate every 60 days. They recommend renewing 30 days before expiry.
Click the ‘Re-generate (renew) SSL’ button to start renewing.
However, the premium version of this plugin generates (issue/renew) and installs the free SSL certificate automatically. Please check the video tutorial (1:42 min) below and see how easy it is.
Are you interested? Click here to BUY the PREMIUM VERSION.
How to Activate Force HTTPS / HTTPS Redirect
After installing the SSL certificate, please perform the following steps:
- In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to the ‘Auto-Install Free SSL’ menu in the sidebar, and click the ‘Force HTTPS’ menu.
- On the next page, click the ‘Activate Force HTTPS’ button. Then click OK.
- You’ll be logged out and redirected to the WordPress login page. Please log in again.
- Now refresh the website’s home page. You’ll see the padlock.
FAQ
-
How do I install the ‘Auto-Install Free SSL’ plugin?
-
Please check the installation tab.
-
Does installing the free SSL plugin will instantly turn my site into HTTPS?
-
Sorry, it doesn’t. Installing the plugin and installing SSL certificates are two different processes. After installing this plugin, you need to do some steps. Please check the ‘AFTER ACTIVATION’ section in the installation tab.
However, the Premium plugin installs SSL certificates with complete automation. Please check the video tutorial (1:42 min) at the top of this page and see how easy it is.
-
My website doesn’t accept credit cards. Why do I need an SSL certificate?
-
Please check the ‘Benefits of installing an SSL certificate on your WordPress website’ above.
-
How do I generate a free SSL certificate?
-
Please check the installation tab. This documentation is for the free version of the plugin.
If you want complete automation, please check the Premium version’s video tutorial (1:42 min) at the top of this page.
-
How do I install an SSL certificate on my WordPress website?
-
Please check the installation tab.
-
I see a blank page when I try to generate an SSL certificate. How can I fix it?
-
Please check the log. It is located in the plugin menu. Most probably, you see an error saying ‘unable to register the account’ along with the following text in the log:
urn:ietf:params:acme:error:invalidEmailLet’s Encrypt API throws this error if an invalid email was set as the admin email of your WordPress website, for example, “yourname@yourdomain.mamp” or “anything@example.com”. Let’s Encrypt expects we should register an account with a working email.
To fix this, please update this plugin to the latest version and try generating the SSL again. Then you’ll get a text field to update the admin email address.
Feel free to contact us through the WordPress support forum if you still need help with any issues (with the complete log).
-
I have installed an SSL certificate but still don’t see any PADLOCK in the browser’s address bar. Why?
-
Please visit the plugin’s ‘Force HTTPS’ page and click the ‘Activate Force HTTPS’ button.
-
How do I deactivate the HTTPS redirect?
-
Please click the ‘Revert to HTTP’ button on the plugin’s ‘Force HTTPS’ page.
Alternatively, open the email you received after activating the HTTPS redirect (or Force HTTPS) and click the link to deactivate HTTPS redirect and revert to HTTP. The subject line of that email is “‘Auto-Install Free SSL’ has activated Force HTTPS on your website YourDomain.com”. [Replace YourDomain.com with your WordPress website’s domain].
-
[Pro] Why do you need my cPanel password (or API Token) when other Let’s Encrypt clients don’t?
-
All other Let’s Encrypt clients who auto-install free SSL certificates need root access, a higher privilege than the cPanel user. In shared hosting, the root access belongs to the web hosting company. So those clients will not work on shared hosting.
cPanel username and password (or API Token) are required to install the free SSL certificate with the cPanel API automatically. Let’s Encrypt SSL’s lifetime is 90 days. You need to get and install another SSL certificate before the expiration of the current SSL. If you provide your cPanel username and password (or API Token), this plugin will do this repeated job automatically. All your credentials remain safe in your database. Moreover, ‘Auto-Install Free SSL’ encrypts the password (or API Token) before saving it in your database.
-
[Pro] Does this WordPress plugin send the cPanel username and cPanel password (or API Token) to your server or to Let’s Encrypt?
-
We or Let’s Encrypt don’t collect any credentials. This plugin’s source code is open for audit. The WordPress team approved it after the audit. Please feel free to audit yourself too.
-
[Pro] How do I create the cron job for automation?
-
You don’t need to set the Cron Job manually. It works by default (from version 3.0.0). However, ‘Auto-Install Free SSL’ can add an optional cron job with one click from your WordPress dashboard (available for unlimited sites license).
-
[Pro] I received the confirmation email but didn’t receive the cron output by email. Why?
-
Since version 3.0.0, You can access the cron output by clicking the ‘Log’ menu.
If you have an unlimited site license and created a cron job manually, ensure you have provided your email address in the ‘Cron Email’ section of the Cron Jobs page of cPanel.
Reviews
Contributors & Developers
“Free SSL Certificate Plugin, HTTPS Redirect, Renewal Reminder – Auto-Install Free SSL” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.
ContributorsInterested in development?
Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.
Changelog
3.4.0
- Improved the layout of all the steps to generate free SSL certificate and the free vs. premium comparison page.
- Refactored and created a few functions.
- Updated the Freemius WordPress SDK to version 2.5.5.
- Tested up to WordPress 6.2
3.3.2
- Fixed the issue with upgrade URL for the users who used the free premium license but now downgraded to free version.
- [Pro] Added cPanel username check to prevent using email id as cPanel username – display an error text if email id found.
3.3.1
- Fixed the issues with translation compatibility and made all the texts translation ready.
3.3.0
- Refactored to fix a bug where a fatal error would be thrown in combination with plugin that uses usrflo/registered-domain-libs library.
- Fixed CSS conflict in combination with Enable Media Replace plugin.
3.2.15
- Updated the signature of the automated emails.
- Updated display announcement.
- [Pro] New function to detect if the user can use wildcard SSL.
- [Pro] Improvement in code to smooth transition from free premium license (if the user was using wildcard SSL or multi-domain mode) to single or 5-site license.
3.2.14
- Added a new function to fetch the admin user’s last name.
- Added a new function to return the upgrade link for aifs_is_existing_user().
- Changed upgrade link for aifs_is_existing_user(). Previous link didn’t work in some installations.
3.2.13
- Improved the function for better detecting cPanel host.
- Fixed a bug that unexpectedly calls Generate SSL Manually Page (available for free version only) in some premium installations, which results in error of type E_ERROR.
- Updated the Freemius WordPress SDK to version 2.5.3.
- Updated display announcement.
3.2.12
- Improved the error handling at Step 1 of generating Free SSL Certificates.
- Updated the Freemius WordPress SDK to version 2.5.2.
- Changed the icon.
- Improved the function that returns first name of the WordPress admin.
3.2.11
- Improved the Let’s Encrypt ACME account key registration code.
- Fixed a bug with error handling at the Domain Ownership verification step.
3.2.10
- [Pro] Fixed issue with SSL generation where the license is not for unlimited sites and the ‘domain’ key returned by cPanel is other than the WordPress website’s domain.
- Added Force HTTPS override. If a valid SSL is installed but there is any issue activating Force HTTPS with the default option, it can be activated by accessing such URL (login required): http://www.example.com/wp-admin/admin.php?page=aifs_force_https&aifsaction=aifs_force_https_override&checked_ssl_manually=done&valid_ssl_installed=yes (Replace ‘www.example.com’ with your domain.)
3.2.9
- Fixed a bug: duplicate display in admin notice (caused since version 3.2.7).
3.2.8
- Fixed backward compatibility for older versions of WordPress for wp_date() function.
3.2.7
- Fixed the issue with renewal link in the SSL renewal reminder email.
- Fixed an issue with type casting in SSL renewal reminder with admin notice.
- Added an option to keep or delete plugin data on deactivation.
- Unschedule cron job event on deactivation.
3.2.6
- Improved the function that registers new ACME account.
- Added a feature to send SSL renewal reminder by email before the SSL expiry date.
3.2.5
- Updated LET’S ENCRYPT SUBSCRIBER AGREEMENT.
- Fixed an issue with the ‘Remind me later’ button of display review request admin notice.
- Added a feature to display SSL renewal reminder with admin notice.
3.2.4
- Improved footer links by using separate links for free and premium version.
- Improved logic of the submit button at manually generate SSL step 1 (free version) – now it does not display confirmation dialog if both checkboxes are selected.
- Improved the comparison table which will be displayed on the non-cPanel websites.
- Improved admin notice – if premium version, display review request only if the control panel is cPanel.
- Improved the instructions which will be displayed on the main page of the free version, after purchasing the premium.
3.2.3
- Added a new function to detect the document root of the WP installation instead of using $_SERVER[‘DOCUMENT_ROOT’].
- Improved the function getcPanelHost() that detects the cPanel host.
- [Pro] Display the video tutorial ‘How to Configure this Plugin and Set Up Automation in cPanel’ only on cPanel hosting (to avoid confusion on non-cPanel hosting).
3.2.2
- Added a new function to detect Plesk.
- Improved the logic of the documentation at SSL generation step 3 so that it can display the appropriate video with the specific control panel.
- Improved the comparison table.
- [Pro] Added (and replaced) ‘What’s next?’ information if the control panel is not cPanel so that users contact us for complete automation with an alternative method. Updated the same text in the log and automated email.
3.2.1
- Fixed the slow loading issue of the Generate SSL (manually) page on Windows and on non-cPanel Linux hosting if the open_basedir restriction is in effect.
- Improved text of the comparison table.
3.2.0
- Improved: Windows hosting is now supported for both free and Pro version.
- [Pro] Improved text of the starting page for the users who don’t have cPanel.
- [Pro] Fixed the double redirect issue after clicking the button in the starting page to generate SSL certificate (for the users who don’t have cPanel).
3.1.3
- Fixed an issue with manual SSL generation where the initial Let’s Encrypt server response expiry date has been passed but SSL generation steps were not completed.
- Updated video tutorials with vimeo-hosted videos.
- [Pro] Improved automated email text, log text and main page text for the users, who don’t have cPanel.
- [Pro] Moved Activate Force HTTPS option at bottom of the main page and added video tutorial (How to Install SSL Certificate) in that place for the users, who don’t have cPanel.
- [Pro] Automated SSL installation now possible with an add-on shell script for the users who don’t have cPanel, but have root access to the server. Premium users need to contact us to get the script.
- [Pro] Added ‘Single/Multi Domain’ button in the main page.
3.1.2
- Improved comparison table and page.
- Replaced the link of comparison table (in admin notice) with the improved comparison page.
3.1.1
- Improved the layout of step 2 (Verify Domain).
- Replaced written tutorial with Video Tutorial (1) ‘Plesk: How to upload HTTP-01 challenge files’ (step 2). (2) ‘Plesk: How to Install SSL Certificate’ (step 3).
- [Pro] Fixed a PHP Warning.
- [Pro] Fixed issue with accessing the cPanel settings if the existing SSL expired, but the website forced to load over HTTPS.
3.1.0
- Added a new page and menu for ‘Activate Force HTTPS’.
- Added a button in the header ‘Force HTTPS’ to easily access the option.
- Improved Generate SSL (manually) page: (1) At step 3, changed the position of the Video Tutorial ‘cPanel: How to Install SSL Certificate’, so that users can access it easily. (2) Moved ‘Activate Force HTTPS’ option at the bottom of this page (step 3). (3) Show ‘Activate Force HTTPS’ option only if an SSL certificate has been generated but Force HTTPS is not activated (step 3).
- Added Tutorial content with Generate SSL (manually) page: (1) Video Tutorial ‘cPanel: How to upload HTTP-01 challenge files’ (step two). (2) Written Tutorial ‘Plesk: How to upload HTTP-01 challenge files’ (step 2). (3) Written Tutorial ‘Plesk: How to Install SSL Certificate’ (step 3).
- [Pro] Improved cPanel Settings: (1) Added clear information that users need to use either an API Token or Password. Not both. (If the license is not for unlimited websites). (2) Changed the position of the Short Video Tutorial ‘How to Create API Tokens in cPanel’, so that users can access it easily. (3) Removed ‘Activate Force HTTPS’ option from the cPanel settings page. (4) Fixed the issue with checking whether password is filled in, if the user opted to generate wildcard SSL certificate.
- [Pro] Added separate Support Forum URL for the premium version users, so that they don’t post at the WordPress.org Support Forum.
- [Pro] Added filter to show the contact submenu item only when the user have a valid non-expired license.
3.0.7
- Updated the Freemius WordPress SDK to version 2.4.5.
- [Pro] Improved Exclude Domains settings.
- [Pro] Fixed an issue with the function sslRequiredForFirstTime() that detects whether the plugin is generating SSL certificate for the first time.
3.0.6
- Advanced detection of the users who were using the plugin since free only version (v2).
- Changed menu icon and menu position.
- Improvement in header styling.
- [Pro] Added new function to check cPanel connectivity.
- Added new comparison table to help understand the difference between free and pro version better.
3.0.5
- Affiliate program launched – any one can join.
- Fixed an issue with PHP 8.
- [Pro] Added cPanel authentication with API Token. Users can provide API Token instead of Password.
- [Pro] Improved cPanel Settings logging.
3.0.4
- Updated the freemius WP SDK to version 2.4.4.
- Updated: keep SSL log for 90 days.
- Fixed issue with admin alerts.
- Improved the content of readme.txt.
3.0.3
- Fixed some issues for smooth upgrade from version 2 to Free version 3.
- Improved a few text.
3.0.2
- Fixed a function name conflict with Form Maker Pro plugin.
- Improved auto-detection [Pro] whether the plugin was used for multi-domain. This helps smooth upgrading to the Pro version 3 from version 2.
3.0.1
- Fixed an issue displaying the FREE Premium License offer (with admin notice) for the Existing users, who are upgrading from the free version 2.2.3 or earlier.
3.0.0
- Compatible with WordPress 6.0
- Fixed an issue displaying the ‘Activate Force HTTPS’ button.
- Improved ‘Activate Force HTTPS’ feature.
- Added a new feature to save the log for 45 days and easy access from the menu.
- Improvement in the layout.
- Fixed an issue with the parameter of function getDomainPath(), which returns the domain path.
- As per the announcement dated November 3, 2020, we are releasing the premium/pro version, which is fully automated and this free version doesn’t have any automation feature. We are offering a 6-month FREE premium license to all existing users (who are upgrading from the free version 2.2.3 or earlier). This FREE premium license is valid until December 31, 2022.
Existing users need to upgrade the free plugin to version 3.0.0, then they’ll get the option to request the Premium License for FREE. - Improved setup process [Pro] Users can set it up within one minute in the single domain mode.
- Improved cPanel Settings [Pro]
- Improved Cron job [Pro] No need to manually configure the cron job. It is activated by default with WP cron.
- Improved ‘Issue and install Free SSL certificate’ option [Pro] Now users can view the server-generated event messages in real-time with a terminal-like interface, with SSE.
- Improved data entry [Pro] A few essential data are prefilled automatically.
2.2.2
- Fixed conflict with ‘Post SMTP Mailer/Email Log’ plugin.
- Fixed an issue to make it translation ready.
- Announcement to restructure the features.
2.2.1
- Removes parameter type declaration of the function connect_over_ssl() to make the plugin compatible with PHP 5.6. This function has been added in the version 2.2.0.
2.2.0
- Adds validation with the ‘Activate Force HTTPS’ option. Now it works only if a valid SSL installed on the website.
- Changed the support link that appears in the footer of the admin pages.
2.1.7
- Fixed a bug with ‘Issue and install Free SSL certificate’ option
- Improved the layout of ‘Issue and install Free SSL certificate’ option
2.1.6
- Adds video guide: How to Configure this Plugin and set up Automation
2.1.5
- Fixed minor error in the file DnsServiceProvidersSettings.php that throws PHP Notice: Undefined index: use_wildcard
2.1.4
- Improves ‘Add Cron Job’ option.
- Adds two video guides: ‘How to add a Cron Job in a minute on cPanel shared hosting’ and ‘How to Install Free SSL Certificate on cPanel Shared Hosting’.
- Adds FAQ.
2.1.3
- Improves Force HTTPS feature. Regenerating dynamic CSS with premium themes will include HTTPS and remove the not secure warning in browsers.
2.1.2
- Fixed a bug with the dashboard of Auto-Install Free SSL.
2.1.1
- Fixed issue with the encryption key.
- Adds admin notification and sends an email to admin in case the encryption key was changed due to a previous update.
2.1.0
- Improves internal validation (HTTP-01 challenge) – Before the domain ownership validation with Let’s Encrypt, if the payload content doesn’t match with content of the challenge URI (in internal check), attempt for automatic fix with .htaccess rules in two different ways.
- Improves cPanel Settings option.
- Improves Temporary SSL option.
2.0.1
- Fixed issues with PHP 5.6, 7.0 and 7.2
2.0.0
- Adds the option to Activate Force HTTPS and remove mixed content warning with a single click. This feature will make the padlock visible in the browser’s address bar.
- Removes the option to choose Let’s Encrypt ACME version. The plugin now uses ACME V2 only. Because V1 is reaching the end of life soon.
1.1.0
- Fixed issue with cron job
1.0.0
- Initial release