--- title: "Installing Your Own SSL Certificates: A Step-by-Step Guide | Netlify" description: "Realize the speed, agility and performance of a scalable, composable web architecture with Netlify. Explore the composable web platform now!" source: "https://www.netlify.com/blog/2016/04/11/installing-your-own-ssl-certificates-a-step-by-step-guide/" last_updated: "2026-07-15T20:50:07.000Z" --- Netlify offers [free 1-click SSL](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-9T0FYd-QU) with LetsEncrypt. It’s the very definition of easy. But some of our customers have reasons for using their own certificates procured from an SSL Certificate Authority. If you are one of those customers, we’ll show you how to install your own certificate here. Log in to [app.netlify.com](https://app.netlify.com) and choose your site. First, make sure that your custom domain has been set. The domain name of your site must match the domain name on the SSL certificate. ![ssldomain.png](/v3/img/blog/ssldomain.png) Next click `SSL` at the top of your page. Then click the button labeled `Provide Your Own Certificate`. ![sslprovidebutton.png](/v3/img/blog/sslprovidebutton.png) A window will pop up that looks like this: ![sslmanual.png](/v3/img/blog/sslmanual.png) In the top box, you’ll paste in the contents of your PEM formatted certificate. PEM format is the format most widely used by Certificate authorities, and will usually have extensions of `.pem`, `.crt`, `.cer` or `.key`. The file will look like something like this: ![PEM Certificate Example](/v3/img/blog/illust_pemfile.gif) Copy the bottom portion, beginning with the first dash of the `Begin Certificate` line and ending after the last dash of the `End Certificate` line. Paste the selection in the `Certificate` box at the top of the popup. Next, copy your Private Key. Begin with the first dash of the `Begin RSA Private Key` line and ending after the last dash of the `End RSA Private Key` line. Paste the selection in the `Private Key` box. Finally, you’ll need to paste in your intermediate certificate chains. The availability of these chains depend on certificate provider you’ve chosen. If you choose to install your certificate without adding in the Intermediate Certs, be aware that while it may appear to work in your browser, it could break when trying to access your site through a mobile interface. ### **WildCard** It’s worth noting that if you install a certificate on your domain, with wildcards, for example `*.example.com`, you will be the only one with the ability to install a separate certificate for a subdomain. Other users on your admin account will be unable to add certificates or set custom domains for subdomains without specific authorization. Once you’ve filled all the fields in the popup, just click `Install Your Certificate`, and your site is secure. ### Share - [X (fka Twitter)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Installing Your Own SSL Certificates: A Step-by-Step Guide&url=https://www.netlify.com/blog/2016/04/11/installing-your-own-ssl-certificates-a-step-by-step-guide//) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.netlify.com%2Fblog%2F2016%2F04%2F11%2Finstalling-your-own-ssl-certificates-a-step-by-step-guide%2F%2F) - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.netlify.com/blog/2016/04/11/installing-your-own-ssl-certificates-a-step-by-step-guide//) - [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Installing Your Own SSL Certificates: A Step-by-Step Guide+https://www.netlify.com/blog/2016/04/11/installing-your-own-ssl-certificates-a-step-by-step-guide//) * * * ### Tags - [Tutorial](/blog/tags/tutorial/) - [SSL](/blog/tags/SSL/) ## Keep reading ![](/_astro/3f45eb6eda4ea8814be310e3df4a7883a5bd9ba0-1200x675_ZcBDUS.webp) Guides & Tutorials May 15, 2026 [ ### How to build a real-time AI chatbot in minutes with Netlify Agent Runners (no backend) ](/blog/how-to-build-a-real-time-ai-chatbot-in-minutes-with-netlify-agent-runners-no-backend) - ![Profile picture of Nahrin Jalal](/_astro/f0e7c8f227a03fe58340c99ef5439d5a896c0733-272x272_Z23kDpD.webp) Nahrin Jalal ![](/_astro/8fe9e8a23f944c9912003233d99a2df7fee637cf-1600x900_Z1gMhmf.webp) Guides & Tutorials May 15, 2026 [ ### Tracking AI search traffic: how to use Netlify Log Drains to maximize AEO ](/blog/tracking-ai-search-traffic) - ![Profile picture of Nahrin Jalal](/_astro/f0e7c8f227a03fe58340c99ef5439d5a896c0733-272x272_Z23kDpD.webp) Nahrin Jalal ## Recent posts News & Announcements July 14, 2026 [ ### More headroom, a lower per-credit rate, and a bill you can predict: introducing new Pro plan tiers ](/blog/new-pro-plan-tiers) - ![Profile picture of Gehrig Kunz](/_astro/b4e9f58d914d1334ea70d53ea55a1f26b26f1445-512x512_17SwOI.webp) Gehrig Kunz News & Announcements July 13, 2026 [ ### Netlify inside of Claude Design ](/blog/netlify-inside-of-claude-design) - ![Profile picture of Sean Roberts](/_astro/bbf2243f8171dbddd80ab2103622106cef84d125-512x512_Z1d2LKE.webp) Sean Roberts News & Announcements June 25, 2026 [ ### Netlify Functions, designed for Agent Experience ](/blog/netlify-functions-designed-for-agent-experience) - ![Profile picture of Eduardo Bouças](/_astro/52958f21e8450baf6d8e60302341a984e220c0cd-512x512_13VDlu.webp) Eduardo Bouças ![](/_astro/3f255b372fa958df35802666ee33b4609b2d71bd-1200x1586_1VtE2D.webp) ### How do the best dev and marketing teams work together? 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