# How to install a Let's Encrypt SSL certificate on a cloud server with Plesk

Let’s Encrypt is a free, automated SSL certification authority. Using Let’s Encrypt is a quick and free way to get an SSL certificate for your website. With Plesk, you can create and deploy a Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate in just a few clicks.

## Prerequisites

- **A cloud server with Plesk Onyx (any operating system)**: This tutorial uses the Power User view. You can change the Plesk view by clicking on ‘Change View’ at the bottom of the left column.
- **Firewall access**: If you have a [firewall](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/server/security/what-is-a-firewall/), you need to allow access on port 443 to enable secure [HTTPS](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/hosting/technical-matters/what-is-https/) traffic to and from your server.

Note For all cloud servers with Plesk, administrative functions such as adding an [SSL certificate](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/websites/website-creation/ssl-certificate/) should always be performed through the Plesk interface.

## How to create and install a Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate

Go to the **Domains** tab in your Plesk interface.

[![Image: Domains on Plesk](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/2/2/csm_plesk-domains_92d535dfce.webp "Domains on Plesk")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2025/plesk-domains.jpg) Navigate to the ‘Domains’ interface in Plesk. Select your domain and click on the **Dashboard** tab. Here you can now choose the ‘SSL/TLS Certificates’ option.

[![Image: Go to the SSL/TLS options](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/6/7/csm_plesk-ssl-tls-options_1f7db52fbe.webp "Go to the SSL/TLS options")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2025/plesk-ssl-tls-options.jpg) In the next step, go to the SSL/TLS options for your domain. Click on [Let’s Encrypt](https://letsencrypt.org/ "Let's Encrypt website") for the website you want to secure.

[![Image: Select Let’s Encrypt](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/9/2/csm_plesk-lets-encrypt-select_506ddbc34d.webp "Select Let’s Encrypt")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2025/plesk-lets-encrypt-select.jpg) Choose ‘Let's Encrypt’ in the certificate options. Enter your email address and select the options for www and webmail (if applicable). Then, click on ‘Get it free’.

[![Image: Let’s Encrypt options](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/3/8/csm_lets-encrypt-options_58e6cc12af.webp "Let’s Encrypt options")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2025/lets-encrypt-options.jpg) Select the appropriate additional options from Let's Encrypt and click ‘Get it free’ to confirm. After the installation process is completed, you can access an SSL-secured version of your website at `https://domainname.com`.

Note Let’s Encrypt certificates are only valid for 90 days. Plesk automatically renews the certificate every month.


This is a markdown version of: [https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/websites/website-creation/install-a-lets-encrypt-ssl-certificate/](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/websites/website-creation/install-a-lets-encrypt-ssl-certificate/) for AI/LLM consumption.