What should I do if there is an HTTPS certificate error? Summary of solutions to common problems

when you open a familiar website, but suddenly pop up the page insecure prompt, the probability is encountered HTTPS certificate error. This kind of problem will not only block normal access, but also may make users mistakenly believe that the website has security risks, affecting the credibility and traffic of the website. This article will comprehensively sort out the common types of HTTPS certificate errors, triggering reasons, and a complete solution from the user to the server to help you quickly resolve such access obstacles and re-access the target website smoothly and safely.

What are the common HTTPS certificate errors?

want to solve the HTTPS certificate error, first of all, you must identify what kind of problem you encounter, and different types of errors correspond to different triggering reasons.

1, the certificate has expired or is not valid

this is one of the most common HTTPS certificate errors, every HTTPS certificate has a fixed valid period, ranging from a few months to a few years. If the certificate exceeds the expiration date, or has not yet reached the effective start time, the browser will determine that the certificate is invalid and pop up a security prompt. This kind of error is mostly caused by the website operator neglecting the renewal time of the certificate.

2, certificate domain name does not match

this kind of HTTPS certificate error means that the domain name bound in the certificate is inconsistent with the currently visited domain name, such as the certificate is bound to the main domain name, but the user visits the sub-domain name that is not included in the scope of the certificate, or the website changes the domain name but does not update the certificate synchronously. The browser will think that the current website may be at risk of counterfeiting, so intercept the access.

3, the certificate is not trusted

this type of error is triggered when the HTTPS certificate is issued by an authority that is not trusted by mainstream browsers, or a self-signed certificate generated by the website itself. The browser's trust list only includes authoritative certificate authorities that have been strictly reviewed, and certificates that are not in the list will be judged to be unreliable.

How to solve HTTPS certificate error?

if ordinary users encounter HTTPS certificate error, do not need to operate the server, by adjusting the browser settings or simple troubleshooting can solve most of the problems.

1, check the system and browser time

many times HTTPS certificate errors are caused by the large deviation between the system time of the local device and the actual time. The browser will verify the valid period of the certificate through the system time. If the system time is earlier than the effective time of the certificate or later than the expiration time, it will misjudge the certificate as invalid. Just adjust the system time to the current accurate Beijing time and refresh the page.

2, clear browser cache and Cookie

browser will cache the previous certificate information. If the website has updated the HTTPS certificate, but the local cache is not synchronized, an HTTPS certificate error may occur. After clearing the browser's cache file and cookies, the browser will re-obtain the latest certificate information of the website, which is likely to solve the access problem caused by this kind of cache.

3, temporary bypass (only operate when trusting the website)

if you are sure that the website you visit is safe and trusted, but the HTTPS certificate error is triggered due to self-signed certificates and other reasons, you can choose to temporarily bypass the prompt. Different browsers have slightly different operation paths. Generally, click Advanced Options on the error page and select Continue to visit the target website, but this method has certain security risks. It is only recommended to use it on fully trusted websites.

How to fix the HTTPS certificate error on the server side?

for website operators, HTTPS certificate errors will directly affect the user experience and website reputation, and need to be completely repaired from the server.

1, timely update or reapply for certificate

If the HTTPS certificate error is caused by the expiration of the certificate, you should immediately go to the certificate authority to apply for renewal or re-purchase a new HTTPS certificate, pay attention to confirm the valid period of the new certificate and the bound domain name. After the application is completed, follow the server's operation guide, replace the old certificate on the server with the new certificate, and it will take effect after restarting the relevant services.

2 Make sure the certificate domain matches

If there is an HTTPS certificate error that does not match the domain name, check whether the domain name range bound to the certificate covers all the visited domain names of the current website. If a subdomain is added, you need to apply for a multi-domain certificate or a wild-card certificate containing the subdomain name; if the main domain name is replaced, you need to reapply for the HTTPS certificate corresponding to the new domain name and complete the configuration on the server.

3, Configuration certificate chain complete file

part of the HTTPS certificate error is because the server only configures the main certificate and lacks the intermediate certificate chain. The certificate issued by the authority usually needs to be matched with the intermediate certificate chain to be fully trusted by the browser. The operator should upload the complete certificate chain file provided by the certificate authority to the server, specify the path of the certificate chain in the website configuration file, and ensure that the browser can verify the complete trust chain of the certificate.

4. How to prevent HTTPS certificate errors in advance?

rather than wait for HTTPS certificate errors to occur before solving, it is better to take preventive measures in advance to avoid such problems from the root cause.

1, set the certificate expiration reminder

most certificate authorities will provide expiration reminder services, website operators can open mail or SMS reminders in the background of the institution, and can also install certificate monitoring tools on the server, 30 to 60 days in advance to receive HTTPS certificate expiration notice, reserve enough time for certificate renewal and replacement operations.

2 Select the appropriate certificate type

choose the appropriate HTTPS certificate according to the domain name of the website, for example, websites with multiple subdomains can choose the wild-card certificate to avoid HTTPS certificate errors when adding subdomains; websites involving multiple independent domains can choose multi-domain certificate to ensure that all access domains are within the coverage of the certificate.

3, regularly check the certificate configuration

website operators should develop the habit of regularly checking the certificate configuration, monthly or quarterly through online certificate detection tools, check the valid period of HTTPS certificates, domain name matching, certificate chain integrity, etc., to find potential problems and deal with them in a timely manner, so as to avoid small problems from evolving into HTTPS certificate errors that affect user access.

sum up, HTTPS certificate error is a common problem in website access, and the solutions in different scenarios are different. Ordinary users can quickly solve it by adjusting the system time and clearing the cache. Website operators need to completely repair certificate updates, domain name matching, certificate chain configuration, etc. At the same time, preventive measures such as expiration reminders and regular inspections can effectively avoid the occurrence of HTTPS certificate errors and ensure the security and smoothness of website access.