When moving a domain to another server, it’s imperative to remove its SSL certificate records before proceeding with the move. Otherwise, creating SSL certificates won’t be possible on the new server. So, here are the steps to ensure the old certs are gone.
How to Remove SSL Certificate from a Domain
- If domain exists on another server, you MUST ensure to have removed the domain name from any assigned SSL certificate.
- Then, to validate its removal, ensure to request a cert renewal on old server to confirm the old domain is shown removed. That will free up the SSL validation tasks for the upcoming new server.
- Also, you might have to empty all cache types from that old server, disabling caching plugins, as well as clearing your browser of SSL Certificates, e.g., clearing its stored site data.
How to Remove a Domain from DirectAdmin SSL
To remove a domain from SSL in DirectAdmin, follow these steps:
- From DirectAdmin – Admin go to: Server Manager | Admin SSL.
- Click on <Server TLS Certificate>. Then, click on <ACME Settings>.
- Scroll down to the domain to remove from the certificate and click <Remove>.
- Then, at the screen bottom, click <Submit>.
- Finally, you must then get a newer SSL Certificate for the server.
- From DirectAdmin – Admin go to: Server Manager | Admin SSL.
- Click on <Server TLS Certificate>. Then, click on <Renew Now>.
Other Methods of Clearing of Old SSL Certs
- Finally, if all browsers are retaining the old SSL certs, it might not be a browser issue. It might still be remaining on the server, either physically or cached on server (page cache, object cache, CDN cache, caching plugin). Try disabling of caching plugins, disabling CDN, etc.
Next Steps
Depending on what brought you here, you can easily return to that exact area on the page. Just, click any of these specific areas or checklist sections you recognize that led you here.
- Complete Setup Guide: Return to section “Issue SSL certificates using DirectAdmin and Let’s Encrypt ” and continue after “… perform the checklist from DirectAdmin USER SSL Configuration” .
- Return to section after “…Prerequisite” in SSL: DirectAdmin USER SSL Configuration.