My website is down because my SSL certificate is not recognized. How to fix?

Question

One of my websites is down because the SSL cert is not working (it's issued and valid). I've been trying to work through this support maze (for 2 weeks!!) that doesn't help, it prevents me from getting a simple answer of how to fix it. I'm not even able to do something simple, like create a support ticket because it makes me go through so many hoops, like forcing me to use Q&A. I'm so frustrated and just want me website to work. Please help. Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi @P MG
To troubleshoot the SSL certificate issue for your website,

Ensure the SSL handshake is successful. If the website is down, check if it is accessible over HTTP. If not, there may be a different issue unrelated to SSL.

Ensure the SSL certificate is correctly installed on your server. If the certificate is installed but not recognized, check if it includes the private key.

 Verify the permissions on the MachineKeys folder if you encounter errors accessing the SSL server credential private key. Incorrect permissions can cause access issues.

Although your certificate is valid until August 30, 2025, ensure it hasn't been marked as fraud or flagged for any issues. Contact your certificate provider if flagged.

 If the issue persists, test the website with a self-signed certificate to determine if the problem is with the certificate itself.

References:

• Troubleshooting SSL related issues (Server Certificate)
• Troubleshoot domain and TLS/SSL certificate problems in Azure App Service
  Let me know if you have any further assistances needed.

Answer 2

Thanks to all who reached out with help. The brutal truth is that I figured out and implemented the incredibly technical solution with the help of GPT. Microsoft's support is beyond byzantine and unhelpful. If you want immediate help, ask GPT.