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What is Shopify SSL Pending Mean and How to Fix SSL Shopify Pending Issue

Fix pending SSL certificate issue on your Shopify store by checking expiry date of SSL, avoid using CAA records, verifying domain ownership and clearing cache.

Blog Author
Manikanda Pandian

May 13, 2023

Cyberattacks have become universal. Close to one million people are hacked every year in one form or the other. This translates to more than 2700 attacks a day. Most Shopify users count on SSL to keep their websites safe and prevent cyberattacks.

What is an SSL certificate? How do they help?

Online transactions are prone to threats from cyberattacks. SSL certificate safeguards online transactions from third-party interceptions.

Shopify Store Developers

SSL stands for Secure Socket Layers. The term SSL may sound technical and complicated. SSL signifies that your website is secure, authenticated, and encrypted.

SSL provides an extra layer of security for a wide gamut of online transactions like e-commerce, online banking, Online forms, file transfers, E-mail, etc. They act as protection and dodge cyberattacks.

Nowadays it is a mandate to get an SSL certificate for the websites.

This is the safest and soundest way to guard online transactions and sensitive customer information. A padlock icon in the address bar or the acronym HTTPS indicates to the website visitor that their data is secure and risk-free.

What are the important benefits of SSL?

Some of the important benefits of SSL are:
  • SSL protects from phishing attacks. It provides authentication and helps verify the identity of the server.
  • SSL establishes trust and confidence in the website. SSL reaffirms its commitment to data security and generates confidence in website owners to go about their online business.
  • When the data is exchanged between the client and the server, SSL encrypts the data making it secure. This helps to ward off any unauthorized access to sensitive information.
  • SSL undergoes a compliance process and abides by the regulations of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
  • SSL helps in boosting a website's SEO. HTTPS is used by Google as a ranking signal and that aids SEO and makes the website more visible.

How to enable SSL on Shopify?

  • Sign into your Shopify account and navigate to the "Online Store" section from the left-hand menu.
  • Click on "Domains" located in the submenu.
  • Look out for the "SSL certificates" segment on the page.
  • If you don't spot the "SSL certificates" section, it means SSL is already enabled on your domain.
  • However, if you can see the "SSL certificates" segment, click on the "Manage" button.
  • Toggle on the "Enable SSL certificates" button.
  • After enabling SSL, the URL of your Shopify store should display "https" instead of "HTTP".

Even after following the above instructions, the padlock icon is not visible in the address bar, indicating that SSL encryption has failed. It will show two warnings - “SSL Pending” or “SSL Unavailable.”

The error may arise due to the below reasons.

  • One common reason is the presence of non-HTTPS content, such as images or videos, on your website.
  • Incorrect DNS settings, domain misconfigurations, an expired or invalid SSL certificate, outdated SSL version, and cache issues can also lead to SSL errors.
  • Delays in site refresh may also cause failures. Site refresh delays are typically caused by issues with the server or network, such as a slow internet connection, a high volume of traffic, or server overload, resulting in errors and failures.

If you have a custom domain, it is necessary to verify that the DNS settings for your domain are correctly configured before enabling SSL. Shopify's help documentation provides detailed instructions on how to accomplish this.

Therefore, it's recommended that you consult their documentation for guidance on how to ensure your domain's DNS settings are correctly set up before enabling SSL.

By obtaining an SSL certificate for your Shopify domain name during the setup process, you can safeguard your website from external interference and enhance your reputation.

Investing in an SSL certificate can provide significant benefits for your website's security and reputation, making it a smart decision for any Shopify store owner looking to establish a trusted online presence.

How to define Shopify SSL pending? What does it mean?

“SSL pending is a term commonly used in Shopify to denote the intermediate stage of the installation or renewal of an SSL certificate on a website.” opined a top Shopify developer in Bangalore - Webomindapps.

This status indicates that the SSL certificate has been requested and is currently under review by the issuing Certificate Authority and has not yet been fully processed and installed on the website's domain. During the SSL pending phase, the SSL certificate undergoes a meticulous review and validation process to ensure that it is properly configured and meets the highest security standards.

Once the SSL certificate is installed, the SSL status changes to "SSL enabled" or "SSL secured", indicating that the website is fully secured and encrypted for all users.

In essence, SSL pending is a temporary status that connotes the ongoing installation or renewal process of an SSL certificate, and the website may not yet be fully secure during this interim phase. Therefore, it is imperative to closely monitor the SSL certificate status and ensure that it is configured and installed correctly to provide the highest level of security for your Shopify e-commerce platform.

What steps are needed to fix the Pending and Unavailable Certificates?

Two main issues which are encountered during the SSL certification process are either Pending Certificates or Unavailable Certificates.

To resolve the error of Shopify SSL Pending and Unavailable Certificates, the approach needs to be different for both errors.

Resolving Unavailable Certificate

To resolve the issue of SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) unavailable error in Shopify, one needs to undertake a multifaceted approach, considering various aspects that may be contributing to the problem.

  • Wait for 24 to 48 hours: If you have adequately followed the encryption protocol requirement, but still face the problem, wait for 24 to 48 hours. It takes a maximum of 2 days to take effect of the installation and reflect HTTPS:// encryption on your website.
  • Verify the status of the SSL Certificate: It is imperative to verify the status of the SSL certificate by leveraging online SSL checker tools.
  • Verify Domain Ownership: The next step involves verifying domain ownership, which involves adding a TXT record in the DNS settings for the domain with the verification code provided by the SSL certificate provider. Once the DNS has propagated, domain ownership can be verified with the provider.
  • Check the certificate expiration date: An expired certificate can be the root cause of the unavailable error. If the certificate has indeed expired, one needs to renew it with the SSL certificate provider.
  • Check Certificate Chain: It is necessary to verify the certificate chain, which entails ensuring that it is complete and correct. This can be done by using online SSL checker tools.
  • Use IPv4 Instead of IPv6: In some cases, there may be issues with IPv6 connectivity that prevent successful HTTPS encryption, such as misconfigured routers or firewalls. In such cases, using IPv4 may be a temporary solution until the underlying issues with IPv6 connectivity are resolved.
  • Avoid using CAA Records: The use of CAA records can cause problems when obtaining a secure HTTPS address for your website on Shopify. These records can create obstacles that make it difficult for your website to obtain the necessary SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid using CAA records on Shopify.

If you must apply for CAA (Certification Authority Authorization) records on Shopify, it is important to include the certificate authorities for each of the following sites in each record:

  • letsencrypt.org
  • digicert.com
  • globalsign.com

These certificate authorities are responsible for verifying that a given HTTPS URL is still valid and has not been revoked. By including them in your CAA records, you can help ensure that your SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates are issued and updated correctly and that your website remains secure.

Lastly, one needs to install the SSL certificate on the web server. The installation process may vary depending on the web server and hosting provider. It is crucial to consult the documentation provided by the web server and hosting provider to ensure that the installation process is performed seamlessly.

In essence, resolving the issue of SSL unavailable error requires a nuanced approach that is characterized by meticulousness and attention to detail.

Fixing Shopify SSL Pending Certificate Error

Let us now look at the SSL Pending error. To resolve an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) pending certificate issue on Shopify, you can follow these steps:

  • Check SSL Status: Firstly, verify the SSL status of your Shopify store by visiting the 'Online Store' section of your Shopify dashboard and choosing 'Domains'. Then, inspect if the SSL certificate is pending.
  • Wait for Certificate Issuance: If the SSL certificate is pending, you need to wait for its issuance. Usually, it takes a few hours, but sometimes it can take up to 48 hours. You can check the status by clicking on the 'View status' button in the SSL section of your Shopify dashboard.
  • Verify Domain Ownership: Verify domain ownership with your SSL certificate provider by adding a TXT record with the verification code given by your SSL certificate provider in the DNS settings for your domain. Once the DNS has propagated, verify the domain ownership with your SSL certificate provider.
  • Check Certificate Expiry: Ensure that your SSL certificate is not expired. If it is, renew the certificate from your SSL certificate provider.
  • Install SSL Certificate: Next, install the SSL certificate on your Shopify store by visiting the 'Online Store' section of your Shopify dashboard and selecting 'Domains'. Click on 'Activate SSL certificate' and follow the on-screen guidelines.
  • Clear Cache: The final step involves installing the SSL certificate, and clearing your browser cache and cookies to make sure that the changes take effect.

According to Chris Hufnagel, Director of Security Engineering at Shopify, SSL pending status usually means that Shopify is in the process of issuing and installing an SSL certificate for the store. This process typically takes about 48 hours but can sometimes take longer.

Hufnagel recommends checking the status of the SSL certificate in the Shopify admin dashboard. If the status is listed as "Pending", it means that the SSL certificate is still being processed and has not yet been fully installed. If the status is "Active", it means that the SSL certificate has been successfully installed.

If the SSL certificate status remains "Pending" for an extended period, Hufnagel recommends contacting Shopify support for assistance. They will provide alternate troubleshooting steps and help resolve Shopify SSL pending issue.

What are the main advantages of Having an SSL Certificate on your Shopify Store?

Securing your Shopify store with an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate provides a host of benefits that extend beyond simply encrypting data.

The primary function of an SSL certificate is that it increases the security of your site by encrypting all sensitive data, which ensures that any data transmitted between your website and your customers' browsers is safe and secure. This helps a long way in establishing trust between you and your customers.

They will be sufficiently assured that their personal and payment information is protected against malicious actors.

SSL certificates can also improve your website's search engine rankings. This helps to increase organic traffic. Additionally, if your site accepts credit card payments, an SSL certificate is an important component of PCI compliance, which is required to make sure that your site is safe and secure for customers.

Phishing attacks are another significant threat to customers, but an SSL certificate can help protect against these attacks by verifying your website's identity. Furthermore, the enhanced security of your site can lead to increased conversion rates, as customers are more likely to complete transactions on a site that they trust.

Many newer browsers only support sites with SSL certificates, so having one ensures that your site is compatible with the latest browser technology. Besides, an SSL certificate protects your site against malware and other security threats, ensuring that your customers' devices are safe when they visit your site.

If we look at it from a brand's perspective, having an SSL certificate can boost your brand image by demonstrating your commitment to security and your customer's privacy. Additionally, it is a necessary component of compliance with privacy laws in many jurisdictions.

Wrap Up

An SSL certificate is an essential component of any online business, and SSL certificate importance extends beyond simply encrypting data. By enhancing security, building trustworthiness, improving SEO, and ensuring compliance, an SSL certificate is a wise investment for any Shopify store owner looking to build a successful online presence.