Completing Domain Validation (DCV) for Your SSL Print

Before a certificate is issued, the Certificate Authority (CA) must confirm that you control the domain. This is called Domain Control Validation (DCV). Choose one method in the SSL configuration page.

Method 1 – Email validation

1. Select one of the approved addresses: admin@, administrator@, webmaster@, hostmaster@ or postmaster@ your domain.
2. The CA sends an approval email to that address.
3. Open the email and click the approval link (or enter the validation code).

Tip: if the mailbox does not exist, create it in cPanel → Email Accounts or set up a forwarder first.

Method 2 – HTTP file validation

1. Download the validation .txt file from the configuration page.
2. In cPanel → File Manager, open public_html and create the folder .well-known/pki-validation/ (enable Show Hidden Files in Settings).
3. Upload the file to that folder without renaming it.
4. Check that it opens in a browser at http://example.com/.well-known/pki-validation/FILENAME.txt.

The file must be reachable over plain http without redirects to another domain. For Wildcard certificates, HTTP validation is not allowed – use Email or DNS.

Method 3 – DNS CNAME validation

1. Copy the CNAME host and target values shown in the configuration page.
2. In cPanel → Zone Editor (or wherever your DNS is hosted), click + CNAME Record.
3. Paste the host as the Name and the target as the Record, and save.
4. Wait 15–60 minutes for DNS to update; the CA checks automatically.

How long does it take?

• DV / Wildcard: usually within minutes after validation.
• OV: 1–3 working days (business verification).
• EV: 3–7 working days (extended verification and a verification call).

Stuck? Open a ticket with your domain name and order number – we will check the validation status for you.