How to Check SSL Certificates (Step-by-Step Guide)
What is an SSL certificate?
An SSL certificate is a digital security layer that protects the connection between your website and its visitors. It encrypts the data transferred through the site, helping keep sensitive information like passwords, payment details, and personal data safe from interception.
SSL certificates also enable HTTPS — the secure version of HTTP — which is why modern browsers display the padlock icon next to trusted websites.
Why it’s important to check your SSL certificate
Your SSL certificate might be installed, but that doesn’t always mean everything is configured correctly. Regular checks help you:
1. Make sure your website is properly secured
2. Detect expired or misconfigured certificates before visitors do
3. Avoid “Not Secure” warnings in browsers
4. Improve trust and credibility with users
5. Support better SEO performance in search engines
Method 1: Check the SSL certificate in your browser
The fastest way to inspect a certificate is directly from your browser.
1. Open the website you want to verify (for example: https://savr.ro)
2. Click the padlock icon next to the URL
3. Open the certificate information panel
From there, you can view details such as:
1. Certificate issuer
2. Expiration date
3. Covered domains (SAN)
4. Encryption and security information
Method 2: Use an online SSL checker
Online SSL testing tools give you a much deeper analysis of your website’s security configuration.
You can use:
SSL Labs
SSL Checker
SAVR SSL Checker
These tools can help you identify:
- SSL grades and security ratings
- Certificate chain issues
- Expiration problems
- Weak protocols or vulnerabilities
- HTTPS configuration errors
Method 3: Check SSL from the command line
For developers and system administrators, OpenSSL is one of the most reliable ways to inspect a certificate directly from the terminal.openssl s_client -connect example.com:443
This command returns detailed SSL information, including the certificate chain, issuer, validity dates, and supported protocols.
Final thoughts
Today, SSL is no longer just a “nice to have” feature — it’s a core requirement for every modern website.
Browsers actively warn users when a site doesn’t have a valid certificate, and search engines favor secure HTTPS connections. A properly configured SSL certificate improves security, strengthens trust, and helps your website look professional and reliable.
If you want to quickly test your website’s certificate, you can use the free SSL Checker by SAVR.