Browsers often store SSL certificate information to improve browsing performance. Occasionally, this cached information becomes outdated, causing your browser to display old certificate details even though your website has been configured correctly.
This guide will help you clear your browser’s SSL state if you’re seeing SSL certificate warnings, outdated certificate information, or secure connection errors after installing, renewing, or updating an SSL certificate.
By following the steps below, you can refresh your browser’s stored SSL information and verify whether the issue has been resolved before performing more advanced troubleshooting.
What This Means
Your browser stores SSL certificate information locally (known as the SSL state or SSL cache) to speed up secure connections to websites.
If your SSL certificate has recently been:
- Installed
- Renewed
- Reissued
- Replaced
- Updated
IMPORTANT:
Your browser may continue using the old certificate information until its SSL cache is cleared.
Clearing the SSL state removes this stored certificate information without affecting your saved passwords, bookmarks, browsing history, or website data.
This is often one of the quickest ways to resolve browser-specific SSL warnings.
Steps to Clear Your Browser SSL State
Step 1: Close Any Open Website Tabs
Before clearing the SSL state:
- Close any tabs displaying your website.
- Close any browser windows connected to the affected website.
Step 2: Clear the SSL State
Follow the instructions for your operating system or browser.
Google Chrome (Windows)
Google Chrome on Windows uses the Windows SSL certificate cache.
- Close Chrome.
- Search for Internet Options and open it.
- Select the Content tab.
- Click Clear SSL State.
- Click OK when prompted.
- Reopen Chrome.
- Visit your website again using https://.
Microsoft Edge (Windows)
Microsoft Edge also uses the Windows SSL certificate cache.
- Close Microsoft Edge.
- Open Internet Options.
- Select the Content tab.
- Click Clear SSL State.
- Confirm the action.
- Restart Microsoft Edge.
- Test your website again.
Google Chrome (macOS)
Chrome on macOS uses the macOS Keychain.
If outdated certificate information continues to appear:
- Open Keychain Access from Applications > Utilities.
- Search for your domain name.
- Remove any outdated or duplicate certificates if appropriate.
- Restart Chrome.
- Revisit your website.
Note: Only delete certificates if you’re confident they’re outdated. If you’re unsure, leave them in place and contact Support for guidance.
Mozilla Firefox
Firefox maintains its own certificate store.
- Open Settings.
- Scroll to Certificates.
- Select View Certificates.
- Under the Servers tab, remove any outdated entries for your website.
- Restart Firefox.
- Test your website again.
Step 3: Verify the Website
After clearing the SSL state:
- Visit your website using https://
- Confirm the padlock icon appears.
- Check that there are no SSL security warnings.
- Verify the correct SSL certificate is being displayed.
Important Things to Know
- Clearing the SSL state only removes cached certificate information.
- If your SSL certificate was only recently installed or renewed, DNS or SSL propagation may still be in progress.
- Browser-specific SSL issues can often be confirmed by testing the website in another browser or device.
- If your SSL certificate hasn’t been installed correctly on your hosting account, clearing the SSL state won’t resolve the issue.
Before You Move On
Before assuming there’s a problem with your SSL certificate, check that:
- Your SSL certificate has been installed successfully.
- Your website loads using https://.
- You’re accessing the correct domain name.
- You’ve tested in a private/incognito browser window.
- You’ve tested from another browser or device.
- DNS changes (if applicable) have had enough time to propagate.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming the SSL certificate is broken before clearing the browser’s SSL cache.
- Clearing your entire browser history instead of only the SSL state.
- Testing immediately after installing a certificate without allowing time for propagation.
- Forgetting to restart your browser after clearing the SSL state.
- Assuming the issue affects all visitors when it may only affect your local browser.
If This Didn’t Work
If you still receive SSL certificate warnings after clearing the SSL state, please gather the following before contacting 1-grid Support:
- Your domain name
- The exact SSL error message
- A screenshot of the warning
- Your browser name and version
- Your operating system
- Confirmation that you’ve already cleared the SSL state
This information will help us investigate the issue more efficiently.
Related Articles
- Buy an SSL with 1-grid
- Reusing an Existing CSR: SSL Certificate Renewal
- How to Redirect Your Website to HTTPS
- How to Generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR)
- Troubleshoot Common SSL Certificate Errors
FAQs
What does clearing the SSL state do?
It removes your browser’s locally stored SSL certificate information so your browser can retrieve the latest certificate from the website.
Will clearing the SSL state delete my passwords?
No. Clearing the SSL state does not remove saved passwords, cookies, browsing history, or bookmarks.
Why am I still seeing an SSL warning after renewing my certificate?
Your browser may still be using cached certificate information, or the SSL certificate may not yet be installed correctly. Clearing the SSL state is a good first troubleshooting step.
Does every browser store SSL certificates differently?
Yes. Chrome and Edge on Windows use the Windows SSL cache, while Firefox maintains its own certificate store. Chrome on macOS uses the macOS Keychain.
Should I clear my browser cache as well?
If clearing the SSL state doesn’t resolve the issue, clearing your browser cache or testing in a private browsing session may help.
How do I know if the SSL certificate is working?
Visit your website using https:// and check for the padlock icon. You can also view the certificate details by selecting the padlock in your browser’s address bar.
Empowering Insight
SSL certificate warnings are often caused by cached browser information rather than a problem with the certificate itself. Clearing the SSL state is a quick, safe troubleshooting step that frequently resolves the issue without requiring changes to your hosting or website.
Need Additional Support?
If you’ve followed this guide and your website is still displaying SSL certificate warnings, our Support Team is here to help.
Contact us with your domain name, browser details, screenshots of any errors, and confirmation that you’ve already cleared your browser’s SSL state. This will help us investigate and resolve the issue as quickly as possible.