How to Retrieve a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) in cPanel

If we’ve previously generated a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) in cPanel but can no longer find it, there’s no need to create a new one right away. cPanel stores previously generated CSRs, allowing us to retrieve them whenever we need to install, renew, or reissue an SSL certificate.

This guide shows us how to locate and recover an existing CSR from cPanel.

When Do We Need to Retrieve a CSR?

We may need to retrieve a previously generated CSR when:

• Purchasing an SSL certificate.
• Reissuing an SSL certificate.
• Renewing an existing certificate.
• Reinstalling SSL after a server migration.
• Recovering a lost CSR without generating a new one.

Note: This method only works if the CSR was originally generated through cPanel.

Step 1: Log in to cPanel

Access your hosting account and log in to your cPanel dashboard.

Step 2: Open SSL/TLS

In the Security section, click on SSL/TLS.

This tool allows us to manage SSL certificates, private keys, and Certificate Signing Requests.

Step 3: Access the CSR Manager

Under Certificate Signing Requests (CSR), click Generate, View, or Delete CSR.

Step 4: View Existing CSRs

Scroll down to the Certificate Signing Requests on Server section.

Here, we’ll find all previously generated CSRs associated with our account.

Step 5: Open the CSR

Locate the CSR you want to recover.

Under the Action column, click Edit.

This will display the complete CSR information.

Step 6: Copy the Encoded CSR

Locate the Encoded CSR section.

Copy the entire CSR code, including:

-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----

and

-----END CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----

Make sure both lines are included, as omitting any part of the code may cause SSL installation errors.

Example of a CSR

Your Certificate Signing Request will look similar to this:

-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----
MIIC...
-----END CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----

Best Practices for Managing CSRs

To avoid losing important SSL information, we recommend:

• Saving a copy of the CSR immediately after generating it.
• Backing up the corresponding private key.
• Storing SSL-related files securely.
• Keeping records of certificate renewals and reissues.

What If the CSR Is Missing?

If the CSR is no longer available in cPanel, we can simply generate a new one. However, keep in mind that a new CSR creates a new private key, which may require reissuing your SSL certificate.

Tip: Always keep a backup of both your CSR and private key after generating them. Having these files readily available makes SSL installation, renewal, and migration much easier.