To issue your SSL certificate using the file-based verification method, the unique file for your order must be publicly accessible at a specific URL provided by the certificate authority.
The structure of the file path for each domain on your order (including www and non-www domains) should follow this format:
Your-domain.com/.well-known/pki-validation/[unique-file-name].txt
Steps to Create Your File Path
Follow these steps to create your file path on each individual domain and sub-domain on your certificate request.
- In the public or home directory of your server/hosting (where your website files are stored), create a new folder called “.well-known”
- If you're unable to create a folder starting with a period, try adding an extra period at the end of the folder name, so it looks like this: “.well-known.”
- If the folder becomes hidden after you name it with a period, go to your settings and enable the option to display "hidden folders" so it becomes visible in your file manager.
- Inside the “.well-known” directory, create another folder named “pki-validation”
- Upload the unique text file that you downloaded from your account’s order detail page into the “pki-validation” folder. Do not alter the file name or its contents.
How to Verify if Your File is Ready
Once the file path is correctly set up, you should be able to access your unique file in any web browser.
Simply replace the example URL provided above with your actual domain name and the name of your unique text file, then paste the URL into a browser.
If you can view the file’s contents in plain text, your file is correctly configured, and the SSL vendor should be able to verify your domain ownership.
NOTE: HTTP-based DCV requires the HTTP server to be running on port 80 or an HTTPS server to be running on port 443 of the Authorization Domain Name that exactly matches the FQDN for which the certificate is requested.