Error 526
Error 526 Invalid SSL Certificate Error
What This Error Means
Error 526 occurs when Cloudflare is set to 'Full (Strict)' SSL mode, but the origin server's SSL certificate is invalid, expired, or self-signed.
Common Causes
- The origin SSL certificate has expired.
- Using a self-signed certificate with 'Full (Strict)' mode.
- The certificate common name (CN) does not match the domain name.
- Incomplete certificate chain on the origin.
How to Fix It (For Users)
- 1 Notify the website owner.
- 2 There is no workaround for users as this is a strict security check.
For Site Owners / Developers
- Renew the SSL certificate on your origin server.
- Change Cloudflare SSL mode to 'Full' (not Strict) if using a self-signed cert (less secure).
- Ensure the certificate covers the correct domain and subdomains.
- Install the intermediate CA bundle.
When It Is NOT Your Fault
If the certificate authority revoked the certificate unexpectedly.
Check if this outage affects everyone globally
This error often indicates a wider problem. Use our tool to verify if the site is down for everyone.
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