How do I check if my SSL certificate chain is installed correctly?

Enter your domain in the Certificate Chain Checker to verify the leaf, intermediate, and root certificates, validity dates, and hostname coverage.

Why do browsers show a certificate error when the certificate looks valid?

The most common cause is a missing intermediate certificate: the leaf is fine, but the server did not send the intermediates browsers need to build the chain to a trusted root.

How often should I check my certificate chain?

Check after every installation or renewal, after server migrations, and periodically before expiry — automated monitoring is ideal, but a manual check takes seconds.

WEBSITE SECURITY TOOLS · FREE ONLINE TOOL

Certificate Chain Checker

Inspect the full SSL certificate chain of any siteMost confusing SSL errors have nothing to do with the certificate itself. They come from the chain of intermediates linking your certificate to a trusted root, and this checker lays out every link.

✓ Free to use✓ No sign-up✓ Ready in your browser

// CERTIFICATE CHAIN CHECKER · GET STARTED

Use Certificate Chain Checker

Inspect the full SSL certificate chain of any site

// CERTIFICATE CHAIN CHECKER · HOW IT WORKS

How to use the Certificate Chain Checker

Enter domain

Enter the domain (e.g. example.com).

Fetch the chain

Click "Check chain" to fetch the live certificate chain.

Review certificates

Review each certificate from leaf to root.

// CERTIFICATE CHAIN CHECKER · ABOUT THIS TOOL

About the Certificate Chain Checker

A certificate is only trusted if the full chain behind it holds: leaf, intermediates, and the root the browser trusts. This tool opens a live TLS connection, pulls the complete chain the server presents, and walks it link by link.

It is the fastest way to diagnose the classic "works in Chrome, fails in the app" problem, which is almost always a missing intermediate, and each link is checked for expiry too.

Where it helps most

When the certificate looks fine but visitors see warnings.

After renewal or migration

Debug the breakage that appears when everything looks right but some visitors report errors.

Pre-launch verification

Get a second pair of eyes on a fresh certificate installation before visitors arrive.

Inheriting client sites

Audit mysterious SSL complaints on sites your agency just took over.

Wildcard and multi-domain

Verify one chain to protect every subdomain a wildcard or multi-domain certificate covers.

What gets checked

The three chain failures this catches.

Missing intermediates

The number one cause of "works in Chrome, fails on every phone," since mobiles do not cache intermediates.

Chain order problems

Servers must send leaf first, then intermediates in order; scrambled chains cause intermittent trust failures.

Trust issues

Flags chains that do not lead to a root in the standard trust stores browsers rely on.

Certificate Chain Checker: built for trust

Run the domain, read the chain top to bottom, and fix the exact broken link instead of reissuing certificates blindly. No signup needed.

// CERTIFICATE CHAIN CHECKER · COMMON QUESTIONS

Certificate Chain Checker FAQs

What is a certificate chain?

It is the chain of trust linking your site's certificate to a root certificate browsers trust: your leaf certificate, one or more intermediate certificates from your certificate authority, and the root. If any link is missing or out of order, browsers cannot verify trust.

Why does my certificate work in Chrome but fail on phones?

What is a chain order problem?

How do I fix a broken certificate chain?

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SSL Certificate Checker: Verify Expiry and Validity Free

Free SSL certificate checker: verify any website's certificate issuer, expiry date, days remaining, covered domains and fingerprint. Avoid expiry outages.

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