Be part of JetBrains PHPverse 2026 on June 9 – a free online event bringing PHP devs worldwide together.

moses's avatar
Level 2

How can I solve "We were unable to obtain a LetsEncrypt SSL certificate on your server" on the forge laravel?

My server using forge laravel(https://forge.laravel.com)

When I click obtain certificate button to add new certicate like this :

enter image description here

It does not work. There exist error like this :

We were unable to obtain a LetsEncrypt SSL certificate on your server

The full error like this :

enter image description here enter image description here

How can I solve this error?

0 likes
8 replies
bobbybouwmann's avatar

It looks like you're trying to obtain a certificate for a subdomain, but that domain does not exists in your DNS

moses's avatar
Level 2

@bobbybouwmann So, what should I do? Do I have to add my domain in DNS? How to? I need a detailed answer. Because I just first take care of the problem on the server. Before I just write code only

bobbybouwmann's avatar

Well you have two options here. You either add a subdomain record to your DNS or you add a catch-all record to your DNS

Type: CNAME 
Hostname: *.example.com
Value: example.com.

If you have no clue about this stuff you should contact your hosting provider or hire an expert!

moses's avatar
Level 2

@bobbybouwmann I want to try it first. My server using digital ocean, forge laravel and gitlab. Where can I add sub domains in my dns? Is it in digital ocean? Or using ssh via putty?

przem_k's avatar
przem_k
Best Answer
Level 2

Or just put subdomain without 'www' into LestEncrypt input 'Domains'

bobbybouwmann's avatar

You can do it in digital ocean if you have your DNS there, or any other place where you have your domain registered!

moses's avatar
Level 2

@bobbybouwmann Now it works. I add certificate without "www". Seems my sub domain with "www" not yet registered in dns. I want to add it. But I do not have access

Please or to participate in this conversation.