Let's Encrypt cuts certificate lifetimes to 64 days starting February 2027
Summary
Let’s Encrypt will shorten the valid period for its free SSL/TLS certificates from 90 days to 64 days starting February 10, 2027. This change encourages website owners to automate certificate renewal and improves security by reducing the time stolen certificates can be abused.Key Facts
- Let’s Encrypt certificates will be valid for 64 days instead of 90 days starting February 10, 2027.
- Testing for the 64-day certificates begins on October 14, 2026, allowing users to prepare.
- Before Let’s Encrypt, certificates often lasted 1 to 3 years, but shorter lifetimes help reduce security risks.
- Let’s Encrypt originally introduced 90-day certificates to promote automatic renewal.
- The next planned step is to shorten certificates to 45 days in 2028.
- Website managers using manual or fixed renewal schedules must update their processes to avoid unexpected expirations.
- The ACME protocol with ARI helps automate and improve the renewal process by notifying when certificates need renewal.
- Validation times for certificate authorization will also be reduced, affecting how quickly renewals happen.
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