---
date: "2018-06-02T11:00:00+02:00"
title: "Usage: HTTPS setup"
slug: "https-setup"
weight: 12
toc: true
draft: false
menu:
  sidebar:
    parent: "usage"
    name: "HTTPS setup"
    weight: 12
    identifier: "https-setup"
---

# HTTPS setup to encrypt connections to Gitea

## Using built-in server

Before you enable HTTPS make sure that you have valid SSL/TLS certificates.
You could use self-generated certificates for evaluation and testing. Please run `gitea cert --host [HOST]` to generate a self signed certificate.

To use Gitea's built-in HTTPS support you must change your `app.ini` file:

```ini
[server]
PROTOCOL=https
ROOT_URL = `https://git.example.com:3000/`
HTTP_PORT = 3000
CERT_FILE = cert.pem
KEY_FILE = key.pem
```
To learn more about the config values, please checkout the [Config Cheat Sheet](../config-cheat-sheet#server).

## Using Let's Encrypt

[Let's Encrypt](https://letsencrypt.org/) is a Certificate Authority that allows you to automatically request and renew SSL/TLS certificates. In addition to starting Gitea on your configured port, to request HTTPS certificates Gitea will also need to listed on port 80, and will set up an autoredirect to HTTPS for you. Let's Encrypt will need to be able to access Gitea via the Internet to verify your ownership of the domain.

By using Lets Encrypt **you must consent** to their [terms of service](https://letsencrypt.org/documents/LE-SA-v1.2-November-15-2017.pdf)

```ini
[server]
PROTOCOL=https
DOMAIN=git.example.com
ENABLE_LETSENCRYPT=true
LETSENCRYPT_ACCEPTTOS=true
LETSENCRYPT_DIRECTORY=https
LETSENCRYPT_EMAIL=email@example.com
```

To learn more about the config values, please checkout the [Config Cheat Sheet](../config-cheat-sheet#server).

## Using reverse proxy

Setup up your reverse proxy like shown in the [reverse proxy guide](../reverse-proxies).

After that, enable HTTPS by following one of these guides:

* [nginx](https://nginx.org/en/docs/http/configuring_https_servers.html)
* [apache2/httpd](https://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.4/ssl/ssl_howto.html)
* [caddy](https://caddyserver.com/docs/tls)

Note: You connection between your reverse proxy and gitea might be unencrypted. To encrypt it too follow the [built-in server guide](#using-built-in-server) and change
the proxy url to `https://[URL]`.