How to Fix "Your Connection Is Not Private" Error on SmugMug
Troubleshoot SSL certificate errors when using a custom domain with your SmugMug website.
After adding a custom domain to SmugMug, you might encounter a browser warning that says "Your connection is not private" or "NET::ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID". This article explains why this happens and how to fix it.
Why this error occurs
When you add a custom domain to SmugMug, their system needs to generate an SSL certificate for your domain. This certificate enables secure HTTPS connections. The error appears when:
- The certificate hasn't been generated yet — This is the most common cause
- You're accessing the non-www version — SSL only covers the www subdomain by default
- DNS changes haven't propagated — SmugMug can't issue a certificate until DNS is correct
Solution 1: Wait for certificate generation
SSL certificates typically generate within a few minutes to 24 hours after adding your domain to SmugMug.
What to do:
- Wait 24 hours after adding your domain
- Clear your browser cache and cookies
- Restart your browser
- Try accessing your site again
If you're still seeing the error after 24 hours, contact SmugMug Support. They can manually generate the SSL certificate for your domain.
Solution 2: Use the correct URL
SmugMug generates SSL certificates for the www version of your domain only. This means:
https://www.yourdomain.com— Works with SSLhttps://yourdomain.com— May show an error
Always use the www version:
https://www.yourdomain.comSet up domain forwarding
To ensure visitors who type the non-www version still reach your site securely, set up domain forwarding at your registrar:
- Forward
yourdomain.com→https://www.yourdomain.com - Use a 301 permanent redirect
This ensures all traffic goes to the SSL-secured www version.
Solution 3: Use Cloudflare for full SSL
If you need SSL on both www and non-www versions, you can use Cloudflare as a proxy:
- Sign up for a free Cloudflare account
- Transfer your domain's nameservers to Cloudflare
- Configure Cloudflare's SSL settings to "Full"
- Set up page rules to redirect non-www to www
This approach provides SSL everywhere and can improve site performance through Cloudflare's CDN.
Cloudflare setup requires changing your domain's nameservers. If you're not comfortable with DNS management, stick with the standard SmugMug setup using the www version only.
Troubleshooting checklist
If the error persists:
- Verify your CNAME record points to
domains.smugmug.com - Confirm DNS changes have propagated (wait 72 hours)
- Clear browser cache and cookies
- Try in an incognito/private window
- Test on a different device or network
- Contact SmugMug Support for manual certificate generation
Browser-specific notes
Different browsers display this error differently:
- Chrome: "Your connection is not private"
- Firefox: "Warning: Potential Security Risk Ahead"
- Safari: "This Connection Is Not Private"
- Edge: "Your connection isn't private"
The solution is the same regardless of which browser shows the error.