Let’s Encrypt certificate installation fails for a domain in Plesk for Windows Server: The authorization token is not available

Symptoms

• When installing a Let's Encrypt certificate for a domain, the operation fails with the error message:

  The authorization token is not available at http://example.com/.well-known/acme-challenge/347mK_j_YTyKfxB_tYSdcmzvlze0N5OJKcluSRxc9yY
  ...
  Detail: 203.0.113.2: Invalid response from http://example.com/.well-known/acme-challenge/347mK_j_YTyKfxB_tYSdcmzvlze0N5OJKcluSRxc9yY: 403

Cause

Require SSL/TLS option is enabled at Domains > example.com > Hosting & DNS > IIS Settings.

When this option is enabled, challenge directory is accessed via HTTPS protocol, but the HTTP-01 challenge required by Let's Encrypt can only be done via HTTP protocol.

Resolution

1. Log in to Plesk.

2. Go to Domains > example.com > Hosting & DNS > IIS Settings > Directory Security Settings.

3. Disable Disable Require SSL/TLS option and apply the changes.

4. Re-issue the certificate at Domains > example.com > SSL/TLS certificates.

5. Re-enable Require SSL/TLS option at Domains > example.com > IIS Settings > Directory Security Settings if required.