Beginning June 4, 2025, Let’s Encrypt will discontinue sending expiration reminder emails for certificates. This decision stems from several key factors reflecting evolving user needs and the organization’s shifting priorities.
Over the past decade, an increasing number of certificate holders have implemented automated renewal systems, rendering manual notifications less relevant. Moreover, maintaining the email notification service requires storing millions of email addresses, which conflicts with Let’s Encrypt’s strong commitment to privacy principles.
Additionally, supporting this functionality costs the organization tens of thousands of dollars annually—resources that could be better allocated to infrastructure development. Simplifying systems by removing less essential components also reduces the risk of errors and eases the management of complex processes, especially in light of future updates and expansions.
For users who wish to continue receiving certificate expiration reminders, Let’s Encrypt recommends third-party services like Red Sift Certificates Lite, which offers free monitoring for up to 250 certificates.
While discontinuing notification emails may create some inconvenience for certain users, the growth of automation and availability of alternative solutions ensure this challenge is manageable. The key lies in adapting promptly to these changes.
