# Certbot: error: unrecognized arguments: —standalone

**URL:** <https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/certbot-error-unrecognized-arguments-standalone/76699>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [November 5, 2018, 8:56pm UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/certbot-error-unrecognized-arguments-standalone/76699 "2018-11-05T20:56:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![msdux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/letsencrypt/user_avatar/community.letsencrypt.org/msdux/32/27286_2.png) [@msdux](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/msdux)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2018, 8:56pm UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/certbot-error-unrecognized-arguments-standalone/76699/1 "2018-11-05T20:56:57Z")

</div>

Hi there,

looking for some help to install an SSL cert on my website that is hosted by vultr.

When entering the command **./letsencrypt-auto certonly —standalone** I get the output **certbot: error: unrecognized arguments: —standalone** I’m following a tutorial from youtube and not sure what the issue is. Any help or insight is appreciated. A little new to this so will need some hand-holding and extra guidance.

**My domain is:**  
gegc.ca

**I ran this command:**  
./letsencrypt-auto certonly —standalone

**It produced this output:**  
certbot: error: unrecognized arguments: —standalone

**The operating system my web server runs on is:**  
Ubuntu 16.04.4 LTS

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JuergenAuer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/letsencrypt/user_avatar/community.letsencrypt.org/juergenauer/32/26491_2.png) [@JuergenAuer](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/JuergenAuer)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2018, 9:01pm UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/certbot-error-unrecognized-arguments-standalone/76699/2 "2018-11-05T21:01:07Z")

</div>

Hi @msdux

> [@msdux](#):
>
> /letsencrypt-auto certonly —standalone

the name is

```nohighlight
--standalone

```

two -

Check

[https://certbot.eff.org/docs/using.html](https://certbot.eff.org/docs/using.html)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rg305](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/letsencrypt/user_avatar/community.letsencrypt.org/rg305/32/91314_2.png) [@rg305](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/rg305)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2018, 9:12pm UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/certbot-error-unrecognized-arguments-standalone/76699/3 "2018-11-05T21:12:38Z")

</div>

> [@JuergenAuer](#):
>
> —standalone

Good catch: ASCII code 97h may look like 2Dh 2Dh, but it is definitely not equal to it - LOL  
Or 151, 45 45 for those who speak only in "decimal" - LOL

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JuergenAuer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/letsencrypt/user_avatar/community.letsencrypt.org/juergenauer/32/26491_2.png) [@JuergenAuer](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/JuergenAuer)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2018, 9:16pm UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/certbot-error-unrecognized-arguments-standalone/76699/4 "2018-11-05T21:16:41Z")

</div>

> [@rg305](#):
>
> ASCII code 97h may look like 2Dh 2Dh

May be a problem creating a Youtube - tutorial. There is no copy & paste.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rg305](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/letsencrypt/user_avatar/community.letsencrypt.org/rg305/32/91314_2.png) [@rg305](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/rg305)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2018, 9:22pm UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/certbot-error-unrecognized-arguments-standalone/76699/5 "2018-11-05T21:22:41Z")

</div>

Yes, copying to/from word processors is not ideal; as some tend to “auto-spellcheck” and “auto-correct” things that aren’t “incorrect” - LOL

Notepad tends to behave well for me.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![msdux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/letsencrypt/user_avatar/community.letsencrypt.org/msdux/32/27286_2.png) [@msdux](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/msdux)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2018, 9:26pm UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/certbot-error-unrecognized-arguments-standalone/76699/6 "2018-11-05T21:26:30Z")

</div>

Hi Juergen,

you’re a legend!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/letsencrypt/original/3X/c/a/ca6c06ea1ea201324bba7048c6841ce60236468d.png) [@system](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 9:35pm UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/certbot-error-unrecognized-arguments-standalone/76699/7 "2018-12-05T21:35:38Z")

</div>

This topic was automatically closed 30 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.