How to Set up HTTPS on a WordPress site | How to install SSL on a WordPress site

Step by Step guide to Install HTTPS on WordPress, how to install HTTPS in WordPress, how to install SSL certificate in WordPress site, how to install SSL in hostinger, how to install SSL certificate on a website

Are you looking for how to install HTTPS on your site?

If yes then you are in the right place because in this article we are going to discuss the importance of HTTPS on a website and how to install HTTPS on a website.

If you own a site there are likely to be users who will trust their personal information to you. Therefore, you should implement solid security standards as well as each of the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL or TLS) and Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) is an essential parts in ensuring that happens. 

The good news is that installing the WordPress SSL certificate and enforcing HTTPS on the website is relatively easy and can be accomplished in only several steps.

So let’s go ahead and see what is HTTPS and how to install HTTPS on a website.

What is HTTPS?

HTTPS is also known as Secure HTTP. Secure HTTP is an encrypted technique that protects the connection between your browser and server. This makes it difficult for hackers to intercept the connections.

Every day, we provide our personal data to diverse websites, whether it’s for buying something or just login.

To ensure the data transfer to protect the data transfer, a secure connection has to be set up.

This is when SSL and HTTPS arrive.

Every site is given a unique SSL certificate to allow identification. If a server pretends to be using HTTPS and its certificate isn’t in accordance with the certificate of the browser, it will stop users to avoid connecting to the site.

What is SSL?

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a technology that establishes secure connections between a site and the browser. Websites using SSL have certificates that ensure that your personal data is secure during every transfer.

You will be able to identify the majority of websites that use these certificates by their green locks symbol, which many browsers employ to recognize the certificates:

If, for instance, you’re buying something on the internet and you want to make a purchase, make purchases on websites that utilize SSL. If not, attackers could be able to access or alter the information you provide to pay in the course of transmission through the internet.

For your website, using SSL is essential. There are many advantages that come with it:

  • If you have an online site that encourages users to sign-up and to provide personal information and data, it is more secure.
  • Your website will become more reliable.
  • A stunning green lock will appear right next to your website address in different browsers.
  • The site will be boosted by your website’s search Engine Optimizing (SEO).

To further elaborate on this detail, search engines like Google urge all websites to implement SSL by offering websites that are secure a preference in their search results. It means that you safeguard your visitors’ data and may even gain increased traffic all in one swoop.

How to add SSL and HTTPS in WordPress?

In this article, we are going to discuss how to install SSL and HTTPS in WordPress for new and as well as old websites.

In this article, we are going to discuss three ways to install SSL and HTTPS on your WordPress site and make your website more secure from hackers.

1. How to manually add SSL in a WordPress website

This technique will require you to fix problems manually and modify WordPress files. This is not a permanent and better performance-optimized solution.

If you’re having trouble with this method, then you may consider hiring a WordPress developer or go with the second method instead.

In order to use this method it is possible to modify WordPress themes or code-related files.

To begin, go to Settings > General page. From there, you’ll need to change your WordPress URL and site URL fields by substituting http by https.

Make sure to hit the button ‘Save changes’ to save your settings.

After saving the settings, WordPress will log you out and you’ll be asked to log back in.

Next, you need to set up WordPress redirects from HTTP to HTTPS by adding the following code to your .htaccess file.

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]
</IfModule>

If you’re using the nginx servers (most users aren’t) If so, you’d require an additional code for redirecting users from HTTP in HTTP to HTTPS to your configuration file.

server {
listen 80;
server_name example.com www.example.com;
return 301 https://example.com$request_uri;
}

Do not forget to change example.com using your domain’s name.

If you follow these steps, you can be able to avoid getting WordPress HTTPS problems since WordPress will start loading your entire site with https.

If you are looking to enable SSL as well as HTTPS in your WordPress admin and login sites, you’ll need to set up SSL within your wp-config.php document.

Simply paste this code before that in your wp-config.php file:

	
define('FORCE_SSL_ADMIN', true);

This line lets WordPress enforce SSL or HTTPs into the WordPress administrator area. 

After this, your site is now set up to make use of SSL or HTTPS, however, you may still experience mixed errors in content.

These errors can be caused by sources (images scripts, images, or stylesheets) that are still loading via the insecure HTTP protocol in URLs. If that’s the case, you won’t be able to view the padlock symbol that is secure in the address bar of your website’s URL.

A lot of modern browsers immediately block dangerous resources and software. It is possible to see an icon for a padlock, but it will have an alert in the address bar of your browser.

Note:- With this above method in which you are adding SSL and HTTPS manually in your website this can cause some errors in your websites.

So, let’s look at the solutions for some of the common problems that can generate using the above method.

Some assets are not loading properly

After adding the SSL and HTTPS to your website using the above method then it is possible that some of the assets like images, videos, etc. will not load properly.

After you’ve enabled HTTPS on your site You may notice that certain assets, like images, don’t load properly. This is because WordPress uses the HTTP prefix rather than HTTPS.

If you are experiencing the same issue with your website’s image, CSS, or JavaScript The most efficient solution is to add a few changes to the .htaccess file. This method is only applicable if you followed the manual method in the prior section. We’ll go over what to do if you’re using an alternative plugin in a moment.

Connect to your site via FTP once more, and then look at your .htaccess file within the public_html directory. It is then possible to look for the code you created earlier to create a 301 redirect. The code should look something like this:

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{SERVER_PORT} 80
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://www.yoursite.com/$1 [R,L]
</IfModule>}

You’ll remove the fragment and then replace the snippet with one that’s more comprehensive. This isn’t required in the majority of instances, as it’s not uncommon to experience problems with certain assets not loading correctly. If you have been experiencing this issue this is the correct code to employ instead:

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{SERVER_PORT} !^443$
RewriteRule (.*) https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [R=301,L]
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
</IfModule>

The code will oblige all website assets to load via HTTPS. It also has guidelines regarding managing your WordPress assets, and therefore it should handle the files that were not functioning. Once you’ve added it in make sure you save the changes to a .htaccess file and upload it onto the WordPress server.

2. Add SSL and HTTPS using the WordPress plugin

This method is also for people who already have a website and they have not enabled HTTPS on their websites.

If you’re not keen on working on your WordPress files There are simpler methods to ensure HTTPS use on your site. For instance, you could install the WordPress SSL plugin, which includes the same code we demonstrated in the earlier method.

Although this option is easier, it has a risk of its own. For instance, when compatibility issues arise using different software or software, your SSL plugin may be ineffective and your website cannot load on HTTPS until you address the problem. So, you’ll need to select your SSL plugin with care.

We suggest Really Simple SSL plugin because it’s straightforward to create. All you require is a WordPress SSL certificate ready to start:

After the plugin is installed and activated. It will then scan your site for the presence of a WordPress SSL certificate. If it locates one, it’ll allow you to enable HTTPS across your site in one click. To do this, simply navigate to the latest settings > SSL tab in your dashboard and then click the Reload over HTTPS button. 

After that, you’re all set to go!

3. How to install HTTPS and SSL certificates using Hostinger

This method is very useful for those who are thinking to make a new website. Because when they will make their websites they need hosting to host their websites. We will recommend you all go with Hostinger. Because hostinger is one of the best secure and affordable hosting providers. And also hostinger provides lifetime SSL certificates for your domains.

To enable SSL, make sure you have your site is added to your Hosting plan or its subdomain is set up. Go over to your SSL section in your login, and click the button to install SSL link to start the SSL installation.

Choose the subdomain or domain you would like to place an SSL Certificate.

Then click and then install SSL. After a couple of minutes it will be displayed with the following status:

If your SSL installation fails, ensure your website is directed toward Hostinger, and then wait for the propagation to take place and reinstall the SSL.

Now, you have successfully installed SSL and HTTPS certificates on your website.

Conclusion

SSL ensures that internet connections are safe and stops hackers from altering or reading the information that is transferred from one system to another. If you notice an icon of a padlock next to an address line in your address bar that’s a sign that SSL secures the site you’re visiting.

So I hope you all have found this article useful and if you have any problem please do let us know in the comment section.

Also Read:

  1. Mandatory Plugins for WordPress for Beginners
  2. How to install and configure the Site kit Plugin

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