How to Install SSL and Enable HTTPS on WordPress for Free

Securing your WordPress site with HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your visitors and improve your site’s SEO ranking. One of the easiest ways to enable HTTPS on your WordPress site is by installing a free SSL certificate. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to install an SSL certificate and enable HTTPS on your WordPress site, step by step.

Why Do You Need HTTPS?

• Security: HTTPS encrypts the communication between your website and its visitors, protecting sensitive data such as passwords, credit card numbers, and personal information.
• SEO Ranking: Google uses HTTPS as a ranking factor. Sites with HTTPS are likely to rank higher in search results.
• Trust: HTTPS builds trust with your visitors. Modern browsers show a “Not Secure” warning for sites without HTTPS, which can discourage visitors from interacting with your site.

Step 1: Get a Free SSL Certificate

Before you can enable HTTPS on your WordPress site, you need an SSL certificate. Fortunately, you don’t need to spend money to secure your site—there are several free SSL options available, the most popular being Let’s Encrypt. Most reputable web hosts offer free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates that you can easily install through your hosting control panel.

Here’s how to get a free SSL certificate for your site:

1. Check if Your Host Offers Free SSL: Many hosting providers offer Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates for free. Log into your hosting account and navigate to your cPanel or equivalent.
2. Enable SSL via Your Hosting Panel: In the security section, look for “SSL/TLS” or “Let’s Encrypt” and follow the instructions to activate the certificate.
3. Wait for SSL Activation: Once you’ve enabled SSL, it might take a few minutes to activate. When the SSL certificate is ready, your website will be accessible via HTTPS (e.g., https://yoursite.com).

Step 2: Install and Configure the Really Simple SSL Plugin

Once you’ve secured your site with an SSL certificate, the next step is to configure WordPress to serve content over HTTPS. One of the easiest and most effective ways to do this is by using the Really Simple SSL plugin. This plugin automatically detects your SSL certificate and configures your site to load securely over HTTPS.

Here’s how to install and configure the Really Simple SSL plugin:

1. Install the Really Simple SSL Plugin:
   • Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
   • Go to Plugins > Add New.
   • Search for “Really Simple SSL” in the search bar.
   • Click Install Now, then click Activate.
2. Activate HTTPS:
   • After activation, you’ll be prompted with a message saying that SSL is detected on your site.
   • Simply click the button Go ahead, activate SSL.
3. Automatic Configuration:
   • The plugin will automatically update your site’s settings and database, replacing HTTP links with HTTPS.
   • It will also force your site to load over HTTPS, ensuring that all pages, posts, and resources are loaded securely.
4. Test Your Site:
   • Once the plugin has configured your site, go ahead and visit your website. You should see a padlock symbol in the browser’s address bar, indicating that your site is secure.
   • Ensure all pages are loading over HTTPS and there are no mixed content warnings (insecure resources loaded over HTTP). If you encounter any mixed content, Really Simple SSL can help identify and fix it.

Step 3: Update Internal Links and Resources (If Needed)

In some cases, your WordPress site may contain hardcoded HTTP links in the content or theme files. Really Simple SSL usually handles this for you, but if you notice any issues, here’s what you can do:

1. Update Internal Links:
   • If you have hardcoded internal links that still point to HTTP URLs, update them to HTTPS.
   • You can use plugins like Better Search Replace to search for all HTTP links in your database and replace them with HTTPS.
2. Check for Mixed Content:
   • If your site is displaying a “Mixed Content” warning, it means that some elements (like images, stylesheets, or scripts) are still being loaded over HTTP.
   • To fix this, ensure all external resources (like images or scripts) are requested via HTTPS. You can modify the source links or use a plugin to update them automatically.

Step 4: Test Your Website’s SSL Installation

To ensure everything is working correctly, test your site’s SSL configuration. You can use tools like:

• SSL Labs’ SSL Test: This tool will show you detailed information about your SSL certificate and any potential issues.
• Why No Padlock: This tool helps identify mixed content issues on your site.

Step 5: Update Google Search Console and Analytics

Now that your site is secured with HTTPS, it’s important to update your Google Search Console and Google Analytics settings to reflect the change:

1. Google Search Console:
   • Go to your Search Console account.
   • Add the HTTPS version of your site as a new property.
   • Submit a new sitemap with HTTPS URLs to ensure Google crawls and indexes your site properly.
2. Google Analytics:
   • Go to Admin > Property Settings in Google Analytics.
   • Change the default URL to HTTPS.

Conclusion

Enabling HTTPS on your WordPress site is essential for both security and SEO. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily get a free SSL certificate, install the Really Simple SSL plugin, and configure your site to serve content securely. This simple process will help protect your visitors’ data and improve your site’s credibility, while also boosting your search engine rankings.