Enable HTTPS on Your WordPress Site to Boost Security & SEO Rankings
If you’ve been putting off enabling SSL on your WordPress website, today is the day to finally do it. A Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate—which enables HTTPS—is no longer optional. It’s essential for security, customer trust, and SEO performance.
Here’s the reality: Google Chrome marks all non-HTTPS websites as “Not Secure.” Payment processors require HTTPS for transactions. Search engines prioritize HTTPS sites in rankings. More importantly, your visitors’ data deserves protection, whether they’re signing up for your email list, leaving contact information, or making purchases.
The good news? Installing an SSL certificate on WordPress is easier than you might think. This guide walks you through every step, from checking if you already have SSL to forcing HTTPS across your entire site.
What Is an SSL Certificate and Why You Need It
An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is a digital credential that encrypts the connection between your website and your visitors’ browsers. When your site uses SSL, the URLs begin with https:// instead of http:// and display a green padlock icon in the address bar.
What Is an SSL Certificate
Why SSL Matters for Your Business
Visitor Security: SSL encrypts sensitive information like login credentials, payment details, and personal data, preventing hackers from intercepting it.
SEO Advantage: Google treats HTTPS as a ranking factor. Sites with SSL certificates rank better than equivalent HTTP sites.
Customer Trust: The green padlock and “Secure” badge build confidence that your site is safe. Visitors are more likely to complete purchases and form submissions on secure sites.
Payment Processing: Payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, and Square require HTTPS for transactions.
Compliance: If you collect data subject to regulations like GDPR or CCPA, SSL is a compliance requirement.
Browser Warnings: Chrome and Firefox warn visitors that non-HTTPS sites are “not secure,” hurting your credibility and conversion rates.
Reputation: A “Not Secure” warning in search results damages click-through rates and perceived trustworthiness.
Why SSL Matters for Your Business
In short: SSL is no longer optional—it’s essential. Fortunately, most modern WordPress hosting includes free SSL certificates. Your job is simply to enable and activate it.
Step 1: Check If Your Site Already Has SSL
Before you do anything, verify whether your hosting provider has already issued an SSL certificate for your domain. Many do—you simply need to activate it.
How to Check If You Have SSL
Method 1: Check Your Browser
- Visit your website (use http:// URL to see the unencrypted version)
- Look at the address bar. Does it show a padlock icon or a “Not Secure” message?
- If “Not Secure” appears, you don’t yet have SSL activated
Method 2: Check Your Hosting Control Panel
- Log into your hosting control panel (usually cPanel for most hosts)
- Look for “SSL/TLS” or “Security” section
- Check whether a certificate appears under “Installed Certificates”
Method 3: Use Online SSL Checker
- Visit an SSL checker tool like sslshopper.com or whynopadlock.com
- Enter your domain name
- The tool will tell you if SSL is installed and its status
If SSL is already installed on your hosting, you just need to activate it in WordPress (see Step 3 below). If not, follow Step 2.
Step 2: Get a Free SSL Certificate
The best part about modern WordPress hosting? Most providers offer free SSL certificates. You don’t need to purchase anything.
Option A: Enable Free SSL From Your Hosting Provider (Easiest)
Most quality WordPress hosting companies provide free SSL through Let’s Encrypt, a trusted certificate authority.
For cPanel Hosting (Bluehost, SiteGround, HostGator, Kinsta, etc.):
- Log into your hosting cPanel dashboard
- Scroll to the “Security” section
- Click “SSL/TLS Status” or “AutoSSL”
- Select your domain name
- Click “Run AutoSSL” or “Install”
- Wait 5-15 minutes for the certificate to be issued and installed
That’s it. Your SSL certificate is now active on your hosting.
For Bluehost Specifically:
- Log into your Bluehost dashboard
- Navigate to “Websites” section
- Click the “Settings” button below your site
- Select the “Security” tab
- Find the SSL Certificates card
- Click the three-dot menu and select “View SSL logs”
- This takes you to cPanel’s SSL/TLS section
- Select your domain and click “Run AutoSSL”
For Managed WordPress Hosting (Kinsta, WP Engine, Cloudways):
- Log into your hosting dashboard
- Navigate to your site settings
- Look for “SSL” or “Security” options
- Enable free Let’s Encrypt SSL with one click
- The certificate is automatically installed and renewed
Option B: Install Free SSL Manually (Advanced)
If your hosting provider doesn’t offer automatic SSL installation, you can use a WordPress plugin to install free SSL.
Using Really Simple SSL Plugin:
- Log into your WordPress dashboard
- Go to Plugins > Add New
- Search for “Really Simple SSL”
- Click “Install Now” and then “Activate”
- The plugin will automatically detect your SSL certificate and activate it
- If SSL isn’t detected, you’ll need to enable it through your hosting first
This plugin is the easiest solution for non-technical users because it handles the technical complexity automatically.
Option C: Purchase Premium SSL (If Needed)
Most WordPress sites don’t need premium SSL. Free SSL from Let’s Encrypt works perfectly. However, premium options exist if you want:
- Wildcard SSL: Covers multiple subdomains (e.g., *.yourdomain.com)
- Multi-domain SSL: Covers multiple different domains
- Extended Validation SSL: Shows your business name in the certificate
Premium SSL ranges from $50-$300/year, but for most small business websites, the free option is sufficient.
If you need premium SSL:
- Contact your hosting provider or purchase from providers like Comodo, DigiCert, or GoDaddy
- Download the certificate files (Certificate, Private Key, CA Bundle)
- Upload them through your hosting control panel
- Follow your hosting provider’s instructions for installation
Step 3: Activate HTTPS in WordPress
Once SSL is installed on your hosting, the final step is telling WordPress to use it. This involves updating your site URLs from http:// to https://.
Method 1: Using Really Simple SSL Plugin (Easiest)
This is the most reliable method for non-technical users.
- Install and activate the Really Simple SSL plugin (see instructions above)
- Go to the plugin settings in your WordPress dashboard
- The plugin will automatically:
- Detect your SSL certificate
- Activate HTTPS on your site
- Redirect all HTTP traffic to HTTPS
- Fix mixed content issues
That’s all you need to do. The plugin handles everything else.
Method 2: Manual Update in WordPress Settings
If you prefer to do it manually:
- Log into your WordPress dashboard
- Go to Settings > General
- Find the “WordPress Address (URL)” field
- Change http:// to https://
- Also update the “Site Address (URL)” field to https://
- Scroll down and click “Save Changes”
Important: Make sure your SSL certificate is active on your hosting before doing this. If you change these URLs without having SSL active, your site may become inaccessible.
Method 3: Force HTTPS Via .htaccess (Advanced)
For advanced users who want to ensure all traffic uses HTTPS:
- Access your site files via FTP or File Manager
- Find the .htaccess file in your site’s root directory
- Open it in a text editor
- Add this code at the very top:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} !=on
RewriteRule ^ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]
- Save the file
This forces all HTTP traffic to redirect to HTTPS permanently (301 redirect).
Step 4: Fix Mixed Content Issues
After enabling HTTPS, you might notice mixed content warnings. This happens when some resources on your page (images, scripts, stylesheets) still load over HTTP instead of HTTPS.
Browsers display warnings and may block insecure content. Users won’t see the green padlock until this is fixed.
How to Fix Mixed Content
Using Really Simple SSL:
The plugin automatically fixes most mixed content issues. Simply having it activated usually resolves the problem.
Manual Fix:
- Visit your website in Chrome or Firefox
- Right-click anywhere on the page
- Select “Inspect” or “Inspect Element”
- Go to the “Console” tab
- Look for errors mentioning “mixed content” or “blocked resources”
- These errors show which resources are loading insecurely
- Find those resources in your WordPress files or database and change URLs from http:// to https://
Using Search and Replace:
If you have many pages with mixed content:
- Install the Better Search Replace plugin
- Go to Tools > Better Search Replace
- Search for:
http://yourdomain.com - Replace with:
https://yourdomain.com - Make sure “Dry Run” is checked first to preview changes
- Run the replacement
This fixes all insecure URLs throughout your WordPress database.
Step 5: Verify Your SSL Installation
Now verify that everything is working correctly.
Check Your SSL Status
- Visit your website in a web browser
- Look at the address bar—it should show https:// and a green padlock icon
- Click the padlock to see certificate details
- Your domain name should match the certificate
Run an SSL Test
Use an SSL checker tool to verify complete installation:
- Visit SSL Shopper (sslshopper.com)
- Enter your domain name
- Click “Check”
- The tool will report your SSL status and any issues
If you see “Installation looks good!” you’re done.
Check for Mixed Content
- Visit your site’s homepage
- View the browser console (F12 key, then Console tab)
- If you see warnings about “mixed content” or “insecure resources,” follow the mixed content fixes in Step 4
- Reload the page and verify warnings are gone
SSL Certificate Installation
Why SSL Affects Your Security and Beyond
Installing SSL doesn’t just protect your visitors—it has broader implications:
For E-Commerce Sites:
Payment processors require HTTPS to process transactions. Without SSL, customers can’t complete purchases, and you can’t accept payments legally.
For SEO Rankings:
Google explicitly confirmed that HTTPS is a ranking factor. Sites with SSL typically outrank equivalent HTTP sites. Additionally, as discussed in our guide to optimizing your WordPress site for top Google rankings, HTTPS is now a baseline SEO requirement rather than a bonus.
For Visitor Trust:
A “Not Secure” warning damages credibility. Studies show visitors abandon sites displaying this warning. Trust is essential for conversions.
For Data Protection:
If you collect emails, names, phone numbers, or any personal data through forms, you have a responsibility to protect it. SSL encryption ensures this data is protected in transit.
Additional Security Measures
SSL is the foundation of website security, but it’s not the only protection you need. Consider these additional security steps:
WordPress Security Updates:
Keep WordPress, themes, and plugins updated. Security updates patch known vulnerabilities. Read our comprehensive guide on 8 WordPress security updates to stop hackers for detailed information on maintaining a secure WordPress environment.
Strong Passwords:
Use strong, unique administrator passwords. Consider using a password manager.
Two-Factor Authentication:
Enable two-factor authentication for your WordPress login to add an extra security layer.
Contact Form Protection:
Protect contact forms from spam and bots. Learn how to add Google reCAPTCHA to your WordPress contact forms to prevent automated attacks while maintaining user experience.
Regular Backups:
Maintain regular backups of your WordPress database and files. If compromised, you can restore quickly.
Security Plugins:
Use security plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri to monitor for threats, scan for malware, and block suspicious activity.
Performance Optimization:
A slow site often indicates security issues. Ensure your WordPress site runs efficiently by reviewing our 12 easy WordPress performance tips requiring no coding to maintain both speed and security.
FAQ: SSL Certificate for WordPress
Q: Is SSL free?
A: Yes, Let’s Encrypt provides free SSL certificates. Most modern WordPress hosting includes free SSL automatically. Premium options exist but aren’t necessary for most sites.
Q: Will SSL slow down my site?
A: No. Modern HTTPS is slightly faster than HTTP due to HTTP/2 optimization. The Really Simple SSL plugin may add minimal overhead, but most users won’t notice any speed difference.
Q: Do I need to do anything when my SSL expires?
A: No. Let’s Encrypt certificates automatically renew every 90 days through your hosting provider. You don’t need to do anything.
Q: Will changing to HTTPS hurt my search engine rankings?
A: No. Google recognizes the 301 redirect from HTTP to HTTPS. Your rankings transfer to the HTTPS version of your site. In fact, sites with SSL typically perform better in rankings than equivalent HTTP sites.
Q: What if I have a self-signed certificate?
A: Self-signed certificates don’t work for public websites because browsers don’t recognize them as legitimate. Use a certificate from a trusted authority like Let’s Encrypt instead.
Q: Can I have SSL on a subdomain without the main domain?
A: Yes, but it’s not recommended. Install SSL on your main domain. Wildcard SSL certificates cover subdomains if needed.
Q: My site won’t load after I enabled HTTPS. What do I do?
A: Immediately revert the URL changes in WordPress Settings > General back to HTTP. Then verify SSL is active on your hosting before trying again. Contact your hosting provider if you continue having issues.
Q: How often should I renew my SSL certificate?
A: Let’s Encrypt certificates auto-renew every 90 days through your hosting provider. You don’t need to manually renew anything.
Next Steps: Your Complete WordPress Security Roadmap
Installing SSL is your first step toward a secure WordPress website. But it’s just the beginning.
Complete this security checklist:
- ✓ Install and activate SSL certificate (you’re here!)
- Implement form protection—learn how to add Google reCAPTCHA
- Keep WordPress updated—follow our 8 WordPress security updates guide
- Optimize site performance—implement our 12 easy WordPress performance tips
- Ensure SEO readiness—review our WordPress SEO optimization guide
Once your security foundation is solid, you can focus on growing your business through your website.
Conclusion: SSL Is Non-Negotiable
The bottom line: SSL certificates are no longer optional. They’re essential for security, SEO, trust, and legal compliance.
The process is simple:
- Enable free SSL through your hosting provider
- Activate HTTPS in WordPress Settings
- Verify the installation works
- Fix any mixed content issues
Most of this takes 15 minutes. The protection it provides to your visitors and your business is invaluable.
Don’t wait. Enable SSL on your WordPress site today. Your visitors’ security, your search rankings, and your business depend on it.
Need help setting up SSL or have questions about WordPress security? Our team specializes in WordPress website design for small businesses that drive growth, including complete security implementation.