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How to Enable SSL in WordPress Control Panel
- Missy Ly
- 5 days ago
- 8 min read
Want to secure your WordPress site with HTTPS? Here's how you can enable SSL in your WordPress control panel to protect sensitive data, improve SEO, and display the padlock icon in browsers. Follow these steps:
Check SSL Activation: Confirm your SSL certificate is active by visiting or checking your hosting control panel.
Back Up Your Site: Always back up your WordPress files and database before making changes.
Update URLs: Change to in WordPress Address and Site Address under Settings > General.
Fix Mixed Content: Use plugins like Really Simple SSL or Better Search Replace to update HTTP links to HTTPS.
Secure Admin Area: Add to your file.
Redirect Traffic to HTTPS: Add redirect rules in (Apache) or server configuration (Nginx).
Pro Tip: Hosting services like WPWorld often provide one-click SSL activation and automated certificate renewal, making the process easier.
These steps ensure your site is secure, compliant, and optimized for search engines.
How to Force HTTPS - Using "Really Simple SSL" WordPress Plugin
Preparing WordPress for SSL
Before diving into any settings adjustments, make sure your SSL certificate is functioning and complete a full backup of your site. Skipping these steps could leave you locked out of your dashboard or result in data loss if something goes wrong during the setup.
Confirm SSL is Active on Your Domain
To check if your SSL certificate is active, type into your browser. If everything is set up correctly, you’ll notice a padlock icon in the browser’s address bar. If you see any warning messages, it means the certificate isn’t active or hasn’t been installed properly.
You can also confirm the status of your SSL certificate through your hosting control panel. For example, WPWorld users can manage SSL certificates directly from the WPWorld control panel, where they can check the activation status and the certificate’s expiration date.
Back Up Your WordPress Website
Always back up your site’s database and files before making any changes to URLs or updating the database.
Many hosting providers, such as WPWorld, include automated backup tools in their control panels. Start there before considering third-party plugins. For those planning to use a plugin like "Better Search Replace" to resolve mixed content issues later, running a backup beforehand is essential. Use the plugin’s "dry run" feature to preview changes before applying them. As Fused.com advises:
"Backup your site before performing this step [database search/replace]"
Once your backup is complete, proceed to update your WordPress URLs to enable HTTPS.
Enabling HTTPS in WordPress Settings
Update WordPress and Site Address URLs
To start, log in to your WordPress admin dashboard and navigate to Settings > General. You’ll find two key fields at the top: WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL). Both likely display as the default.
Update the prefix in both fields to . These URLs are usually identical, so make sure to match them. Also, avoid adding a trailing slash - use instead of .
Once updated, click Save Changes. Be aware that this action will log you out, and you’ll need to log back in using the new HTTPS-secured URL. If these fields are locked or greyed out, you’ll need to edit the URLs directly in the file. Afterward, it’s crucial to tackle any mixed content issues to ensure your site is fully secure.
Fix Mixed Content Issues with a Plugin
Even after updating your URLs, your site might still display a "Not Secure" warning. This happens when certain assets - like images, scripts, or stylesheets - are still being loaded over HTTP. This is known as mixed content, and it prevents the browser from showing the secure padlock icon.
To resolve this, install the Really Simple SSL plugin. It automatically updates HTTP links to HTTPS, making the process quick and simple. For a more permanent fix, use the Better Search Replace plugin. This allows you to replace all instances of with across your database. Just make sure to back up your database beforehand and perform a dry run to avoid any issues.
Forcing SSL for WordPress Admin and Front-End
Force HTTPS for WordPress Admin Area
Your WordPress admin dashboard holds sensitive information, like login credentials and site configurations. To secure it, you can enforce SSL by making a quick update to your file.
Access your site files through FTP or your hosting provider's File Manager. Open the file located in the root directory and add the following line:
Place this line just above the comment: . This ensures that all admin sessions and logins are encrypted, protecting your data from being intercepted.
Keep in mind that the constant was deprecated starting with WordPress version 4.0. Always use instead. If your site is behind a reverse proxy, like Cloudflare, you might need to add a check for the header in the same file to avoid infinite redirect loops.
Redirect All Traffic to HTTPS
After securing your WordPress admin area, it’s important to extend SSL protection to your entire site. This ensures that all pages load over HTTPS, safeguarding visitor data and avoiding browser security warnings. To do this, set up server-level redirection to capture all HTTP requests before WordPress processes them.
For sites on Apache servers, add the following rule to your file. Place it above the standard WordPress rewrite block:
This code sends a 301 redirect, signaling browsers and search engines that your site has permanently moved to HTTPS.
If you’re using Nginx, update your configuration file with this server block to redirect traffic from port 80:
For those using a hosting provider with advanced control panels - such as WPWorld's all-in-one dashboard - you might have the option to enable HTTPS redirection with a single click, skipping the need for manual file edits.
Once the redirects are in place, test your site to ensure all pages load securely over HTTPS. Use tools like "Why No Padlock" to identify and resolve any mixed content issues that could prevent full encryption.
Post-Configuration Checks and Troubleshooting
Verify SSL and Fix Remaining Mixed Content
Once SSL is enabled, check for the padlock icon in your browser's address bar. If the padlock is missing or shows a warning, it means some resources are still loading via HTTP while your main page uses HTTPS. This issue, known as mixed content, can compromise the security of your site.
To identify these HTTP-loaded resources, use your browser's developer tools or an online scanner like whynopadlock.com. These tools can help pinpoint specific files or links that need to be updated.
For resolving mixed content, refer to earlier steps involving plugins designed for this purpose. If the problem persists, inspect your theme files for hardcoded HTTP links or contact the plugin developers for additional support.
Once you've resolved mixed content issues, you can move on to addressing common SSL errors.
Troubleshooting Common SSL Issues
Some common SSL issues may arise during or after implementation. Here’s how to tackle them:
Redirect Loops: If you encounter a redirect loop, add the following code snippet to your file. Place it just before the line :
Dashboard Access Issues: If you can’t access your WordPress dashboard, use phpMyAdmin to manually update the and fields in the table, setting them to .
Certificate Errors: Errors like often occur due to expired certificates or mismatched domain names. Make sure your SSL certificate covers both the "www" and non-"www" versions of your domain. If the certificate is expired or incorrectly configured, reinstall it through your hosting provider's control panel.
Here’s a quick reference table for common SSL errors, their causes, and solutions:
SSL Error | Common Cause | Primary Solution |
Mixed Content | Hardcoded HTTP links in themes/plugins | Use a plugin to search and replace HTTP links |
Too Many Redirects | Reverse proxy configuration | Add HTTP_X_FORWARDED_PROTO logic to wp-config.php |
NET::ERR_CERT_INVALID | Expired certificate or domain mismatch | Reinstall the certificate via hosting panel |
CAA DNS Record Error | Incorrect DNS CAA settings | Update or remove CAA records |
Contact Your Hosting Provider for Assistance
If these fixes don’t resolve your issues, it may be time to reach out to your hosting provider. Some SSL problems require server-level adjustments beyond WordPress settings. For example, certificate installation failures, persistent "Pending" statuses after DNS updates, or discomfort with editing files like or are all scenarios where hosting support can step in.
Many hosting providers, like WPWorld, offer 24/7 support to help with SSL-related problems. Their services often include certificate installation, server configuration tweaks, and resolving redirect issues. Additionally, their advanced control panels simplify SSL management with features like one-click activation and automatic certificate renewal, reducing the need for manual intervention.
Conclusion
Setting up SSL in WordPress is a simple yet crucial step to improve your website's security, trustworthiness, and visibility in search results. The process involves a few key actions: ensuring your SSL certificate is active, updating your WordPress and Site Address URLs to use HTTPS, resolving mixed content issues with a plugin like Better Search Replace, and enforcing SSL across your admin area and front-end. Once configured, the browser's padlock icon confirms your site is secure. Beyond security, SSL also enhances site performance and ensures adherence to important standards.
SSL does more than secure data - it boosts your search rankings, enables faster loading through HTTP/2, and ensures compliance with regulations like PCI DSS and GDPR.
"It's not just about encryption; it's about showing your visitors that you care about their safety and making sure your site ranks higher on search engines." - Pavel Ciorici, Founder, WPZOOM
Platforms like WPWorld make managing SSL certificates effortless. They provide free Let's Encrypt certificates that are automatically installed once your domain is connected to their servers. These certificates renew every 90 days without you lifting a finger. WPWorld also offers one-click SSL activation, an intuitive control panel, and 24/7 support with an average 90-second response time and a 98% customer satisfaction rate. Their approach eliminates the technical hurdles, making it easy for anyone to secure their WordPress site.
FAQs
How do I check if my SSL certificate is active on my WordPress site?
To check if your SSL certificate is active, look for a padlock icon in your browser’s address bar when you visit your website. Clicking on the padlock provides details about the certificate, such as its validity and expiration date. Alternatively, you can use an online SSL verification tool to double-check that the certificate is correctly installed and recognized. These steps ensure that your site is secured with SSL.
How do I fix mixed content issues after enabling SSL on my WordPress site?
Mixed content issues occur when certain resources on your website still load over http instead of https, even after you've enabled SSL. To resolve this, start by updating the WordPress and Site Address URLs in your settings to use https. Next, look for any hardcoded http links in your posts, themes, or plugins. You can efficiently update these using a search-and-replace tool. Once that's done, clear both your website and browser caches to ensure all content loads securely when you check your site again.
How can I redirect all website traffic to HTTPS in WordPress?
If you want to ensure all traffic is redirected to HTTPS, you'll need to adjust your server configuration based on whether you're using Apache or Nginx.
For Apache, locate the file in your WordPress root directory. Then, add the following snippet:
For Nginx, edit your site configuration file to include a server block that listens on port 80 and redirects traffic to HTTPS:
Once you've made these updates, reload your server to activate the changes. To confirm everything is working, visit your site using and check if it automatically redirects to . Also, remember to update your WordPress site URLs in the settings to use for improved security and SEO.
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