What is HTTPS and Why is it Important?

HTTPS or HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure is a protocol that is used to securely transmit data over the internet. It is an important protocol because it encrypts sensitive user data and also provides authentication, ensuring that users are communicating with the intended website.

If you are a WordPress website owner, it is highly advisable to have your website running on HTTPS. This ensures better security for your website and your users.

Redirecting Your WordPress Website to HTTPS

In this article, we will guide you through the necessary steps of redirecting your WordPress website from HTTP to HTTPS. The process involves a few technical aspects, but fret not as we will do our best to explain them in simple terms.

Step 1: Obtain an SSL Certificate

An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate encrypts communication between a web server and a web browser. It enables the “https” protocol, which encrypts all data transferred between a user and a website.

You can obtain an SSL certificate by buying one or using a free one. Buying one provides more security, trust, and credibility for your website, while there are several SSL certificate providers available, the cost varies depending on your needs. You can also get a free SSL certificate from Let’s Encrypt or Cloudflare.

Step 2: Install an SSL Certificate

Once you have obtained an SSL certificate, the next step is to install it on your hosting server. Most hosting platforms come with an SSL installation feature in the platform dashboard.

Follow these simple steps to install the certificate:

1. Logout of your WordPress dashboard and login to your hosting account.
2. Find the SSL/TLS option in your hosting account cPanel.
3. Click on “Generate an SSL/TLS certificate.”
4. Enter the required information and then click on “Generate Certificate.”
5. You will then be required to install the certificate, click on “Install certificate.”

After installation, your website will be running on HTTPS, but to ensure that your website visitors access the website via HTTPS, you need to redirect HTTP to HTTPS.

Step 3: Redirect HTTP to HTTPS

You have two options to redirect your WordPress website from HTTP to HTTPS: use a plugin or edit the .htaccess file.

Option 1: Use a Plugin

WordPress has several plugins that you can use to redirect HTTP to HTTPS. One of the best and highly recommended plugins is “Really Simple SSL.” This plugin automatically detects your SSL certificate and sets up a redirection to HTTPS.

To use Really Simple SSL:

1. Install and activate the Really Simple SSL plugin in your WordPress Dashboard.
2. After activation, you will see a popup asking you to enable SSL. Click on “Go ahead, activate SSL!”
3. The plugin will automatically detect your SSL certificate and set up a redirection to HTTPS.

Option 2: Edit the .htaccess File

The .htaccess file controls how your web server behaves. Edit the file to enable redirection from HTTP to HTTPS.

To redirect HTTP to HTTPS using the .htaccess file, follow these simple steps:

1. Login to your WordPress dashboard and download the .htaccess file from the root folder of your website.
2. Next, open the .htaccess file using a text editor and add the following code:

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

3. Save the changes and upload the .htaccess file back into the root folder of your WordPress installation.

That’s it! Your WordPress website will now redirect HTTP to HTTPS.

In Conclusion

Ensuring that your WordPress website runs on HTTPS is essential for security and user trust. As we have discussed, redirecting HTTP to HTTPS involves obtaining and installing an SSL certificate and then redirecting HTTP to HTTPS using a plugin or editing your .htaccess file.

We hope that this guide has helped you redirect your WordPress website from HTTP to HTTPS. If you have any questions or need further clarification, feel free to leave a comment below.