Switching Your Website to HTTPS: A Step-by-Step Guide for WordPress Users

In today’s internet age, where online transactions have become commonplace, making your website HTTPS is crucial. By encrypting the connections between your website and its users, HTTPS provides an additional layer of security and builds trust among website visitors. Thanks to WordPress with its vast pool of plugins and support community, you can easily switch your website to HTTPS. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step 1: Purchase an SSL Certificate

An SSL Certificate encrypts the data sent between the user’s browser and the website’s server. You can purchase an SSL certificate from trusted Certificate Authorities like GeoTrust, DigiCert, or Symantec. You will receive an email with instructions on how to install the certificate once you purchase it.

Step 2: Install the SSL Certificate

You need to install the SSL certificate on your website’s server. Most hosting providers offer a one-click SSL certificate installation service. You can easily do this through their user interface. Check your hosting provider’s documentation for instructions.

Step 3: Redirect HTTP Traffic to HTTPS

After installing the SSL certificate, redirect your website’s HTTP traffic to HTTPS. This ensures that all the traffic to your website is encrypted and secure. You need to create a redirect rule in your website’s .htaccess file to redirect HTTP traffic to HTTPS. Add the following code to the top of your .htaccess file to create a redirect rule:

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

Step 4: Change the Site URL in WordPress Settings

Now that you’ve redirected HTTP traffic to HTTPS, update the WordPress site URL settings to reflect the change. This ensures that all internal links and URLs point to the secure HTTPS version of your site. Go to the WordPress Dashboard, navigate to Settings > General, and update the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) to use HTTPS.

Step 5: Update All Content to HTTPS

After changing the site URL, update all the links, images, and videos on your website to use HTTPS. This ensures that all content on your site is served over HTTPS, and no mixed content warnings are shown. Use a plugin like Velvet Blues Update URLs to update all content to HTTPS.

Step 6: Update Your Google Analytics Account

If you’re using Google Analytics to track your website traffic, update your tracking code to use HTTPS. This ensures that all tracking data is sent securely over HTTPS. Log in to your Google Analytics dashboard, navigate to Admin > Property Settings, and change the Default URL to use HTTPS. Update the tracking code on your website to use the new URL.

Step 7: Update Search Engine Indexing

Finally, submit the updated sitemap to Google Search Console to update search engine indexing. This ensures that your website’s search rankings and organic traffic are not affected negatively. Generate a new sitemap using a plugin like Yoast SEO and submit it to Google Search Console.

In Conclusion

Switching your website to HTTPS is a simple process that ensures the security and trustworthiness of your website. Follow the steps outlined above to switch your website to HTTPS. Update all internal links and content to HTTPS, update your Google Analytics tracking code, and submit your updated sitemap to Google Search Console. Make the switch now!