How to Fix Common SSL Issues in WordPress » Rank Math

Are you facing SSL issues with your WordPress website? If you’ve recently shifted to HTTPS and encountering issues, know you’re not alone.

Ensuring your SSL certificates are configured correctly is necessary for a secure online environment. However, it’s common to encounter problems like “Not Secure” warnings during or after the setup process.

In this post, we’ll cover the essential topics, including the significance of SSL certificates, resolving mixed content errors, and fixing SSL issues.

You’ll also gain valuable insights into SSL/HTTPS and the ways to resolve common SSL issues on your WordPress site effectively.

Without further ado, let’s get started.

1 What is SSL/HTTPS, and Why is It Important?

SSL, or Secure Sockets Layer, is a security protocol encrypting data between your web hosting server and the user’s browser. This encryption establishes a secure connection, safeguarding user data privacy.

With SSL encryption, a padlock icon appears in the browser’s address bar, indicating a secure connection.

Additionally, the website’s URL begins with “https” instead of “http.”

SSL/HTTPS enhances your website’s security, improving user trust and shields data from potential interception by malicious actors or hackers. Every website with HTTPS/SSL is assigned an SSL certificate for identification.

Most search engines, including Google, encourage all websites to install SSL certificates. Failing to do so can lead to your site being labeled with a “Not Secure” warning.

Yet, if your hosting server employs an SSL certificate from an unrecognized provider or is misconfigured, your website may become inaccessible to your audience. 

Search engines and browsers, detecting the insecurity, will block the audience from visiting your site, causing potential disruptions.

Failure to resolve this error can result in losing website traffic, trust, and credibility. Additionally, it directly affects your website’s SEO, affecting visibility and ranking.

Moreover, obtaining an SSL certificate is important when setting up an online store to ensure secure transactions and reduce financial fraud risks. This protects sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details.

Given the significance of SSL certificates, acquiring one is essential. Fortunately, you can obtain a free SSL certificate from reputable web hosting platforms. In cases where your hosting platform doesn’t provide it for free, you can purchase one.

2 Common SSL Issues and How to Fix Them

Common SSL issues in WordPress can arise due to various reasons, impacting the security and functionality of your website. Let us now discuss the most common SSL issues and explore how to solve them.

2.1 Mixed Content Error

Mixed Content error occurs when a website, intended to load securely over HTTPS, includes resources loaded over an insecure HTTP connection. These resources may consist of images, scripts, or stylesheets.

Refer to our dedicated tutorial on fixing the mixed content error.

2.2 The NET::ERR_CERT_INVALID Error

The “NET::ERR_CERT_INVALID” error typically occurs when the website you’re attempting to access uses an SSL certificate not trusted by your browser.

The error’s appearance can vary depending on the browser but is generally presented as follows in the Google browser.

This error can occur for a few reasons:

1.  An expired or self-signed certificate
2.  A mismatch between the domain name and the certificate
3.  Issues with the website’s SSL configuration or server itself
4.  Your browser does not recognize the certificate-issuing authority.

To resolve the error, ask your WordPress hosting provider to install your SSL certificate, especially if you’ve purchased one. Then, contact the certificate sellers to address the error on your behalf.

If you manually installed the SSL certificate on your website, consider reinstalling it correctly.

2.3 Too Many Redirects Error After Moving to SSL/HTTPS

The “Too Many Redirects” error after moving to SSL/HTTPS in WordPress is a common issue and often occurs due to misconfigurations in the SSL settings or conflicts with the existing redirects.

Since WordPress allows enforcing HTTPS/SSL in the admin area, you can resolve this issue by adding the following code to your wp-config.php file.

define(‘FORCE_SSL_ADMIN’, true);

However, in certain situations, relying solely on this setting can lead to the ‘Too many redirects’ error.

To resolve this issue, you need to add the following code into your wp-config.php file just before the line that reads, ‘That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging.’

define('FORCE_SSL_ADMIN', true);
// in some setups HTTP_X_FORWARDED_PROTO might contain
// a comma-separated list e.g. http,https
// so check for https existence
if (strpos($_SERVER['HTTP_X_FORWARDED_PROTO'], 'https') !== false)
       $_SERVER['HTTPS']='on';

Don’t forget to save your changes after adding the code. 

2.4 WordPress HTTP to HTTPS Redirect

WordPress doesn’t automatically redirect HTTP requests to HTTPS unless you specifically initiate this action. 

You can set up manual redirects by adding the following code to your .htaccess file.

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

Once you’ve added the lines of code, remember to save your changes.

By doing so, all HTTP traffic should now be redirected to HTTPS, effectively resolving any SSL issues you might have encountered.

3 Frequently Asked Questions

4 Conclusion

SSL is vital for website security, but the process isn’t always straightforward. After installation, SSL issues can arise, hindering your site from displaying as secure. 

However, the solutions discussed here help address common SSL issues in WordPress, ensuring your website is fully secured, and visitors can trust their data’s safety.

 In addition, here are quick tips for dealing with SSL issues.

• After implementing fixes, check for the padlock icon and “HTTPS” in your site’s URL. 
• Periodically check your SSL certificate’s expiration **** for uninterrupted security. 
• Verify SSL/TLS implementations for correct configurations using online tools after making changes. 
• Confirm external resources are served over HTTPS to mitigate risks of insecure content. 
• Always back up your website before major modifications. 
• Seek assistance from your hosting provider or a qualified developer for tailored solutions.

We hope you’ve successfully resolved your SSL issues. If so, let us know by Tweeting @rankmathseo.