HOW TO ADD SSL TO WORPDRESS

Last Update: Feb 27, 2017 @ 12:01 pm

 

For Skookum Monkey Hosting Clients: If you installed WordPress prior to 2017, there are a couple of a quick changes you need to make so that WordPress recognizes the SSL certificate and to solved “mixed content” issues. These changes will also automatically redirect visitors from “http” to “https” when clicking on old links that were shared on social media or linked to from other sites. Finally, if you installed WordPress with Softaculous, there are some changes you need to make there, too.

 

Add SSL to WordPress: Make Changes Inside the WordPress’ Dashboard

 

1) Login your WordPress dashboard and go to “Settings –> General”.

 

2) In the “General Settings” tab, change the “WordPress Address (URL)” and “Site Address (URL)” fields from “http://” to “https://”.

 

3) Scroll down to the bottom and click, “Save Changes.” You will be logged out. Log in again.

 

4) Go to “Plugins –> Add New”.

 

5) Search for “Really Simple SSL” and install it and activate.

 

 

6) A message will appear at the top of the screen. Click the “Go ahead, activate SSL!” button. This adds the redirect from “http” to “https” to your .htaccess file, plus fixes those pesky “mixed content” issues.

 

7) If Jetpack is installed and it stops working (this doesn’t always happen),  you’ll need to go into “Plugins –> Installed Plugins” and deactivate and reactivate it.  Then you’ll have to go into “Jetpack –> Jetpack” to reconnect Jetpack to your WordPress.com account. 

 

You are almost there! If you installed WordPress with Softaculous, there is one more change you need to make.

Add SSL to WordPress: Softaculous Changes

 

1) Login to cPanel.

 

2) Go the Softaculous section in cPanel and click the WordPress icon.

 

 

3) Scroll down to the “Current Installations” section. Click the edit pencil beside the installation you want to update.

 

 

4) In the “Installation Details” section, edit the url from “http://” to “https://”

 

 

5) Scroll down the bottom and click the “Save Installation Details” button.

 

Repeat the above for all WordPress installations so that WordPress knows you have an SSL certificate.

 

If you use Google Analytics, you’ll need to update your site information. If you use Search Console, you’ll need to add the “https” URL as a new property, and bind it to the appropriate Google Analytics account.

 

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For non-Skookum Monkey Clients: Here is a walk-through if your  host has installed the Let’s Encrypt SSL Certificate easy-installer.

 

Learn more about our various hosting packages, all with free SSL certificates.