How to Install SSL Certificate in WordPress Easy SSL Installation Tutorial

In the modern web, the little padlock icon in your browser address bar isn't just a nice-to-have feature, it’s an absolute necessity. If your WordPress website still starts with the old “http://”, your visitors are seeing a scary "Not Secure" warning, and search engines like Google are actively penalising you.

The solution? Install SSL Certificate in a WordPress Website. SSL encrypts the connection between your website and its users, ensuring that sensitive information, like passwords, personal details, and payment data- stays safe from hackers.

For WordPress users, installing an SSL certificate has become easier than ever. Modern hosting providers offer free SSL certificates, and even when using complex premium WordPress templates tools like Really Simple SSL make the setup almost effortless. Once installed, your website switches from http:// to https://, displaying the trusted padlock icon in the browser, instantly improving security, user trust, and even your search engine ranking.

In this easy SSL installation tutorial, we’ll walk you through every step of setting up SSL on your WordPress website. Whether you’re a beginner or someone switching to HTTPS for the first time, this guide will help you secure your site quickly and correctly.

How to Obtain an SSL Certificate For Your WordPress Website?

Installing an SSL certificate in WordPress is a straightforward process. In most cases, your hosting provider handles the technical part, you just need to enable it and configure WordPress correctly. Below is a complete, beginner-friendly step-by-step guide.

Method 1: Install SSL Certificate in WordPress Using a Hosting Provider

To install SSL Certificate in WordPress, your web hosting provider is the simplest and most reliable approach, especially for beginners. Since most modern hosts, including vps hosting for wordpress include free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates, you don’t need to purchase or manually configure anything. Follow the steps below to secure your WordPress site using your web host.

Step 1: Activate the SSL Certificate on Your Hosting Server

Before WordPress can use HTTPS, the SSL certificate must be enabled at the server level. While the interface differs across hosting platforms, the process remains largely the same.

• Log in to your web hosting control panel
• Navigate to the Security, SSL/TLS, or Let’s Encrypt section
• Locate your domain name in the list
• If the domain is marked as Not Secure, click Install, Enable, Provision, or Run AutoSSL
• Your host will automatically issue and install a free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate, often covering both non-www and www versions
• The activation usually takes a few minutes. Once completed, your domain should display a Secure status or padlock icon in the hosting dashboard.

Step 2: Change WordPress URLs to HTTPS

With SSL active on the server, the next step is to update WordPress so it starts using the secure protocol.

• Log in to your WordPress dashboard using the existing http:// URL
• Go to Settings → General
• Update both fields:
• WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL)
• Replace http://yourdomain.com with https://yourdomain.com
• Click Save Changes
• WordPress may log you out automatically; this is normal. Simply log back in using the new HTTPS address.

Method 2: Install SSL Certificate in WordPress Using a Plugin

To install SSL certificate in WordPress, the web host is the preferred "server-side" method; you can also handle the entire process from within your WordPress dashboard using a plugin. This is ideal if you are uncomfortable navigating hosting control panels. The most reliable tool for this is Really Simple Security.

Step 1: Install the SSL Plugin

• Log in to your WordPress Dashboard.
• Go to Plugins Add New.
• Search for "Really Simple SSL".
• Click Install Now, then Activate.

Step 2: Generate the Certificate

• Upon activation, the plugin will launch a setup wizard to check your site's environment.
• If the plugin detects you already have a certificate, it will show a blue button: "Go ahead, activate SSL!" Click it, and you're done.
• If no certificate is found, the plugin now includes a feature to generate a free Let's Encrypt certificate directly.
• Follow the prompts to enter your email and agree to the terms.
• The plugin will attempt to verify your domain ownership automatically.
• Once verified, it will generate the certificate and install it for you.

Step 3: Force HTTPS and Resolve Mixed Content Issues

Even after activating SSL, certain assets might continue to load via HTTP. This triggers mixed content alerts and stops the padlock from showing reliably. A simple solution involves utilizing a lightweight WordPress content security policy tool to force secure loading.

Using Really Simple SSL:

• Go to Plugins → Add New
  
• Search for Really Simple SSL
  
• Install and activate the plugin
  
• The plugin will automatically detect your SSL certificate
  
• Click “Go ahead, activate SSL!” when prompted

After activation:

• Clear your browser cache
  
• Clear the cache from any caching plugin.
  
• Open your site in an incognito window

Your website should now automatically redirect to https://yourdomain.com and display the secure padlock icon.

Common Troubleshooting Issues while Installing an SSL Certificate in WordPress

You have completed the steps for “How to Install SSL Certificate in WordPress.” However, the post-installation phase often introduces specific technical hurdles, such as WordPress permalink issues that require your attention. Here are the most frequent complications and the most efficient ways to resolve them.

1. Mixed Content Warnings

What happens?

Your site loads over HTTPS, but some images, scripts, or stylesheets still load using HTTP.

How to fix it:

• Install and activate Really Simple SSL
• Clear your cache (browser + plugin cache)
• Use the Better Search Replace plugin to update old HTTP URLs

2. SSL Certificate Not Detected

What happens?

WordPress or your plugin says “No SSL certificate detected.”

How to fix it:

• Check the SSL installation in your hosting panel 
• Wait 10–15 minutes after activation
• Verify DNS records if you recently migrated domains

3. Too Many Redirects Error

What happens?

HTTP and HTTPS keep redirecting in a loop, causing the “ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS” error.

How to fix it:

• Disable the SSL plugin temporarily
• Remove extra redirects from .htaccess
• If using Cloudflare, switch SSL mode to Full instead of Flexible

4. Website Not Showing Padlock Icon

What happens?

HTTPS works, but the browser does not show a secure padlock.

How to fix it:

• Scan your site using the Why No Padlock tool
• Renew or reinstall your SSL certificate
• Re-upload images using HTTPS URLs

5. ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR

What happens?

The browser shows a connection error when accessing the site using HTTPS.

Fixes:

• Reinstall SSL through your host
• Remove any custom HTTPS rules
• Clear CDN cache (Cloudflare, LiteSpeed, etc.)

Conclusion 

Here we have reached the end of explaining “How to Install SSL Certificate in WordPress”. Installing an SSL certificate on your WordPress website is one of the simplest yet most important steps you can take to secure your online presence. With HTTPS enabled, your website protects user data, builds trust, and meets modern security standards all while improving your search engine rankings.

Whether you trigger SSL via your hosting provider, utilize a tool like Really Simple SSL, or perform a manual setup, the journey is uncomplicated and accessible. Furthermore, once integrated into your WP theme bundle your site immediately gains from scrambled connections, fewer security alerts, and an expert level of reliability.

Be sure to verify your SSL status, resolve any mixed content errors, and confirm that your URL redirects are functioning as intended. With SSL correctly deployed, your WordPress site is prepared to provide a protected, reliable, and fluid journey for every visitor.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why should I install an SSL certificate in WordPress?

You should install an SSL certificate in WordPress to protect user data, avoid browser warnings, build trust, and improve SEO rankings.

2. Is SSL mandatory for WordPress websites?

Yes, SSL is highly recommended for all WordPress websites, especially for login pages, forms, and online stores handling user information.

3. Do I need technical skills to install SSL in WordPress?

No, most hosting panels and WordPress plugins make it easy to install SSL without advanced technical knowledge.

4. What happens if I don’t install an SSL certificate in WordPress?

Without SSL, your site may show “Not Secure” warnings, lose user trust, and experience lower search engine rankings.

5. Can I install SSL on an existing WordPress website?

Yes, you can install an SSL certificate on an existing WordPress website and switch it from HTTP to HTTPS safely.