Install Let’s Encrypt free SSL Certificate in Just 2 minutes – WordPress CMS

To find this file, make sure to check show hidden files in Cpanel file manager or FTP because .htaccess is invisible by default. If you do not have one, just create a plain text file, rename it to .htaccess and upload it to the WordPress root directory.

Once you find, right click on .htaccess file and select “Edit”.

.htaccess file will open in an editor where you need to add the following lines to it:

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{SERVER_PORT} 80
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://yourdomain.com/$1 [R,L]
</IfModule>

If your WordPress website is in a sub-directory, use this code:

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{SERVER_PORT} 80
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} folder
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://yourdomain.com/folder/$1 [R,L]
</IfModule>

Simply replace yourdomain.com with your actual domain name.

Refer below image just to make sure how it will look.

From now on, visitors of your site including Google bots should automatically land on the HTTPS version of your WordPress site.

Now jump straight to the browser address bar and type your site URL where you can see HTTPS with a padlock icon in the address bar. It means SSL has been successfully installed on your WordPress site.

Update Google Analytics settings

If you have Google Analytics installed on your WordPress website, then you also need to update its settings and add your new URL with https://.

Follow the steps to inform Google about your site URL changes:

Step 1: Login to your Google Analytics account.

Step 2: Click the “Admin Gear” icon.

Step 3: Click on the “Property Settings” and change the “Default URL” to use https:// as shown below. Click “Save” button.

Step 4: Return to the Admin page and click the “View Settings” and make the same change there and click “Save” button.

This will not impact any previous analytics data but will allow Google Analytics to now track HTTPS URLs from this time forward.

Possible problem of mixing content error after SSL setup

When you install an SSL certificate on a new domain, all the pages and all the resources such as images, are served automatically with the HTTPS protocol.

But if the certificate is enabled on a domain already in use, you may have some problems with mixing content.

Mixed content happens when parts of your content continue to be delivered via HTTP while the rest of your site has moved on to the more secure HTTPS.

In this case, modern browsers will display a warning, causing your users to view your site as insecure.

Use the free tool SSL Check to scan your entire site for unsafe images, scripts, CSS files and others. With this information, you can then take corrective action. An alternative to checking singular pages is Why No Padlock?.

Conclusion

When your SSL certificate expires, visitors of your WordPress site get a warning about it and are advised against entering your site. You should not let this happen.

Always make sure your certificate is renewed in time. Which is easy through WP Encryption WordPress plugin dashboard. You just need to repeat the process and voila!!

That’s all. You completely learn how to add a free SSL from Let’s Encrypt to your WordPress site. If you find this article helpful then do not forget to share with your friends who need it.

Do you have any questions about installing an SSL certificate on your WordPress site? Let us know in the comments section below!

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