SSL Certificate for WordPress: What it is, Why it Matters, and How to Get it?

Your WordPress site might be pushing visitors away without you even realizing it. That harmless “Not Secure” warning in the address bar? It’s making potential readers and customers hesitate before interacting with your content.

Sites without SSL certificates get penalized in search rankings, suffer higher bounce rates, and lose credibility. The good part is that securing your WordPress site with SSL is easier than you think, and the benefits go far beyond just that reassuring padlock icon.

In this blog, we’ll cover the importance of an SSL certificate for a WordPress site. We’ll learn how a professional WordPress development services provider installs and configures SSL. Plus, we’ll explore the common SSL errors and how you can fix them. So, let’s get started.

What is an SSL Certificate?

An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is a small digital file that creates a secure, encrypted connection between a website (like your WordPress blog) and a visitor’s browser. When installed, it turns your site’s URL from http:// to https:// and adds a padlock icon in the address bar.

In simple terms? It’s proof that your site is private and trustworthy—like a verified badge for security.

Imagine typing your credit card details on a website, only to find out later that hackers stole your info. Scary, right? That’s where SSL certificates come in. They’re like a digital bodyguard for your WordPress site, keeping sensitive data safe from prying eyes.

How SSL Works: A Simple Explanation

• You Visit a Website: Let’s say you log in to your WordPress admin panel (https://yourwebsite.com/wp-admin).
• SSL Kicks In: The site’s server sends its SSL certificate to your browser to verify its identity.
• Encryption Happens: Once confirmed, your browser and the server establish a secure, encrypted “tunnel”.
• Data Stays Safe: Everything you send (passwords, payments, forms) gets scrambled so hackers can’t read it.

Think of it like sending a locked treasure chest instead of a postcard—only the right person (the website) has the key to open it. Now that we have the basic understanding of SSL, let’s find out its importance in the next section.

What’s the Importance of an SSL Certificate in WordPress?

Frankly speaking, nobody wants their website to be the next victim of a data breach. That’s where SSL comes in. It’s not just a techy checkbox; it’s what keeps your site (and your visitors) safe. If you run a WordPress site—whether it’s a blog, store, or business page—SSL isn’t optional anymore. Here’s why.

1. Keeps User Data Safe

When someone logs in, subscribes, or checks out on your site, their info travels between their browser and your server. Without SSL, that data is like an open book for hackers. SSL encrypts everything—passwords, credit card numbers, even contact forms—so only the intended recipient can read it. No encryption? You’re risking leaks, fines, and angry users.

2. Boosts Your Google Rankings

Google straight-up says: HTTPS is a ranking factor. Sites with SSL tend to rank higher than those without it. Why? Because Google wants to send users to secure, trustworthy sites. If two pages are equal in quality, the one with SSL gets the edge. Ignoring SSL means you’re leaving free SEO points on the table.

3. Builds Trust with Visitors

See that little padlock in the address bar? It tells visitors, “This site is safe”. If your site still shows “Not Secure,” people will bounce fast. Studies show that 85% of users avoid unsecured sites. Whether you’re selling products or just blogging, trust is everything. SSL gives you that credibility instantly.

4. Prevents Browser Warnings

Chrome and Firefox now flag all non-HTTPS sites as “Not Secure”. Imagine a potential customer seeing that before they even land on your page. Not exactly a great first impression, right? SSL removes those scary warnings and makes your site look professional.

5. Required for Online Payments

If you run an online store or accept payments, PCI compliance (the security standard for handling card data) requires SSL. No SSL? No payments. Even if you use PayPal or Stripe, having SSL ensures smooth, secure transactions. Plus, customers are way more likely to buy from a site they know is safe.

At this point, running a WordPress site without SSL is like leaving your front door unlocked in a busy neighborhood. The risks—hacked data, lost rankings, broken trust—just aren’t worth it. The good thing is that most web hosting service providers offer free SSL certificates, so there’s no excuse to skip it.

How to get SSL Certificate for WordPress?

Adding an SSL certificate to your WordPress site might sound technical, but it’s totally doable—even if you’re not super tech-savvy. It’s a key step in making your site secure, trustworthy, and more SEO-friendly. Let’s walk through each step so you can get your site locked and loaded (literally) with that little padlock icon.

Step 1: Choose the Right SSL Certificate for Your Site

Before you install anything, you’ll need to figure out which type of SSL certificate fits your needs. There are both free and paid options, and the right choice depends on your website goals.

• Free SSL (Let’s Encrypt): Ideal for blogs, small business sites, or personal portfolios.
• Paid SSL: Best for eCommerce stores or any site collecting sensitive data—comes with added validation and support.
• Check your hosting plan: Many hosting providers include a free SSL certificate in their package.
• Look at validation levels: DV (Domain Validation) is fine for most, while EV (Extended Validation) offers more trust signals.

If you’re just starting out or running a simple site, a free SSL will do the job. But if you’re handling payments or personal info, investing in a premium one is worth it.

Step 2: Obtain and Install the SSL Certificate via Your Hosting Provider

Most hosting companies make this process super simple. In many cases, it’s just a click away from your hosting dashboard.

• Log in to your hosting account.
• Go to the SSL/TLS section or security settings.
• Select the domain name where you want to install the certificate.
• Activate the SSL certificate—either auto-install or manual, depending on your provider.
• Wait a few minutes for the installation to complete.

Once it’s installed, your site is technically secure—but there’s more to do. Let’s move on to the WordPress side of things.

Step 3: Update WordPress Settings to Use HTTPS

After installing your SSL, WordPress needs to know that it should start using HTTPS instead of HTTP. This small change helps your entire site function securely.

• Go to your WordPress admin dashboard.
• Navigate to Settings > General.
• Update the “WordPress Address (URL)” and “Site Address (URL)” fields from http:// to https://.

• Click Save Changes.

This simple switch tells WordPress to load your site using HTTPS going forward. But you’ll still need to redirect old traffic and fix existing links.

Step 4: Configure HTTPS Redirection

You don’t want users landing on an unsecured version of your site. Redirecting all HTTP traffic to HTTPS ensures consistency and avoids security warnings.

• You can configure HTTPS redirection via the hosting panel, and some hosts offer automatic HTTP to HTTPS redirection.
• Add redirect code to .htaccess:

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>

  RewriteEngine On

  RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off

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

</IfModule>

• Use a plugin like Really Simple SSL (more on this in the next step).

Proper redirection ensures every visitor lands on the secure version of your site, no matter how they type the URL.

Step 5: Install a WordPress SSL Plugin (Optional)

If you want to make the SSL setup even smoother, an SSL plugin can help. It handles redirection, mixed content issues, and more—all without touching any code. Popular plugin options:

• Really Simple SSL: The go-to option, especially for beginners.
• WP Force SSL: Another great plugin for redirecting and fixing mixed content.

Once you install the plugin, it automatically configures your site to use HTTPS. This is a handy shortcut, especially if you’re not comfortable editing files or dealing with redirects manually.

Step 6: Test SSL Installation

You’ve done all the heavy lifting—now it’s time to make sure everything works as expected. Verification helps you catch any last issues.

• Visit your site and check if it loads with https:// and shows a padlock in the browser.
• Use online tools like SSL Checker or Why No Padlock to test your site.
• Check for mixed content warnings; they can show up if some elements (like images or scripts) still load over HTTP.

Once everything checks out, you’re good to go. Your WordPress site is now encrypted and ready for the world.

Common WordPress SSL Errors (& Their Fixes)

Installing an SSL certificate on your WordPress site is a big win. But sometimes, things don’t go perfectly right away. You might see broken padlocks, redirect loops, or browser warnings. Don’t worry—these are common issues, and they’re usually easy to fix once you know what to look for. 

Let’s walk through some of the most common WordPress SSL errors and how to resolve them without stress.

1. Mixed Content Warnings

After installing SSL, your site might still try to load some files, like images, scripts, or stylesheets, over HTTP instead of HTTPS. This triggers a browser warning, and the padlock icon disappears.

How to Fix:

• Use a plugin like Really Simple SSL to automatically fix mixed content.
• Manually update links in your theme, database, or media files to use https://.
• Use the Better Search Replace plugin to change all http:// URLs to https:// in your database.

Mixed content warnings are super common, especially on older sites. Fixing them clears the way for full encryption.

2. Too Many Redirects (ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS)

This error usually happens when your site keeps looping between HTTP and HTTPS. It’s often caused by conflicting redirects set in WordPress, your .htaccess file, or your host’s control panel.

How to Fix:

• Check your .htaccess file and remove duplicate or conflicting redirect rules.
• If you’re using a plugin like Really Simple SSL, disable any manual HTTPS redirection in .htaccess or your host settings.
• Clear your browser cache or try accessing the site in incognito mode.
• Temporarily disable your SSL plugin to test.

Redirect loops feel frustrating, but they’re often caused by overlapping rules. A bit of cleanup goes a long way.

3. SSL Certificate Not Trusted

Your browser shows a scary warning like “Your connection is not private”. This usually means the SSL certificate isn’t valid, wasn’t issued by a trusted provider, or has expired.

How to Fix:

• Make sure your SSL certificate was installed correctly.
• Double-check that it’s issued by a trusted Certificate Authority (CA).
• If it’s expired, renew the certificate through your host or CA.
• If you’re using Let’s Encrypt, try reissuing it via your hosting panel.

This error is a reminder to keep track of your SSL certificate status. Always renew before it expires.

4. WordPress Admin Not Redirecting to HTTPS

Even though your front-end is secure, your WordPress admin area (/wp-admin) might still load over HTTP. That’s a security risk.

How to Fix:

• Add the following to your wp-config.php file:

define('FORCE_SSL_ADMIN', true);

• Make sure there are no caching or CDN rules that bypass HTTPS in the admin.

This tiny tweak ensures your entire site, including the backend, is protected by SSL.

5. Secure Padlock Not Showing

You’ve installed SSL, but the padlock icon doesn’t appear in the browser. Usually, this happens due to lingering HTTP content or incorrect settings.

How to Fix:

• Run your site through Why No Padlock to find the insecure elements.
• Update your logo, favicon, or other assets to use https://.
• Check that your SSL certificate covers your exact domain (like www.example.com vs example.com).

Sometimes it’s just one tiny image or script holding your padlock hostage.

SSL errors can be annoying, but they’re totally fixable. Most issues come down to mismatched URLs, expired certificates, or minor misconfigurations. With a little patience and the right tools, you can fix these errors and get your WordPress site fully secure. And once it’s all working, that little padlock becomes a big symbol of trust for your visitors.

FAQs on SSL Certificate for WordPress

Final Thoughts

Ignoring SSL on your WordPress site is like leaving your front door unlocked in a busy neighborhood. It might not cause problems today, but eventually, someone’s going to take advantage.

SSL does more than just add a padlock icon. It keeps your visitors’ data safe, tells Google your site is trustworthy, and makes sure people stick around instead of bouncing when they see security warnings. And with free options like Let’s Encrypt and one-click setups from most hosts, there’s really no excuse to skip it. Whether you’re running a blog, a business, or just testing things out, SSL is one of those small changes that makes a big difference. If you are looking to build a secure WordPress website with best practices followed, get in touch with us today!