How to Install a Free SSL Certificate

SSL certificates encrypt data between your visitors and your website. Here's how to install one for free.

Why You Need SSL

• Protects sensitive data (passwords, credit cards)
• Improves Google search rankings
• Displays the padlock icon in browsers
• Required for payment processing
• Builds trust with visitors

Install Free SSL via cPanel

1. Log in to cPanel
2. Find the Security section
3. Click SSL/TLS Status
4. Click Run AutoSSL

AutoSSL automatically installs and renews Let's Encrypt certificates for all your domains.

Verify SSL Installation

After installation:

1. Visit your site using https://
2. Check for the padlock icon
3. Click the padlock to view certificate details

Force HTTPS

After installing SSL, redirect all traffic to HTTPS:

Method 1: cPanel

1. Go to Domains
2. Click your domain
3. Enable Force HTTPS Redirect

Method 2: .htaccess

Add to your .htaccess file in public_html:

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

Update Your Site

After enabling HTTPS:

1. Update your site URL in WordPress (Settings → General)
2. Update internal links to use https://
3. Update Google Search Console and Analytics
4. Check for mixed content warnings

Mixed Content Issues

If you see warnings about insecure content:

• Images, scripts, or stylesheets loading over http://
• Update URLs in your content
• Use a plugin like Really Simple SSL to fix automatically

SSL Renewal

Let's Encrypt certificates expire every 90 days. AutoSSL renews them automatically—no action required from you.