Set up SSL on my WordPress site
Having a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate on your WordPress website ensures that the data transmitted between the website and the user is encrypted and cannot be intercepted by malicious hackers. This provides a secure environment for online transactions and builds trust with visitors because they know their personal data, login credentials and payment details are safe and secure. There are several steps to add an SSL certificate to a WordPress site.
Request an SSL certificate
As a first step, you should request an SSL certificate based on the hosting plan you have and the certificate type you need.
- Managed WordPress or Managed WooCommerce Stores: Request an SSL certificate for a Managed WordPress or Managed WooCommerce Stores site
- Primary domain on Linux Hosting with cPanel or Windows Hosting with Plesk: Request an SSL certificate for a WordPress site that uses a primary domain on Linux Hosting with cPanel or Windows Hosting with Plesk
- Secondary domain on Linux Hosting with cPanel or Windows Hosting with Plesk: Request an SSL certificate for a WordPress site that uses a secondary domain on Linux Hosting with cPanel or Windows Hosting with Plesk
Verify the SSL certificate
Now that you requested the certificate, it's time to verify you own the domain on which you want to set up the SSL certificate.
- Primary domain on GoDaddy: Verify your SSL certificate request for a primary domain on a GoDaddy hosting account
- Secondary domain on GoDaddy or if your site is not GoDaddy hosted: Verify my SSL certificate request for a secondary domain hosted with a GoDaddy hosting account or a site hosted with another company
Download the SSL certificate
The next step is to download the SSL certificate files.
Install an SSL certificate
Based on your hosting plan, follow the steps from one of the articles below to install the downloaded SSL certificate.
- Linux Hosting with cPanel: Install an SSL certificate on my Linux Hosting with cPanel
- Windows Hosting with Plesk: Install an SSL certificate on my Windows hosting with Plesk
Redirect your WordPress site to HTTPS
After you have followed all the steps, you should redirect traffic to your site to HTTPS to provide a secure experience for your visitors.
- Linux Hosting with cPanel: Redirect my website to HTTPS in Linux Hosting with cPanel
- Windows Hosting with Plesk: Redirect my WordPress website to HTTPS in Windows Hosting with Plesk
- Managed WordPress: Managed WordPress plans with an SSL certificate automatically redirect to HTTPS after the SSL certificate is activated.
Check your SSL installation
Finally, to ensure that the SSL certificate is set up correctly, check your SSL installation.
More info
- If you want to find out more about setting up an SSL certificate, check out the articles from our Get started with SSL series.
- Here's how to fix the Mixed content error on your WordPress site if you notice missing images after you set up the SSL certificate.
- Hosting your WordPress site on a Gen 4 VPS or Dedicated server? Check out How do I install an SSL certificate on my server?
