by EmilyHow to Move WordPress from HTTP to HTTPS Securely
In an era where security, trust, and performance define the success of online businesses, switching your WordPress website from HTTP to HTTPS is no longer optional—it's a critical step. Not only does HTTPS protect sensitive user data, but it also improves your SEO rankings, builds customer confidence, and ensures compliance with modern web standards. At FreelancerBridge, we guide freelancers, developers, and website owners through essential web practices. In this guide, you’ll learn how to securely migrate your WordPress site to HTTPS, without affecting performance, search engine visibility, or user experience.
Long Description: How to Move WordPress from HTTP to HTTPS Securely
Migrating your WordPress website from HTTP to HTTPS may seem like a technical hurdle, but with proper planning and best practices, the transition is straightforward and incredibly beneficial. Let’s break down the process and explore why it's vital in 2025.
🔐 Why HTTPS Matters More Than Ever
In the early days of the internet, HTTP was enough. But with increasing data breaches, phishing attacks, and privacy regulations, HTTPS (SSL/TLS encryption) has become the new standard.
Here’s why HTTPS is important:
Security: Encrypts data between users and servers
SEO Boost: Google considers HTTPS a ranking factor
Browser Trust: Prevents “Not Secure” warnings
User Trust: Visitors feel safer submitting data or making purchases
Compliance: Required for GDPR, PCI-DSS, and other data regulations
📌 Steps to Move WordPress from HTTP to HTTPS Securely
Let’s walk through the entire process in easy-to-follow steps:
✅ 1. Get an SSL Certificate
An SSL certificate is required to enable HTTPS. There are two main options:
Free Certificates: Offered by Let's Encrypt (great for small businesses and personal sites)
Premium SSL Certificates: Offer extended validation and warranties—ideal for eCommerce or high-traffic websites
Your hosting provider (like Bluehost, SiteGround, Hostinger, etc.) often provides a free SSL that you can activate from your control panel.
✅ 2. Backup Your WordPress Site
Before any major change, always backup your website including:
WordPress files
Databases
Plugins and themes
This ensures you can roll back safely if something goes wrong during the migration.
✅ 3. Install and Activate SSL on Hosting
After acquiring your SSL certificate, install and activate it via your hosting dashboard. Most hosts have a one-click SSL activation process in the control panel.
After SSL is active, you should be able to access your site at https://yourdomain.com.
✅ 4. Update WordPress Settings
From your WordPress dashboard:
Go to Settings > General
Update both the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) from http:// to https://
This ensures WordPress begins using HTTPS site-wide.
✅ 5. Redirect All Traffic from HTTP to HTTPS
To prevent duplicate content and SEO issues, you must force all HTTP traffic to redirect to HTTPS.
This ensures:
Users are always accessing the secure version
Search engines only index the HTTPS version
While you can use server-side configuration or plugins, the simplest way (for non-coders) is to use a plugin like:
Really Simple SSL
SSL Insecure Content Fixer
These handle redirects, mixed content, and more.
✅ 6. Fix Mixed Content Errors
After switching to HTTPS, some pages might still load resources (like images, CSS, or JS files) over HTTP. This causes mixed content warnings.
To fix this:
Use plugins like Better Search Replace to update old HTTP URLs in the database
Scan your site using tools like Why No Padlock, SSL Labs, or browser dev tools
Ensuring all elements load over HTTPS is key for browser trust and SEO.
✅ 7. Update Your Sitemap & Robots.txt
You need to update:
Sitemap URLs: Regenerate your sitemap using an SEO plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math
robots.txt file: Make sure it references HTTPS URLs only
This ensures search engines crawl the correct version of your site.
✅ 8. Update External Links & Tools
Anywhere you’ve linked your site using HTTP should be updated:
Google Search Console: Add the HTTPS version as a new property
Google Analytics: Change your property settings to HTTPS
Social Media Bios
Email Signatures
Ad Campaign URLs
This prevents broken links and helps track traffic accurately.
✅ 9. Test Your Site Thoroughly
After making all changes:
Test every major page manually
Use tools like Screaming Frog SEO Spider to find any remaining HTTP URLs
Verify your SSL certificate using SSL Checker
✅ 10. Monitor Performance & SEO
Initially, you might see a slight dip in rankings after the move. But as Google indexes the HTTPS version, your site should bounce back stronger. Keep an eye on:
Search Console errors
Crawl rates
User behavior
Bounce rates
Also, check if your Core Web Vitals improve since HTTPS enables HTTP/2 and better browser performance.
🛠 Pro Tips for Freelancers & Developers (FreelancerBridge Style)
Offer HTTPS migration as a service to your freelance clients
Include HTTPS in your website audits or SEO packages
Create a checklist or PDF guide for clients switching to SSL
Use this opportunity to upsell security plugins or maintenance plans
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
Not backing up the site before migration
Leaving old HTTP links in content or theme files
Not forcing HTTPS redirects
Not updating Search Console & Analytics
Ignoring mixed content warnings
Avoiding these mistakes ensures a smooth and secure migration.
Conclusion
Migrating your WordPress website from HTTP to HTTPS is one of the best investments in security, SEO, and user trust you can make. Whether you’re a freelancer building for clients or managing your own digital brand, HTTPS is the modern web standard you can’t ignore in 2025.
