How to Solve Common WordPress SSL Problems

If you are moving your WordPress site to SSL, you might face unexpected issues. If you have added an SSL certificate in your website, you might see errors, like NET::ERR_CERT_INVALID. These type of problems have been frustrating users for a long time. However, fixing them is not difficult at all. Here, you will find the solution to the most common WordPress SSL problems. Take a look at them.

NET:ERR_CERT_INVALID Error

If you are using Google Chrome, you might be seeing this error on your WordPress site. In the case of the other browsers, like Mozilla Firefox, you will see it being slightly changed. However, the meaning is the same. It warns you about potential hacks, attacks or threats on your website. Basically, it suggests you about the unacceptability of the SSL certificate by the browser.

There are several reasons behind it. The certificate can be expired or issued to a different domain or subdomain. The browser might be facing issues to recognize its authority. To fix the error, you can try reinstalling the SSL certificate, provided that it was installed manually.

If it is still not fixed, get in touch with your SSL certificate provider as soon as possible for assistance. If you have bought the certificate, contact your hosting provider for fixing and installing it on your website.

Mixed Content Errors

Mixed Content Errors are the issues that are caused by the elements, like images or scripts, which are not being loaded through secured HTTP protocol. They can create one of two effects on your WordPress website:

  • The green padlock in the URL bar doesn’t show up
  • The green padlock shows up, while the insecure image or resource disappears

There are several ways to fix a mixed content error. You will find them here:

Changing Website’s URL

Step 1:

Head to the SSL page in your User Portal. Choose Secure All URLs.

Step 2:

Click on Save all changes.

How to Solve Common WordPress SSL Problems

Step 3:

Navigate through Settings > General. Change “http” to “https” in both WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL).

How to Solve Common WordPress SSL Problems

Step 4:

Install WP Super Cache plugin.

Step 5:

Head to Settings. Click on WP Super Cache.

How to Solve Common WordPress SSL Problems

Step 6:

Click on Delete Cache button under Delete Cached Pages.

How to Solve Common WordPress SSL Problems

Now, reload your site. The issue will be fixed.

Search and Replace the Old Database

If you are still facing the issue, you will have to search and replace the old database with the new one. Here are the steps:

Step 1:

Install and activate Better Search Replace plugin

Step 2:

Navigate to Tools > Better Search Replace page. In Search for field, type your website URL with http

Step 3:

In the “Replace” field, type your website URL with https

How to Solve Common WordPress SSL Problems

Now, the new URL will replace the old one. As a result, you will get rid of the Mixed Content Errors.

Troubleshoot URLs of Your Theme and Plugins

Step 1:

Find the resources that are causing the mixed content errors by using the Inspect tool on your browser. If you are using Chrome, press your finger on the right mouse button. Then select Inspect.

How to Solve Common WordPress SSL Problems

Step 2:

Now, in your WordPress theme and plugins, you have to change all HTTP to HTTPS. If you are not advanced with coding, you shouldn’t do it yourself, as it is a tricky task. Instead, you should assign a great developer to update the theme accordingly.

Too Many Redirects Error

In WordPress, you can apply SSL/HTTPS for the admin area by typing this code in your wp-cofig.php file:

define('FORCE_SSL_ADMIN', true); 
In some cases, the inclusion of this code can result in "Too many redirects error." However, you can easily fix it by adding the following codes before "That's all, stop editing! Happy blogging" in the same file.
define('FORCE_SSL_ADMIN', true);
if (strpos($_SERVER['HTTP_X_FORWARDED_PROTO'], 'https') !== false)
       $_SERVER['HTTPS']='on';

HTTP to HTTPS Redirect Issue

If you are thinking that WordPress redirect HTTP requests to HTTPS automatically, then you are wrong. The platform will not process the request by itself. Instead, you have to do it manually. To do it, you have to insert the following lines to your .htaccess file:

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

However, if you are not comfortable with coding, you can use different plugins, like Really Simple SSL.

Conclusion

There was a time when SSL certificates were only used in WordPress business websites, as they contained a large number of confidential information. But right now, they are being used in all sorts of websites. Search giant Google has been recommending all the website owners to implement SSL certificates. So, you should definitely have them in your site. If you run into any trouble using the certificate, just follow the ways mentioned in this article. You can easily get rid of all the issues and keep your website up and running perfectly.

Check out these top 3 WordPress hosting services:

HostArmada
$1.79 /mo
Starting price
Visit HostArmada
Rating based on expert review
  • User Friendly
    4.5
  • Support
    4.5
  • Features
    4.5
  • Reliability
    4.5
  • Pricing
    4.0
IONOS
$1.00 /mo
Starting price
Visit IONOS
Rating based on expert review
  • User Friendly
    4.5
  • Support
    4.0
  • Features
    4.5
  • Reliability
    4.5
  • Pricing
    4.3
Ultahost
$2.03 /mo
Starting price
Visit Ultahost
Rating based on expert review
  • User Friendly
    4.3
  • Support
    4.8
  • Features
    4.5
  • Reliability
    4.0
  • Pricing
    4.8

How to Configure WordPress Page Caching

A savvy website owner understand how important it is to have a website with a qu
4 min read
Avi Ilinsky
Avi Ilinsky
Hosting Expert

How to Secure Your WordPress Website

Millions of websites get hacked every year and many people consider WordPres
5 min read
Eliran Ouzan
Eliran Ouzan
Web Designer & Hosting Expert

How To Create a WordPress Child Theme

Customizing your WordPress theme but want to be extremely safe? Don’t worry. W
3 min read
Michael Levanduski
Michael Levanduski
Expert Hosting Writer & Tester

How to Fix File and Folder Permissions Errors in WordPress

It's so frustrating when you receive an error while updating your website. File
4 min read
Max Ostryzhko
Max Ostryzhko
Senior Web Developer, HostAdvice CTO
HostAdvice.com provides professional web hosting reviews fully independent of any other entity. Our reviews are unbiased, honest, and apply the same evaluation standards to all those reviewed. While monetary compensation is received from a few of the companies listed on this site, compensation of services and products have no influence on the direction or conclusions of our reviews. Nor does the compensation influence our rankings for certain host companies. This compensation covers account purchasing costs, testing costs and royalties paid to reviewers.
Click to go to the top of the page
Go To Top