How To Add SSL To WordPress Website Free For Beginners

Securing your WordPress website with SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is essential for protecting your site and improving its search engine ranking. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of adding SSL to your WordPress website for free, perfect for beginners. By the end of this post, you’ll have a secure website with HTTPS.

Step-by-Step Guide to Adding SSL to Your WordPress Website

• Check Your Connection

• On your WordPress site, look for the lock icon in the address bar to see if the connection is secure. A secure connection will display as HTTPS.

• Install an SSL Plugin

• From your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Plugins and select Add New.
• In the search bar, type “SSL” and select the first plugin that appears, which typically requires no setup other than having an SSL certificate.
• Click on the Install Now button to install the plugin, and then click Activate.

• Activate SSL

• After activating the plugin, you’ll see an option to activate SSL.
• Navigate to Settings and select SSL.
• You may see a message indicating that SSL is not yet enabled on your site.
• Before activating SSL, ensure there are no HTTP references in your CSS, JS files, images, stylesheets, or scripts from a domain without an SSL certificate.
• Create a backup of your site using the provided link (you may need to log in again afterward).
• Scroll down and click on the Activate SSL button to complete the process.

• Verify SSL Activation

  • Once SSL is activated, verify that your website URL now begins with HTTPS, indicating a secure connection.

FAQs: How To Add SSL To WordPress Website Free For Beginners

Q1: What is SSL and why is it important?

A1: SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encrypts data transferred between your website and its visitors, enhancing security and boosting search engine rankings.

Q2: Do I need to purchase an SSL certificate?

A2: Many web hosting providers offer free SSL certificates, such as Let’s Encrypt. You can use these to secure your website without additional cost.

Q3: How can I check if SSL is properly configured on my website?

A3: Look for the padlock icon in your browser’s address bar and ensure your site URL starts with HTTPS.

Q4: What should I do if my website elements are still loading over HTTP?

A4: Ensure all your resources (CSS, JS files, images) are referenced using HTTPS. Some SSL plugins automatically handle this, but manual adjustments may be needed.

Q5: Will activating SSL affect my website’s performance?

A5: Activating SSL might slightly increase your server load, but the security benefits far outweigh any minor performance impacts.

Q6: Can I use SSL with any WordPress theme?

A6: Yes, SSL can be used with any WordPress theme.

Q7: Do I need any technical skills to install SSL?

A7: Basic familiarity with WordPress is helpful, but most SSL plugins simplify the process significantly.

Q8: How often do I need to renew my SSL certificate?

A8: Free SSL certificates, like Let’s Encrypt, typically renew every 90 days automatically.

Q9: Can SSL improve my SEO?

A9: Yes, search engines like Google favor websites with SSL, potentially boosting your site’s ranking.

Q10: What should I do if I encounter issues during the SSL installation?

A10: Check the plugin’s documentation for troubleshooting tips or contact your hosting provider for assistance.

Conclusion

Adding SSL to your WordPress website is a crucial step in securing your site and enhancing your SEO. With the steps outlined above, you can easily enable SSL for free and ensure your website’s data is protected.

For more helpful tutorials and free WordPress training, visit WP Learning 101 and start mastering WordPress today! 🚀✨

Enhance your WordPress content creation with our My Content Creator Pro WordPress Plugin Powered By ChatGPT: My Content Creator Pro 🌟

Features You Will Be Getting With WP Track It WordPress Plugin!

• Unlimited Real-Time Conversion Tracking
• Affiliate Link Cloaking Tracking
• Email Subscriber Signup Conversion Tracking
• Graphs Showing All Your Stats
• Whole Website Traffic And Conversion Stats
• Add WP Track It WordPress Plugin To Unlimited WordPress Websites
• Free Updates To WP Track It WordPress Plugin
• 24/7 Support With The WP Track It WordPress Plugin
• And More Features Coming Soon…

Click Here To Download The Free WP Track It WordPress Plugin: WP Track It