Setting up an SSL certificate is crucial for securing your WordPress website and ensuring your visitors’ trust. If you are using SiteGround hosting, you’ll be pleased to know that SiteGround offers a straightforward process to set up SSL for free, thanks to their Let’s Encrypt integration. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll show you how to set up an SSL certificate in SiteGround hosting for your WordPress website.
Why Do You Need SSL for Your WordPress Website?
An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate encrypts the data transferred between a user’s browser and your website, ensuring the security and privacy of the information exchanged. Websites with SSL certificates display “HTTPS” in their URLs, which builds user trust. Moreover, search engines like Google prioritize websites with SSL certificates, making it a crucial factor for SEO.
Step 1: Log Into Your SiteGround Account
To start, log into your SiteGround account. You can do this by going to SiteGround and entering your credentials.
Step 2: Navigate to the “Site Tools” Section
Once you are logged in, navigate to the “Websites” tab from your dashboard, and select the website where you want to set up the SSL certificate. Next, click on Site Tools.
Step 3: Open the “Security” Tab and Select “SSL Manager”
In the Site Tools section, locate the Security tab on the left-hand sidebar. Under this tab, you will find the SSL Manager option. Click on it to proceed with the SSL setup.
Step 4: Select the Domain and Install the SSL Certificate
Under the SSL Manager, you’ll see a drop-down menu where you can select the domain you wish to install the SSL certificate for. After selecting your domain, choose the Let’s Encrypt SSL option from the SSL Type drop-down menu, and then click Get.
SiteGround will now handle the SSL certificate installation for you, which typically takes just a few minutes.
Step 5: Enforce HTTPS
Once the SSL certificate has been installed, it’s time to force HTTPS on your site. Go to the HTTPS Enforce tab under the Security section in Site Tools and switch on the HTTPS Enforce option. This ensures that all traffic is automatically redirected to the secure HTTPS version of your site.
Step 6: Update WordPress Settings
Now that your SSL certificate is installed and HTTPS is enforced, it’s time to update your WordPress settings to use the secure version of your site.
- Go to your WordPress dashboard.
- Navigate to Settings > General.
- Update both the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) fields to use HTTPS instead of HTTP.
Click Save Changes to ensure the settings are applied.
Step 7: Update Internal Links
To ensure that all internal links and assets (images, scripts, etc.) use HTTPS, you can use a WordPress plugin like Better Search Replace or Really Simple SSL. These plugins will automatically update your internal links and assets to use the secure HTTPS protocol.
Step 8: Test Your SSL Certificate
It’s important to test whether your SSL certificate is working correctly. You can use tools like SSL Checker or simply visit your website to verify the “HTTPS” in the address bar. A padlock symbol next to your URL will indicate that your website is secure.
Benefits of Setting Up SSL on SiteGround Hosting
By setting up SSL on your WordPress website hosted on SiteGround, you gain several benefits:
- Improved SEO: Google rewards HTTPS-enabled websites with better rankings.
- Increased Trust: Visitors feel more confident sharing information when they see the padlock and HTTPS.
- Compliance: Many legal frameworks now require SSL, especially for sites that handle user data.
Troubleshooting Common SSL Issues on SiteGround
Sometimes, users might face common SSL issues after setting it up on their WordPress website. Here’s how you can troubleshoot them:
- Mixed Content Warnings: This happens when some elements on your website, like images or scripts, are still being loaded over HTTP. Use the Really Simple SSL plugin to fix this.
- Redirect Loops: Ensure that you haven’t set multiple HTTPS redirects in both SiteGround and WordPress. Using a plugin or hardcoding redirects in both can cause a redirect loop.
- Certificate Not Showing: If your SSL certificate is not being displayed, clear your cache and ensure that HTTPS is enforced.
FAQ Section
1. Do I need to renew my Let’s Encrypt SSL on SiteGround?
Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates are free and auto-renew every 90 days on SiteGround, so you don’t need to worry about manual renewal.
2. Can I use a premium SSL certificate on SiteGround?
Yes, you can. While SiteGround provides free Let’s Encrypt SSL, you can also purchase a premium SSL and install it through the same SSL Manager.
3. Why does my website still show as “Not Secure” after setting up SSL?
This usually happens because of mixed content issues. You’ll need to ensure all internal links are updated to HTTPS. Use a plugin like Really Simple SSL to resolve this issue.
4. Will installing an SSL certificate affect my website’s speed?
Installing an SSL certificate should not significantly impact your website’s speed. SiteGround’s hosting infrastructure is optimized to handle SSL efficiently.
5. What is the difference between Let’s Encrypt SSL and a paid SSL?
Let’s Encrypt is a free SSL certificate that offers the same level of encryption as paid certificates. However, paid SSL certificates often come with additional features like warranty and extended validation (EV), which displays the company’s name in the browser bar.
Setting up an SSL certificate on your WordPress website with SiteGround is quick and easy. By following these steps, you ensure that your website is secure, gains better SEO rankings, and builds trust with your visitors. Always remember to test your SSL certificate after installation and keep your site’s security up to date.
For further customization of your WordPress setup, check out our guide on How to Install a WordPress Site on XAMPP.
