How to Redirect HTTP to HTTPS (Complete Guide)
Introduction
In today’s digital landscape, website security is no longer optional—it’s essential. If your website still uses the HTTP protocol, it's time for an upgrade. Switching from HTTP to HTTPS not only protects your users’ data but also boosts your website’s SEO performance and credibility.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about how to redirect HTTP to HTTPS—from the basics of SSL certificates to configuring redirects on different servers. Whether you're a site owner, developer, or digital marketer, this tutorial will help you make your website more secure, trustworthy, and Google-friendly.
Why HTTPS Matters
Understanding HTTP vs. HTTPS
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the traditional protocol used to send data between your browser and a website. However, it doesn’t encrypt the data, making it vulnerable to interception. HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) adds a layer of encryption via an SSL certificate, ensuring data confidentiality and integrity.
Why SSL is Important
An SSL certificate (Secure Socket Layer) is a digital certificate that authenticates a website's identity and enables an encrypted connection. With SSL, any information sent between a user and your website is secure from eavesdropping and tampering.
Google's Stance on HTTPS
Google has been a vocal advocate of HTTPS since 2014. Not only does Chrome mark HTTP sites as "Not Secure", but Google also confirmed that HTTPS is a ranking signal—meaning secure websites are more likely to rank higher in search results.
SEO Benefits of HTTPS
○ Ranking boost: Google favors HTTPS websites.
○ Increased trust: Users trust secure sites more.
○ Referral data retention: When switching from HTTPS to HTTPS, referral data in Google Analytics remains intact.
○ Better performance: HTTP/2, supported by HTTPS, improves load speed.
Pre-requisites for HTTPS Redirection
Before you redirect HTTP to HTTPS, make sure you've checked off the following:
1. Purchase and Install an SSL Certificate
You can get SSL certificates from providers like:
○ Let's Encrypt (free)
○ GoDaddy, Comodo, DigiCert (paid)
Your hosting provider might offer built-in SSL installation—check with them first.
2. Test Your SSL Installation
Use tools like SSL Labs to test if your certificate is installed correctly.
3. Backup Your Website
Always back up your files and databases before making significant changes like server or .htaccess modifications.
Common Methods to Redirect HTTP to HTTPS
.htaccess (Apache Server)
If your website is hosted on an Apache server, you can redirect using the .htaccess
file.
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]
Place this code at the top of your .htaccess
file, located in your website’s root directory.
Nginx Server
For Nginx users, modify your configuration file:
server {
listen 80;
server_name yourdomain.com www.yourdomain.com;
return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
}
Reload Nginx after saving your changes:
sudo service nginx reload
CMS-specific Settings (e.g., WordPress)
For WordPress websites:
○ Update your WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) under Settings > General to use HTTPS.
○ Use plugins like Really Simple SSL to handle redirects and force HTTPS.
cPanel (Web Hosting)
If you use cPanel:
○ Go to SSL/TLS to install SSL.
○ Then, in the Domains section, enable the Force HTTPS Redirect toggle for the domain.
Step-by-Step: Redirect HTTP to HTTPS
Step 1: Identify Your Server Type
Find out if your site is running on Apache, Nginx, or another server. This determines which redirect method you'll use.
Step 2: Add 301 Redirect Rules
Use permanent 301 redirects to tell search engines that your site has moved to HTTPS.
Step 3: Verify Redirects
Test your site to ensure all HTTP URLs redirect to their HTTPS versions. Use tools like:
WhyNoPadlock
Redirect Checker
Step 4: Update External Resources
Update CDN settings to serve over HTTPS.
Modify email signatures, social media links, and other assets to use HTTPS.
SEO Considerations When Redirecting
Use 301 Redirects
These preserve link equity (SEO value) from your HTTP URLs to the new HTTPS ones.
Update XML Sitemap & robots.txt
○ Generate a new sitemap with HTTPS URLs.
○ Submit the sitemap in Google Search Console.
○ Ensure your
robots.txt
allows Google to crawl HTTPS pages.
Update Canonical Tags
Ensure all canonical tags point to HTTPS versions to avoid duplicate content issues.
Monitor Google Search Console
Re-add your site with the HTTPS URL and monitor for crawl errors, indexing issues, and traffic changes.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Mixed Content Warnings
Occurs when a page loads over HTTPS but includes HTTP assets (e.g., images, scripts). Fix by:
○ Updating internal links to HTTPS
○ Replacing hard-coded HTTP assets
Use WhyNoPadlock to identify issues.
SSL Not Trusted
Ensure your certificate is from a reputable authority and installed properly. Some browsers may block self-signed certificates.
Redirect Loops
This happens when incorrect rules cause infinite redirects. Review your .htaccess
or server config to ensure conditions are correct.
Site Performance Drops
Use tools like GTmetrix to diagnose performance issues post-redirect.
Best Practices for HTTPS Redirection
Force HTTPS Sitewide
Ensure all URLs, including subpages and assets, are redirected.
Enable HSTS
HTTP Strict Transport Security tells browsers to always load your site using HTTPS.
Add this to your .htaccess
:
Header always set Strict-Transport-Security "max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains" env=HTTPS
Use a Wildcard SSL Certificate
If you run a website with multiple subdomains (e.g., blog.yoursite.com), a wildcard SSL covers all of them.
Renew SSL Regularly
Set up auto-renewals or calendar reminders. Let’s Encrypt certificates, for example, expire every 90 days.
Tools & Resources
○ Let’s Encrypt – Free SSL certificates
○ SSL Checker
○ Google Search Console
○ Redirect Checker
○ WhyNoPadlock
Conclusion
Redirecting HTTP to HTTPS is a must for modern websites. It's a foundational step toward better SEO, user trust, and website security. By installing an SSL certificate, setting up proper 301 redirects, and following best practices, you can make your website both safer and more search engine–friendly.
Take the step today—secure your site, boost your Google rankings, and give your visitors peace of mind. Need help? Check out our SSL Installation Guide or contact our support team.