How to Check the SSL certificate on WordPress Website?

If you own a WordPress website, you understand the importance of having an SSL certificate installed. It not only ensures your website's safety and security, but it also helps in improving your website's search engine rankings. 


In this article, we'll define an SSL certificate, explain why it's important, and show you how to check whether your WordPress website has one.

What is an SSL Certificate?

An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is a digital certificate that authenticates the identity of a website and encrypts the data sent between the website and its users. 


It creates a secure connection between the user's browser and the server hosting the website. When a website has an SSL certificate installed, you'll notice that the URL starts with "https" instead of "http."

Also Read: Get free hosting with cpanel

Why is an SSL Certificate Important for Your Website?

An SSL certificate is essential for any website, especially for websites that collect sensitive information from users, such as login credentials, credit card information, or personal details. 

Without an SSL certificate, your website is vulnerable to cyber-attacks, such as man-in-the-middle attacks, phishing attacks, and data breaches.

Moreover, having an SSL certificate installed on your website improves your website's search engine rankings. 

Google considers HTTPS as a ranking factor, and websites with HTTPS tend to rank higher in search results than websites with HTTP.

How to Check SSL Certificate on WordPress Website?

There are several ways to check whether your WordPress website has an SSL certificate or not. Let's discuss each of these methods one by one:

1. Checking SSL Certificate on Google Chrome

⮞ Open your website in Google Chrome.

⮞ Click on the padlock icon next to the URL.

⮞ Click on "Certificate."

⮞ Check the information displayed under "Certificate."

If you see a green padlock with "Secure" written next to it, it means that your website has a valid SSL certificate. 

If the padlock is red or crossed out, it means that your website doesn't have an SSL certificate or the certificate is invalid.

2. Checking SSL Certificate on Mozilla Firefox

⮞ Open your website in Mozilla Firefox.

⮞ Click on the padlock icon next to the URL.

⮞ Click on the arrow next to "Connection Secure."

⮞ Click on "More Information."

⮞ Click on "Security" tab.

⮞ Check the information displayed under "Certificate."

If you see "Verified by:" and the name of a trusted SSL provider, it means that your website has a valid SSL certificate. 

If the certificate is invalid, you'll see a message saying "This website does not supply identity information" or "Connection is not secure."

3. Checking SSL Certificate on Microsoft Edge

⮞ Open your website in Microsoft Edge.

⮞ Click on the padlock icon next to the URL.

⮞ Click on "Certificate."

⮞ Check the information displayed under "Certificate."

If you see a green padlock with "Secure" written next to it, it means that your website has a valid SSL certificate.

4. Checking SSL Certificate on Safari

⮞ Open your website in Safari.

⮞ Click on the padlock icon next to the URL.

⮞ Click on "Certificate."

⮞ Check the information displayed under "Certificate."

If you see a green padlock with "Secure" written next to it, it means that your website has a valid SSL certificate.

5. Checking SSL Certificate Using an SSL Checker Tool

You can also use an SSL checker tool to verify whether your website has an SSL certificate or not. Some popular SSL checker tools include:

⮞ SSL Shopper SSL Checker

⮞ SSL Labs SSL Server Test

⮞ Qualys SSL Labs SSL Server Test

⮞ Simply enter your website's URL in the SSL checker tool and click on "Check" or "Test." 

The tool will display detailed information about your SSL certificate, including the certificate issuer, certificate expiration date, and any issues with the certificate.

6. Checking SSL Certificate Through cPanel

If you have access to your website's cPanel, you can check your SSL certificate status through the SSL/TLS section. Here's how:

⮞ Log in to your cPanel account.

⮞ Click on the "SSL/TLS" icon.

⮞ Click on "Manage SSL Sites."

⮞ Check the information displayed under "Domains" and "Expires On."

If you see your website's domain name and a valid expiration date, it means that your website has a valid SSL certificate.

Troubleshooting SSL Certificate Issues on WordPress

Sometimes, you may encounter issues with your SSL certificate on your WordPress website. Here are some common issues and how to troubleshoot them:

👉 Mixed Content Issues

Mixed content issues occur when your website has both HTTP and HTTPS content. This can happen when you have embedded HTTP content, such as images or scripts, on an HTTPS page. 

To fix this issue, you need to make sure that all content on your website is served over HTTPS.

👉 Expired SSL Certificate

If your SSL certificate has expired, you'll need to renew it. Contact your SSL provider to renew your SSL certificate and install the new certificate on your website.

👉 Invalid SSL Certificate

If your SSL certificate is invalid, it means that it was issued for a different domain or is not trusted by your browser. Contact your SSL provider to obtain a new SSL certificate and install it on your website.

👉 Issues with Redirects

If you're experiencing issues with redirects, it may be due to incorrect configuration of your SSL certificate. 

Make sure that all URLs on your website are configured to use HTTPS, and check your website's .htaccess file to ensure that all redirects are configured correctly.

Conclusion

Having an SSL certificate installed on your WordPress website is essential for ensuring the safety and security of your website and improving your website's search engine rankings. 

Checking your SSL certificate status is easy, and you can use any of the methods mentioned above to verify whether your website has an SSL certificate or not. 

If you encounter any issues with your SSL certificate, follow the troubleshooting tips mentioned above to resolve them.

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