If your WordPress blog or website displays ‘not secure,’ that means your website’s connection is not secured. It not only has a bad impact on your website’s visibility in search engines, but it also scares away visitors. Many of you must be wondering for a method to get Free SSL Certificate.
As a result, having an SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certification on your website is critical for protecting your visitors’ information via an encrypted connection. You’ll discover how and where to get a free SSL certificate utilizing a simple step-by-step approach in this post.
What Is the Best Way to Have a Free SSL Certificate?
Your website will display ‘HTTPS’ instead of ‘HTTP’ when you receive a free SSL certificate for WordPress.
Here are some simple instructions for obtaining a free SSL certificate:
Step1: Getting Started.
The test website that we’re using for this free SSL certificate tutorial can be seen in the screenshot.
The left-hand side of the website’s domain says ‘Not Secure,’ as you can see. This is what every visitor to your website sees if you don’t have an SSL certificate.
That is something we want to alter. You’ll notice a ‘lock’ option after obtaining the free SSL, indicating that your website is secure.
Go to Cloudflare to make that a reality.
Step 2: Create a Cloudflare account.
To get started, go to cloudflare.com.
Scroll down to the different plans once you’ve arrived at their main page.
As you can see, Cloudflare’s free plan includes a universal SSL certificate. Under the free plan, go ahead and click ‘Add a website.’
In the next step, enter your email address and establish a secure password.From the drop-down option, select ‘Create Account.’
Now type in the domain name of your website and click ‘Add site.’ Select ‘Continue’ because the free plan is already selected. Cloudflare will monitor your website for a few moments.
Step 3: Double-check DNS settings
- You’ll be asked to confirm your DNS configuration at this stage. Check the IP address to make sure it’s correct. To double-check your work, go to your WordPress cPanel.
- If you don’t have access to a cPanel or aren’t sure where to go for your IP address, contact your domain provider and request it. You’ll need to modify the nameservers in the following stage of our free SSL for WordPress tutorial.
Step 4: Update your name servers
- Add Cloudflare’s nameservers by scrolling down the page.
- Click ‘Click to copy’ to copy the first DNS record. Now go to your domain provider’s website.
- We’ll utilize HostPapa for this free SSL tutorial. Locate the domain for which you wish to update the DNS and click ‘Manage’ under ‘My Domains.’
- Depending on your domain provider, this step may alter slightly. Select ‘Use custom nameservers’ under ‘Nameservers’.
- In the DNS1 column, paste the first nameserver. Return to Cloudflare and copy the second nameserver, which you should paste into the DNS2 column.
- After that, select ‘Update DNS Servers’.
- If you’re unsure about the process, contact your hosting provider and present them with Cloudflare’s two nameservers (they can do this for you).
- Return to Cloudflare and select ‘Done, check nameservers’ after updating the DNS field.
- select ‘Finish later’ in the next step.This could take up to 24 hours to take full effect. Click ‘Check nameservers’ at the bottom of the page.
You can see that it is currently being re-checked, and you are only allowed to submit one re-check per hour.
If your nameservers haven’t been updated in a few hours, keep refreshing this page. You’ll get the notice once they’ve been updated.
Step 5: Download and install the plugin
For the final stage in learning how to get a free SSL for WordPress, you’ll need to install a plugin.
Click ‘Plugins’ on the left side of your WordPress dashboard after logging in. Choose ‘Add New’ and type ‘Really Simple SSL’ into the search field.
Install and activate the plugin (which has over 5 million active installations and a high number of good ratings).
You’ve successfully pushed and enabled your SSL certificate by clicking ‘Activate SSL.’ Your WordPress site is now safe to visit!
Congratulations!
