How to Set Up a Free SSL on Hostinger (and Force HTTPS)

In today’s digital landscape, website security isn’t just a recommendation; it’s a necessity. An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate encrypts the connection between your website and your visitors, protecting sensitive data and building trust. Beyond security, Google openly uses HTTPS as a ranking signal, making SSL crucial for SEO performance. If your site still relies on HTTP, you’re not just risking user data, but also potentially missing out on higher search rankings.

The good news? If you’re hosting with Hostinger, setting up a free SSL certificate is remarkably straightforward. Hostinger integrates Let’s Encrypt SSL, allowing you to secure your website without any additional cost. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step, from installation to forcing HTTPS across your entire site, ensuring your website is both secure and SEO-friendly.

Table of Contents

• What is an SSL Certificate and Why Do You Need It?
• Hostinger’s Free SSL: An Overview
• Step-by-Step Guide: Setting Up Free SSL on Hostinger

  • Step 1: Access Your Hostinger hPanel
  • Step 2: Locate the SSL Section
  • Step 3: Install Your Free SSL Certificate
  • Step 4: Verify SSL Installation

• How to Force HTTPS on Hostinger

  • Method 1: Using Hostinger’s Built-in ‘Force HTTPS’ Feature
  • Method 2: Forcing HTTPS via .htaccess File (Advanced)
  • Method 3: Forcing HTTPS in WordPress (Recommended for WordPress Users)

• Common Issues and Troubleshooting

  • Mixed Content Warnings
  • SSL Not Activating/Installing
  • Redirect Loops
  • Browser Security Warnings

• Post-Installation Checklist
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is an SSL Certificate and Why Do You Need It?

At its core, an SSL certificate is a digital certificate that authenticates the identity of a website and encrypts information sent to and from the server. Think of it as a secure handshake between your website and a visitor’s browser. When an SSL certificate is active, your website’s URL will display https:// instead of http://, and a padlock icon will appear in the browser’s address bar.

Here’s why it’s non-negotiable for modern websites:

• Data Security: It encrypts sensitive information like login credentials, credit card details, and personal data, protecting it from eavesdroppers and malicious actors.
• Trust and Credibility: The padlock icon and https:// URL signal to visitors that your site is secure and trustworthy. This is especially vital for e-commerce sites and any site collecting user information. Without it, browsers like Chrome often display “Not Secure” warnings, deterring potential users.
• SEO Benefits: Google officially announced that HTTPS is a lightweight ranking signal. While not the most powerful factor, having SSL can give your site a slight edge in search engine results pages (SERPs).
• Browser Compatibility: Modern browsers increasingly penalize insecure HTTP sites, often blocking content or displaying prominent security warnings that can drive visitors away.
• Compliance: For businesses handling sensitive data, particularly in industries like healthcare or finance, SSL/TLS encryption is often a regulatory requirement (e.g., GDPR, PCI DSS).

In short, an SSL certificate is foundational for a secure, reputable, and search engine-friendly online presence.

Hostinger’s Free SSL: An Overview

Hostinger, like many leading hosting providers, understands the critical importance of website security. That’s why they offer free SSL certificates powered by Let’s Encrypt for all their hosting plans.

Let’s Encrypt is a free, automated, and open certificate authority that provides digital certificates to enable HTTPS on websites. It has rapidly become the standard for free SSL, trusted by millions of websites worldwide. Hostinger’s integration makes installing and managing these certificates seamless, often requiring just a few clicks.

Key Benefits of Hostinger’s Free SSL:

This commitment to providing free SSL ensures that even beginners can easily secure their websites without incurring extra costs or dealing with complex technical setups.

Step-by-Step Guide: Setting Up Free SSL on Hostinger

Securing your website with a free SSL certificate on Hostinger is a quick and painless process. Follow these steps to get your site running on HTTPS.

Step 1: Access Your Hostinger hPanel

First things first, you need to log into your Hostinger account.

1. Go to Hostinger’s website and click on the “Login” button.
2. Enter your email and password to access your hPanel dashboard.
3. Once logged in, you’ll see your main dashboard, which lists all your hosting accounts and domains.

(Visual Description: Screenshot showing the Hostinger hPanel dashboard with “Hosting” and “Domains” sections, and a prominent “Manage” button next to a hosting plan.)

Step 2: Locate the SSL Section

From your hPanel, navigate to the SSL management area.

1. On the main hPanel dashboard, find the hosting account associated with the domain you want to secure. Click on the “Manage” button next to it.
2. Once you’re in the hosting management area for your specific domain, look for the “Security” section in the left-hand sidebar or in the main content area.
3. Under “Security,” you should see an option for “SSL.” Click on it.

(Visual Description: Screenshot highlighting the “Security” section in the hPanel sidebar and the “SSL” option within it.)

Step 3: Install Your Free SSL Certificate

Now, let’s get that SSL installed!

1. On the SSL management page, you’ll see a list of your domains. If you haven’t installed SSL before, the status for your primary domain will likely be “Not Installed” or similar.
2. Locate the domain you wish to secure and click the “Install SSL” button next to it.
3. Hostinger will then prompt you to select the domain for which you want to install the SSL. Make sure the correct domain is selected.
4. Click the final “Install” button.

Hostinger will now initiate the installation process. This usually takes just a few moments, but in some cases, it might take up to 30 minutes. The system will automatically fetch the Let’s Encrypt certificate and configure it for your domain.

(Visual Description: Screenshot showing the SSL management page with a list of domains and an “Install SSL” button next to an unsecured domain. Another screenshot showing a confirmation message after successful installation.)

Important Note: During the installation, ensure your domain’s DNS records are correctly pointing to Hostinger’s nameservers. If your domain is registered elsewhere, make sure it’s pointed correctly, as SSL validation often relies on this.

Step 4: Verify SSL Installation

After the installation completes, it’s crucial to verify that your SSL certificate is active and working correctly.

1. Check Your Website: Open your web browser and type https://yourdomain.com (replace yourdomain.com with your actual domain name).
2. Look for the Padlock: You should see a padlock icon in the browser’s address bar, usually next to your URL. Clicking on this padlock will often show details about the certificate, confirming it’s valid and issued by Let’s Encrypt.
3. Check for “Not Secure” Warnings: If you don’t see the padlock or still get a “Not Secure” warning, clear your browser cache and try again. If the issue persists, proceed to the troubleshooting section.
4. Use an Online SSL Checker: For a more in-depth check, you can use online tools like SSL Labs’ SSL Server Test. Simply enter your domain name, and it will analyze your SSL setup, providing a comprehensive report.

(Visual Description: Screenshot showing a browser address bar with the padlock icon and https:// prefix for a successfully secured website.)

How to Force HTTPS on Hostinger

Installing an SSL certificate is only half the battle. To ensure all your visitors benefit from the secure connection and to avoid “mixed content” warnings, you must force your website to load entirely over HTTPS. This means any request to http://yourdomain.com should automatically redirect to https://yourdomain.com.

Hostinger provides multiple ways to achieve this, catering to different levels of technical expertise and website setups.

Method 1: Using Hostinger’s Built-in ‘Force HTTPS’ Feature

This is the easiest and recommended method for most Hostinger users, especially if your site is primarily static or uses a simple CMS.

1. Return to the SSL Management Page: Go back to your hPanel, navigate to your hosting account, then to the “Security” > “SSL” section.
2. Enable ‘Force HTTPS’: On the SSL management page, you’ll see a toggle switch or button labeled “Force HTTPS” next to your domain.
3. Activate it: Simply click the toggle to activate it. A confirmation message might appear.

Hostinger’s system will then automatically configure the necessary redirects for your domain, ensuring all traffic is routed through HTTPS. This is the quickest and least technical way to enforce SSL.

(Visual Description: Screenshot showing the “SSL” management page in hPanel with a prominent “Force HTTPS” toggle switch highlighted.)

Method 2: Forcing HTTPS via .htaccess File (Advanced)

If you need more control, or if the built-in “Force HTTPS” feature doesn’t seem to work perfectly for your specific setup (e.g., certain CMS configurations or custom applications), you can manually edit your .htaccess file. This method is common for WordPress and other PHP-based sites.

1. Access File Manager: In your hPanel, go to the “Files” section and click on “File Manager.”

2. Navigate to Your Public_html: Inside the File Manager, go to your public_html directory (or the root directory of your specific website if you have multiple domains).

3. Edit .htaccess: Locate the .htaccess file. If you don’t see it, make sure “Show Hidden Files” is enabled in your File Manager settings (often a gear icon or settings menu).

4. Add the Redirect Rules: Open the .htaccess file for editing. Before any existing WordPress rules (if applicable), add the following code:

   apache
   RewriteEngine On
   RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
   RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]

   • RewriteEngine On: This line ensures that the Apache rewrite module is enabled.
   • RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off: This condition checks if the incoming request is not HTTPS.
   • RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]: If the condition is met, this rule redirects the request to the HTTPS version of the same URL. [L,R=301] tells the server to make it a permanent redirect (301) and stop processing further rules.

5. Save Changes: Save the .htaccess file.

6. Test Your Site: Clear your browser cache and visit your website using http://yourdomain.com. It should automatically redirect to https://yourdomain.com.

Caution: Always back up your .htaccess file before making manual changes, as incorrect edits can break your site.

Method 3: Forcing HTTPS in WordPress (Recommended for WordPress Users)

If your website is built on WordPress, you have additional steps to ensure HTTPS is enforced correctly throughout your site, including updating internal links and preventing mixed content.

1. Update WordPress General Settings:

   • Log into your WordPress admin dashboard.
   • Go to “Settings” > “General.”
   • Change both the “WordPress Address (URL)” and “Site Address (URL)” fields from http://yourdomain.com to https://yourdomain.com.
   • Click “Save Changes” at the bottom. You might be logged out and need to log back in.

   (Visual Description: Screenshot showing WordPress General Settings page with WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) fields highlighted, changed to https.)

2. Use a WordPress Plugin (Optional but Recommended for Mixed Content):
   For many WordPress sites, simply updating the general settings isn’t enough, as old HTTP links might still be hardcoded in posts, pages, or the database, leading to mixed content warnings. A plugin can fix these automatically.

   • Really Simple SSL: This is a popular and highly effective plugin.

     • Install and activate the “Really Simple SSL” plugin from the WordPress plugin directory.
     • Once activated, it will often detect your SSL and ask if you want to “Go ahead, activate SSL!” Click this button.
     • The plugin will then handle most of the redirects and automatically rewrite internal HTTP links to HTTPS.

   (Visual Description: Screenshot of the “Really Simple SSL” plugin’s activation screen, prompting the user to activate SSL.)

3. Check for Residual Mixed Content: Even after using a plugin, occasionally some hardcoded HTTP links (e.g., from old themes, plugins, or custom code) might remain. If you still see mixed content warnings, use browser developer tools (F12 in Chrome/Firefox) to inspect network requests and identify which resources are still loading over HTTP.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

While Hostinger makes SSL setup quite smooth, you might encounter a few common hiccups. Here’s how to diagnose and resolve them:

Mixed Content Warnings

Problem: Your site shows the padlock icon, but your browser still flags it as “Partially Secure” or you see a warning about “mixed content.” This happens when your main page loads over HTTPS, but some resources (images, scripts, CSS, iframes) on that page are still loaded via HTTP.

Solution:

1. WordPress Specific: If you use WordPress, ensure you’ve updated your Site URL in settings and used a plugin like Really Simple SSL.
2. Manual Inspection:

   • Open your website in a browser (e.g., Chrome).
   • Right-click anywhere on the page and select “Inspect” (or press F12).
   • Go to the “Console” tab. You’ll often see warnings about mixed content, indicating the specific files trying to load over HTTP.
   • Go to the “Network” tab, refresh the page, and sort by “Scheme” or “Protocol” to see if any resources are loading insecurely.

3. Update Hardcoded Links: Search your theme files, plugin settings, or database for http://yourdomain.com and replace them with https://yourdomain.com or relative paths (e.g., /wp-content/uploads/image.jpg). Many “search and replace” plugins for WordPress can help with database-wide updates.

SSL Not Activating/Installing

Problem: The SSL status in hPanel remains “Pending” or “Not Installed” for an extended period, or you get an error during installation.

Solution:

1. DNS Propagation: Ensure your domain’s nameservers are correctly pointing to Hostinger. If you recently changed them, it can take up to 24-48 hours for DNS changes to fully propagate globally.
2. Domain Validation: Let’s Encrypt needs to validate domain ownership. This usually happens automatically. If you have custom DNS records or firewalls, they might interfere.
3. Clear Browser Cache: Sometimes your browser might be showing an old cached version. Clear your browser cache and try again.
4. Contact Hostinger Support: If the issue persists after a few hours, the best course of action is to contact Hostinger’s customer support. They can check server-side logs and resolve any underlying issues quickly.

Redirect Loops

Problem: Your browser displays an error like “Too many redirects” or “ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS” when trying to access your site. This typically happens when your server and/or CMS are configured to repeatedly redirect between HTTP and HTTPS.

Solution:

1. Check Hostinger’s Force HTTPS: If you enabled Hostinger’s “Force HTTPS” toggle, disable it temporarily.
2. .htaccess Conflicts: If you manually added .htaccess rules (Method 2), review them carefully. Ensure there are no conflicting rules. If you’re using WordPress, the rules from the “Force HTTPS” toggle or a plugin might conflict with manual .htaccess entries. Try removing your custom .htaccess rules and rely on Hostinger’s built-in feature or a WordPress plugin.
3. WordPress Settings: Verify that both “WordPress Address (URL)” and “Site Address (URL)” in “Settings” > “General” are set to https://.
4. Plugin Conflicts: Temporarily deactivate any caching or security plugins in WordPress, as they can sometimes interfere with redirects.
5. Clear Caching: Clear all server, CDN, and browser caches.

Browser Security Warnings (e.g., Expired Certificate, Untrusted Certificate)

Problem: Your browser shows a warning page (e.g., “Your connection is not private”) when you try to access your site, stating the certificate is expired, invalid, or untrusted.

Solution:

1. Check Expiration: In hPanel’s SSL section, check the expiration date of your certificate. Let’s Encrypt certificates are valid for 90 days but should auto-renew. If it’s expired, try reinstalling it or contact support.
2. Reinstall SSL: Sometimes a fresh installation can resolve corrupted certificate issues. Go to the SSL section in hPanel and try reinstalling the certificate.
3. Correct Domain: Ensure the SSL certificate is issued for the exact domain you are trying to access (e.g., yourdomain.com and www.yourdomain.com usually require coverage).
4. Clear DNS Cache: If you’re on a Windows machine, open Command Prompt and type ipconfig /flushdns. For Mac, sudo dscacheutil -flushcache.
5. Contact Hostinger Support: If none of these steps work, there might be a deeper server configuration issue that Hostinger support can diagnose.

Post-Installation Checklist

Once your SSL is installed and HTTPS is enforced, there are a few final steps to ensure everything runs smoothly and your SEO benefits are maximized.

1. Update Internal Links: While plugins like Really Simple SSL can rewrite many links, it’s good practice to manually check your content (posts, pages, custom menus) for any hardcoded http:// links and update them to https://.
2. Update Google Search Console: If you’ve previously verified your site with Google Search Console, you should add the HTTPS version of your site as a new property (e.g., https://yourdomain.com). Google treats HTTP and HTTPS versions as separate entities. You don’t need to remove the old HTTP property, but ensure you submit the HTTPS sitemap and monitor the new property.
3. Update Google Analytics: If you use Google Analytics, go to “Admin” > “Property Settings” > “Default URL” and change it from http:// to https://. This ensures your reports accurately reflect your secure traffic.
4. Check External Backlinks (Optional): While not strictly necessary due to the 301 redirects, if you have control over important external backlinks (e.g., from social media profiles, directories, or partner websites), it’s a good idea to update them to your HTTPS URL.
5. Clear All Caching: Clear any caching on your WordPress site (plugins like LiteSpeed Cache or WP Super Cache), Hostinger’s server cache (via hPanel), and your browser cache. This ensures you’re seeing the most up-to-date, secure version of your site.
6. Monitor for Mixed Content: Periodically check your site, especially after adding new content or plugins, to ensure no mixed content warnings reappear. Browser developer tools (F12) are your best friend here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Hostinger’s free SSL really free?

Yes, Hostinger provides free SSL certificates powered by Let’s Encrypt for all domains hosted on their plans. There are no hidden costs or recurring fees for this basic SSL protection.

How long does it take for the SSL certificate to install on Hostinger?

Typically, the installation process on Hostinger takes only a few minutes. In some cases, due to DNS propagation or server load, it might take up to 30 minutes.

Do I need to manually renew the free SSL certificate?

No, Hostinger’s free SSL certificates (Let’s Encrypt) are designed to auto-renew every 90 days. Hostinger handles this process automatically, so you don’t need to worry about manual renewals.

What if my website breaks after installing SSL and forcing HTTPS?

This usually indicates a redirect loop or mixed content issue. First, try disabling the “Force HTTPS” option in hPanel or removing custom .htaccess rules. Then, systematically check for mixed content, update WordPress URLs, and use a plugin like Really Simple SSL for WordPress. If issues persist, contact Hostinger support.

Can I use my own custom or paid SSL certificate with Hostinger?

Yes, Hostinger allows you to install custom or paid SSL certificates if you prefer. You would typically need to generate a CSR (Certificate Signing Request) through your hPanel, obtain the certificate from your chosen provider, and then upload it to Hostinger’s SSL management section.

How can I check if my SSL certificate is working correctly?

The easiest way is to visit your website using https:// in your browser. Look for a padlock icon in the address bar. You can also use online SSL checker tools like SSL Labs’ SSL Server Test for a comprehensive report on your certificate’s status and configuration.

What is the difference between HTTPS and HTTP?

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the standard protocol for transmitting data over the internet. HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is the secure version of HTTP, meaning all data transferred between your browser and the website is encrypted by an SSL/TLS certificate, protecting it from interception.

Setting up and enforcing a free SSL certificate on your Hostinger website is a critical step for modern web presence. Not only does it safeguard your users’ data and build trust, but it also gives your site a crucial boost in search engine rankings. With Hostinger’s user-friendly hPanel and robust support for Let’s Encrypt, securing your site with HTTPS is more accessible than ever.

By following this comprehensive guide, you’ve taken a significant stride towards a more secure, credible, and performant website. Don’t hesitate to put these best practices into action!

We hope this guide was helpful! Do you have any tips or challenges you faced while setting up SSL on Hostinger? Share your experience in the comments below, and don’t forget to share this guide with anyone who might find it useful!

Fash ViRal

लेटेस्ट अपडेट्स, ट्रेंडिंग न्यूज़, वायरल टॉपिक्स, फैशन से जुड़ी जानकारी और बहुत कुछ। मोबाइल लॉन्च, टेक तुलना और ताज़ा मुद्दों पर इन-डेप्थ आर्टिकल्स के साथ हमेशा रहें अपडेटेड