Wondering How to Redirect HTTP to HTTPS using htaccess? If your answer is yes, then read on.

There is no doubt that an SSL certificate is an extremely important element on your website. If your website does not have a valid SSL certificate, then browsers like Google Chrome, FireFox and other Chromium-based browsers will show an insecure connection warning.

As a result, the website visitor might find your website suspicious and avoid visiting it. So if you don’t have an SSL certificate on your website yet, then it is high time that you do so.

And whenever it comes to installing an SSL certificate and redirecting all content from HTTP to HTTPS, htaccess method is one of the easiest ways available out there.

But before I go ahead and talk about the steps that you have to follow, let me just talk about what is SSL and why it is important.

So here we go:

What is SSL?

SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. As the name suggests, it has the stuff to do with security. It is a standard security protocol that helps in establishing encrypted links between a web browser to an online communication.

The main job of SSL technology is to ensure that all the data transmitted through a web server to a web browser stays encrypted.

Also Read: How to start a Successful Website or Blog

Also to establish an encrypted connection you will need to get an SSL certificate. An SSL certificate can be availed free of cost and through purchases. HostSall Web Hosting offers free SSL to all of our customers regardless of their plans.

In case your Web Hosting provider doesn’t offer you any type of SSL with your plan, you can go with free SSL certificates available online.

free SSL certificates would work fine enough for you. if you have a basic blog or a website. But if you are running a commercial or business website, it is highly important that you go for a paid one or consider switching to HostSall Web Hosting.

Why is SSL so important for your website?

• Safe and Secure Transfer/Transaction: If you have an e-commerce website or doing online transactions, then SSL is extremely important. Without SSL, you are putting your customers and your business at a large risk of stealing credit card information and other data.
• Helps in Website Ranking: According to Google, they do consider SSL as one of their ranking factors. So if you are interested in SEO, you must have an SSL certificated implemented.
• User Trust Factor: Once you install an SSL certificate on your website, web browsers will show a Green bar on HTTPS.

How to Redirect HTTP to HTTPS using htaccess?

To redirect HTTP to HTTPS using .htaccess, you will of course need to edit the htaccess file. And there are two ways to do so. You can either use your hosting control panel if you are using web hosting company offers one. Or you can use FTP for VPS or other types of hosting in case if you don’t have any control panel to work with.

Editing the htaccess file:

Before you go ahead and start editing the htaccess file, you must back up your existing htaccess file. So in case if things get messed up, you will be able to bring things back to normal.

Anyway, here are the steps that you have to follow in order to backup your .htaccess file:

• First of all, open your cPanel account or any other Control Panel.
• Go to the File manager.
• Then click on settings from the top right corner.
• Click on the Document Root for (the domain name) and check the Show Hidden Files.
• Then save the settings.
• After that, go to the public_html directory or wherever the files are hosted.
• Over here, you will find the .htaccess file.
• Simply select the file and click on the edit button from the top bar.
• Click once on the .htachess file and then click on the “Edit” at the top bar.
• A warning box will pop up, but click on Edit.
• On the next page, a code editor will open. And from here, you will be able to edit the file.

Redirect HTTP to HTTPS using .htaccess:

• Once you are on the code editor, simply scroll down to the bottom.
• Over here, you will need to paste the below code:

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

• After that, simply save the file and you are all done.
• In case the above method doesn’t work for you or you are facing some issues on your website after editing the .htaccess file, we highly recommend you to contact our Customer Support which is available 24×7.

Final Words:

So that was all for your question that says how to redirect HTTP to HTTPS using .htaccess. Now go ahead and try the steps out and see how they are working for you. Also, if there is anything you would like to ask, then do feel free to drop a comment below and we will try our best to help you out.