Activating a Free SSL Certificate for WordPress

Making your WordPress website secure and trustworthy is important. One way to do this is by getting a free SSL certificate. An SSL certificate is a security tool for websites. It creates a safe link between the website and the visitor's browser, making sure any information shared is kept private. This helps protect personal information like passwords and credit card numbers. Websites with SSL certificates can be recognized by the "https" in their web address and a padlock symbol in the browser bar, showing the site is secure and trustworthy.

This guide will show you how to set it up step by step. By following our instructions, you'll be able to activate your SSL certificate quickly and easily. With a secure SSL connection, your website will be safer for your users and more trustworthy for search engines.

• Why Do I Need an SSL Certificate
• How Do I Use the Free Shared SSL Certificate
• Enabling the Free SSL Certificate
• Disabling the Free SSL Certificate

Why Do I Need an SSL Certificate

There are different reasons why you need to install an SSL Certificate for your website. Such as:

• Security: It encrypts the data exchanged between your website and your visitors, protecting it from being intercepted by hackers. This is crucial for any website that handles sensitive information, such as credit card details, login credentials, or personal data.
• Trust: Websites with SSL certificates display a padlock icon in the address bar, signaling to visitors that their connection is secure. This builds trust and credibility with your audience, showing that you value their privacy and security.
• SEO Ranking: Google and other search engines give preference to websites that are secure. Having an SSL certificate can help improve your website’s search engine ranking, making it more visible to potential visitors.
• Compliance: Certain regulations and standards, like the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), require websites that process credit card information to have an SSL certificate as part of their compliance measures.
• Preventing "Not Secure" Warnings: Modern browsers alert users if they're visiting a non-HTTPS website, often displaying a "Not Secure" warning. This can deter visitors from staying on your site. An SSL certificate ensures your website is accessed via HTTPS, preventing these warnings.

How Do I Use the Free Shared SSL Certificate

Bluehost offers free SSL certificates for all domain names that are assigned or parked in your account. For the most part, the SSL will install and assign itself to all of your domains — new and old — but certain users might need to manually enable the certificate.

Enabling the Free SSL Certificate

If it's properly set up, it should show an Active status. If it says, In Progress, you should be able to receive an email that contains a link to your account for further instructions.

1. Log in to your Bluehost Account Manager.
2. Click the Security tab from the side navigation. From here, check your Security products, and you should be able to see the Single Domain SSL active.
   
3. To check your website, navigate to the Hosting tab in the side navigation.
   
4. Select the website you're working on under the Site section by clicking Settings.
   
5. Click on the Security tab.
   

It may take several hours for the SSL to install and activate after you've switched it on. We might occasionally need your assistance to finish the process. If so, an email with instructions will be sent to you.

Disabling the Free SSL Certificate

1. Log in to your Bluehost Account Manager.
2. Click the Hosting tab from the side navigation and select your website.
   
3. Navigate through the menu and click on Security. On SSL certificates, from the right corner, click on the 3 vertical dots and select View SSL logs.
   
4. Click on the checkbox next to the domain name for which you need to uninstall the SSL certificate. Then, select Exclude Domains from AutoSSL and click View Certificate. 
5. Lastly, locate the domain for which you do not want an SSL certificate and click on the Uninstall option.

Summary

To activate a free SSL certificate on your WordPress site, simply log into your hosting account, go to the Security tab, and check if the SSL is active. If not, follow the provided steps or instructions in an email to activate it. This makes your site more secure for visitors. To remove the SSL, just log in, go to Security under Hosting, and uninstall the SSL for the desired domain. This helps keep your site trusted and safe.