Mixed Content Errors After Enabling HTTPS

Enabling SSL and HTTPS is an important step for website security.

However, after switching a website from HTTP to HTTPS, you may see a mixed content warning.

Mixed content usually means that the main webpage is loaded over HTTPS but some resources are still requested using HTTP.

What Is Mixed Content?

Imagine your website opens at:

https://yourdomain.com

but an image is loaded using:

http://yourdomain.com/image.jpg

The page is secure, but the image request is not.

This creates mixed content.

Why Does Mixed Content Matter?

Mixed content can:

• Trigger browser warnings
• Prevent some resources from loading
• Create security concerns
• Cause layout problems

Modern browsers may block certain insecure resources.

Check WordPress Site URLs

WordPress websites commonly have URL settings.

Make sure the WordPress address and site address use HTTPS after the SSL migration.

Before making changes, maintain a backup.

Update Internal Links

Old HTTP links may exist throughout the website.

Examples include:

• Images
• Pages
• CSS
• JavaScript
• Internal resources

Update them to HTTPS where appropriate.

Check Theme Files

Themes can contain hard-coded HTTP URLs.

Review custom code and theme files if the problem continues.

Check Plugins

Plugins may also load resources using HTTP.

If mixed content appears after installing or updating a plugin, investigate that plugin.

Check External Resources

Third-party resources can also cause mixed content.

Examples include:

• Fonts
• Scripts
• Images
• Embedded content

Only use HTTPS versions of external resources where supported.

Check the Database Carefully

WordPress content may contain old HTTP URLs.

Database replacement can update these references, but it must be performed carefully.

Always keep a backup before modifying the database.

Clear Website Caches

After fixing URLs, clear relevant caches.

Otherwise, an old cached version may continue showing the previous content.

Check CDN and Proxy Settings

If your website uses a CDN or reverse proxy, HTTPS configuration may involve additional settings.

Make sure the complete request path is configured correctly.

Check Redirects

Your website should normally redirect HTTP requests to HTTPS.

However, redirects alone do not automatically fix every mixed-content reference.

Use Browser Developer Tools

Browser developer tools can show which resources are still being requested over HTTP.

Look for:

• Images
• Scripts
• Stylesheets
• Fonts

This can help identify the exact source of the problem.

Test Important Pages

Do not check only the homepage.

Test:

• Contact page
• Login page
• Blog posts
• Product pages
• Forms
• Important landing pages

Avoid Blind URL Replacement

Replacing every occurrence of "http" with "https" without checking the context can create unexpected problems.

Make changes carefully.

Final Thoughts

Mixed content is usually caused by old HTTP references remaining after an HTTPS migration.

Check WordPress URLs, internal resources, themes, plugins, external resources, caches, and CDN configuration.

THE HOSTGURU SSL customers should test their websites carefully after enabling HTTPS and resolve mixed-content issues promptly.

Frequently Asked Questions