SSL certificates are now a must. Not only because of Google enforced it but also for some SEO juice. Major Web Hostings and Control panels like Cpanel also wants this on root domain. While most webhost left out their users in dilemma and technical challenges of implementing SSL to get that sweet HTTPS in address bar, Namecheap made it a matter of clicks.

It is kid’s play to install SSL using Namecheap SSL plugin with few clicks automatically. Plus, to help the transition currently they are giving out Comodo Free SSL with each Shared Professional Hosting plan. One for main domain and additional up to 49 subdomains. If you have 10 sites then it is 9*10=$90 for FREE! Don’t miss it. Get a NameCheap Shared Professional plan – First year is just $19.88!

Let’s see how you can install SSL on Namecheap hosting in few clicks without a single mistake and make your regular or WordPress site – a HTTPS.

Install SSL using Namecheap SSL Plugin

1. Login to your CPanel account.

After logging in to your Namecheap CPanel account, you will see ‘Namecheap SSL‘ as shown below. Click on it to open the menu. This might not be visible in your CPanel as this is Namecheap exclusive feature.

2.  Select Domain to install SSL

On next screen, you will see all the details of your hosting. Current domains and the availability of SSL certificates for them (if freely provided with Subdomains or Domains) or your purchased ones can be seen here. I am taking one of my overlooked project “Best5Phones.com” to install a Comodo Free SSL. You can see that it is Comodo Positive SSL.

Select your domain and click on install.

As you proceed, you will notice that there is warning showing “Replace existing SSL certificate?“. This is CPanel default SSL and not actual one. You can replace it. Just confirm the warning. There is no harm unless you previously installed proper SSL. Want to Cross-check? Check your site’s address bar, if it shows ‘Secure’ in green.

Confirm all the details on next screen along with admin email for SSL. Hit ‘Install Certificate‘.

3. Wait for SSL configuration and confirmation.

Now, all you have to do is wait. The screen will show something like below at first but later on it will show “Active“.

Here you also have an option to create an auto-redirect. Don’t just activate it yet. Read next steps. This is crucial to understand.

If you face problem then use “Sync with Namecheap” option.

4. Creating 301 Redirect

On previous screen, you will always find option to create auto-redirect. If you are not running WordPress or other CMS then it is advisable to activate “HTTPS Redirect” from here without manual code addition. Only downside is, this redirect is “302 redirect” i.e. Moved Temporarily while Google recommends “302 redirect” which is Moved Permanently.

For WordPress or any database based CMS, it is little different. You have to change links in database, make config changes and correct widgets. You can read How to Properly Set WordPress Redirect to HTTPS.

For non-database sites, like plain HTML file and one-pagers, better way is to add 301 redirect code to .htaccess and get the things done.

You can check the redirect using fee online tools. I have wrote about all free HTTPS Redirect Checkers.

5. Correct and check true HTTPS, Padlock.

Test your site by going to it’s address. It should say “Secure” in green with a Padlock. If it doesn’t then you have either mixed content on your site i.e. HTTP and HTTPS links hard-coded or your certificate hasn’t completely deployed yet.

For mixed link, you will need to search and replace the HTTP with HTTPS. This can be anywhere like your Widgets, Header, Promotion images, CSS files etc. Better way is to open each file in Notepad++ locally and use replace all and then re-upload.

Again, check the SSL and HTTPS on your website using free tools.

6. Add site to Google Webmaster / Search Console, Analytics etc.

You need to add HTTPS version of your site to Google Search console and Analytics and any other places you use to monitor or monetize. E.g. Pingdom, Uptime Robot, Adsense, Infolinks, Adfly, Google Play store apps etc.

Done! I hope you were able to make it work. If not, then let me know with your error codes and I will try to resolve them.