Why My WordPress Website Includes Both HTTP and HTTPS in Canonical URL

Having both HTTP and HTTPS in WordPress site URLs can create significant challenges for your website’s SEO. This duplication can confuse search engines, as they may treat the same content under two different URLs, potentially harming your site’s rankings. It’s especially common after installing an SSL certificate or making changes to the htaccess file, leading to a situation where your site address or WordPress address settings are inconsistent.

A consistent URL structure is essential to ensure that search engines index your pages properly, avoiding the risk of duplicate content issues and a wasted crawl budget. Without proper configuration, your domain name may end up being indexed with both the HTTP and HTTPS versions of the URL, which could prevent your website from achieving its full SEO potential.

In this guide, we’ll break down how this issue arises, why it matters, and the steps you can take to resolve it. We’ll provide the necessary code and tools to help you clean up your site’s URLs and maintain a consistent, optimized structure.

What is HTTP and HTTPS?

HTTP, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol, is the foundational protocol used to transfer data over the web. It defines how messages are formatted and transmitted between a web browser (or client) and a web server. When you enter a website address in your browser, the browser uses HTTP to request the web page and send it back to you. However, HTTP is not encrypted, meaning any data exchanged between the client and server is sent in plain text, making it vulnerable to interception or tampering by third parties.

HTTPS, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, is the secure version of HTTP. It uses SSL/TLS encryption to protect the communication between the web server and the client. This means that all data exchanged—whether it’s personal information, payment details, or login credentials—is encrypted, making it much harder for hackers to intercept or tamper with the data and thus preventing your site from hacks. 

Know More About: How HTTP Caching Works and How to Use It? 

Why Does WordPress Show Both HTTP and HTTPS in Canonical URLs?

If your WordPress site is showing both HTTP and HTTPS in canonical URLs, it could be a sign of several underlying issues that need attention. Let’s break down some common causes:

Incorrect WordPress URL Settings

When the WordPress address or site address in your WordPress admin dashboard is set to the HTTP site instead of HTTPS, WordPress may generate canonical URLs with the HTTP version. This can cause search engines to see both HTTP and HTTPS URLs as separate pages, leading to potential SEO issues.

SSL Misconfiguration or Partial Implementation

If your SSL certificate is not properly installed or there are issues with its configuration, it may result in some parts of your site still being served over HTTP. This partial implementation can confuse WordPress and cause both HTTP and HTTPS versions of the canonical URL to appear, which can negatively impact search engine indexing.

Mixed Content Issues Affecting Canonicalization

Mixed content occurs when a webpage served over HTTPS still contains resources (such as images, scripts, or stylesheets) that are loaded over HTTP. This discrepancy can cause canonical URLs to be incorrectly generated with both HTTP and HTTPS versions, as WordPress might struggle to identify the correct URL to use for canonicalization.

Plugin or Theme Conflicts with Canonical URLs

Some WordPress plugins, especially those related to SEO, URL redirection, or site speed optimization, might not fully support HTTPS. In these cases, they could generate canonical URLs that incorrectly include both HTTP and HTTPS versions. Similarly, certain themes might not be optimized for HTTPS, leading to inconsistencies in how canonical URLs are handled.

Redirect Misconfigurations Causing Duplicate Versions

If your redirects from HTTP to HTTPS aren’t correctly configured, users or search engines might still access the HTTP site version. This can lead to both the HTTP and HTTPS versions of the same page being indexed, causing duplicate content issues. Redirects should be properly set up to ensure that all traffic is directed to the secure HTTPS version without any ambiguity.

Keep Reading: HTTP Vs. HTTPS: Why Having An SSL Is Important? 

SEO Risks of HTTP and HTTPS Canonical Issues

When both HTTP and HTTPS versions of your site appear in search results, it can lead to significant SEO challenges. Here are some of the key risks associated with canonical URL issues involving HTTP and HTTPS:

• Duplicate Content Affecting Search Rankings
  When both HTTP and HTTPS versions of your site are indexed, search engines may see them as duplicate pages, which can negatively impact your rankings.
• Loss of Organic Traffic Due to Indexing Conflicts
  Search engines may fail to properly index the correct version of your pages, causing traffic loss and limiting your site’s visibility.
• Security Warnings Impacting User Trust and Engagement
  Users may see security warnings for HTTP pages, which can reduce their trust in your site and cause them to leave, decreasing engagement.

Interesting Read: Optimizing Your Google Crawl Budget

How to Fix HTTP and HTTPS in WordPress URL Issue Seamlessly

Let’s explore how to resolve the common issue of HTTP and HTTPS canonical URL conflicts in WordPress.

Update WordPress Site URL in General Settings

Ensure that both the WordPress address and site address in your WordPress settings are using the HTTPS version of your site. This is a crucial step to ensure consistency and avoid mixing HTTP and HTTPS versions, which can lead to SEO issues and indexing conflicts.

Force HTTPS Using .htaccess or wp-config.php

If you want to ensure that all visitors are redirected to the secure version of your site, you can modify your .htaccess file or wp-config.php. This will automatically force the HTTPS protocol across your entire site, preventing users from accessing any insecure HTTP pages. This method is effective for sites that haven’t been consistently set up to load over HTTPS by default.

Use 301 Redirects to Enforce HTTPS

Implementing 301 redirects is a permanent solution to direct users and search engines from the HTTP version to the HTTPS version of your site. This is done by adding a simple redirect rule in your .htaccess file or server configuration. Proper redirection ensures that search engines index only the HTTPS version, improving SEO and preventing duplicate content issues.

Check Out: How to Fix 301 Errors in WordPress? 

Fix Mixed Content Warnings with Plugins or Manual Updates

If some parts of your site are still loading over HTTP after switching to HTTPS, you’ll encounter mixed content warnings. These can be fixed by updating the URLs of resources like images, scripts, and stylesheets to HTTPS manually or using a plugin like Really Simple SSL. The plugin can automatically find and replace any mixed content, ensuring that everything is securely served over HTTPS.

Check and Update Canonical URLs in AIOSEO

If you’re using AIOSEO, ensure that the canonical URLs for your posts, pages, and other content types are set to the HTTPS version. This is important because Yoast might still generate canonical URLs pointing to HTTP if not configured properly. Updating these URLs will prevent any indexing conflicts and help ensure search engines only index the secure version of your pages.

Further Reading: How to Force HTTPS on Your WordPress Site? 

Redirecting HTTP to HTTPS Properly

Here are the best ways to enforce HTTPS across your WordPress site:

• 301 Redirects via .htaccess (Apache)
  Use 301 redirects in your .htaccess file to automatically send visitors from HTTP to HTTPS. This tells search engines the move is permanent and ensures they index the secure version.
• Nginx Server Configuration for HTTPS Redirection
  For Nginx users, update the server configuration to redirect all HTTP traffic to HTTPS. This keeps your site secure and properly indexed by search engines.
• Using WordPress Plugins (Really Simple SSL, Redirection)
  Plugins like Really Simple SSL and Redirection can automate HTTPS redirection without requiring code changes. They ensure your entire site is securely served over HTTPS.
• Updating Google Search Console and Analytics for HTTPS
  Don’t forget to update your Google Search Console and Google Analytics to reflect the HTTPS version of your site. This helps maintain accurate indexing and performance tracking.

Go Through This: How Do I Find My WordPress Login URL? 

Best Practices for WordPress HTTPS SEO

Following best practices helps maintain proper indexing, prevent errors, and boost your site’s credibility.

• Regularly Check Canonical URLs and Redirects
  Make sure your canonical URLs point to the HTTPS version and that 301 redirects are working correctly. This helps avoid duplicate content issues.
• Ensure All Internal Links Use HTTPS
  Update all internal links to HTTPS to avoid mixed content errors and ensure a secure browsing experience for users.
• Monitor SSL Certificate Validity
  Regularly check your SSL certificate to avoid security warnings that could affect user trust and SEO.
• Use Security Plugins to Prevent HTTPS Errors
  Security plugins like BlogVault can help monitor and fix any HTTPS issues, ensuring your site stays secure and properly indexed.

Explore More: How to Redirect WordPress URLs with & without Plugins? 

Conclusion

Fixing HTTP and HTTPS conflicts in WordPress is crucial for maintaining both security and SEO. Properly redirecting traffic from HTTP to HTTPS ensures search engines index the secure version of your site, eliminating duplicate content issues. Following these best practices not only improves your site’s security but also boosts its SEO rankings, providing a safer and more reliable browsing experience for your visitors.

For hassle-free maintenance and optimal site performance, consider our professional website care services. Expert support helps keep your site secure, updated, and SEO-friendly—so you can focus on growing your business.