Complete Guide: How to set HTTP to HTTPS for website, Rule for .htaccess

One of the Most requested questions asked by our customers about how they can redirect their website to open in HTTPS instead of HTTP. Well, that’s the easiest, or we can say copy and paste job!

Here are Complete Guides for How to Set HTTPS for the website in .htaccess file as well how to create .htaccess file and some useful rules to add in .htaccess. This guide will set to work with all hosting platforms as well as created around cPanel like Control Panel.

Prerequisite:

• Website should point on web hosting server
• Valid SSL Certificate already installed
• Save all files to local PC before opening it and changing codes inside just for safety

If you want to install SSL Certificate for your website using cPanel then follow this guide: How to Install Let’s Encrypt SSL in cPanel

Scene 1: Load Website in HTTPS through .htaccess file

Step 1:

In order to create .htaccess file you need to login to your cPanel. After successfully log into it Search for ‘File Manager’ in your cPanel.

Step 2:

Inside File Manager on Top-right cornor there’s ‘Settings’, Open that menu and Tick ✅ Show Hidden Files option and press ‘Go’ button.

Step 3:

Now head to root directory of your website. Search for file named .htaccess in root directory.

If there is not .htaccess file then create one and Google about default .htaccess file and paste code whichever you like on internet.

– Noobie googler

Step 4:

Open that file, just after syntax like

RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /

Paste below-mentioned code for HTTP to HTTPS

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} !=on
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301,NE]
Header always set Content-Security-Policy "upgrade-insecure-requests;"

Now save file the file. Clear browser cache and type and open http:// version of your website’s URL. You’ll see site will automatically loads with https:// and will show Green SSL Certificate PadLock.

Scene 2: Add www to website with https

Step 1:

Follow above mentioned steps from 1 to 3 of Scene 1 as it is described.

Step 2:

As mentioned in Step 4 in above Scene 1, just right after syntax like shown below

RewriteEngine
OnRewriteBase /

Add following code from below:

#For www and https enabled 
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} !^www\.
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://www.%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]

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

And now your site will load with https://www. Instead of some nonsense you don’t want!