How To Fix Mixed Content Issue For WordPress

In the world of website security, mixed content issues can be a major headache for WordPress site owners. Not only can they degrade your website’s performance, but they can also affect user experience and hurt your search engine rankings. If you’ve recently switched your site from HTTP to HTTPS, you may have encountered mixed content errors that seem tricky to fix.

This article will guide you step-by-step through the process of resolving mixed content issues on your WordPress site. You’ll understand what mixed content is, why it matters, and how to eliminate the problem to ensure a smooth, secure browsing experience for your users.

What is Mixed Content in WordPress?

Before diving into the fixes, it's important to understand what mixed content is. In simple terms, mixed content occurs when a page loaded over a secure HTTPS connection also contains elements (like images, scripts, or stylesheets) loaded over the non-secure HTTP protocol.

For example:

Your website may load the main page over HTTPS (the secure protocol).

But some resources like images, JavaScript, or CSS files are still fetched over HTTP.

Browsers flag this as mixed content, causing security warnings and potential display issues. These errors can discourage visitors from trusting your website, especially if the browser shows a “Not Secure” message.

Why Is Fixing Mixed Content Important?

Mixed content is more than just a cosmetic issue. It can:

Lower website security: Even if the page is loaded securely, any HTTP resource can be intercepted, posing a risk to both your users and your site.

Hurt SEO performance: Search engines like Google prioritize HTTPS websites over HTTP. Mixed content warnings can prevent your site from fully benefiting from this boost.

Damage user experience: Visitors might encounter errors or incomplete pages, leading to frustration and potential loss of traffic.

In short, fixing mixed content is crucial for maintaining the integrity and security of your WordPress site.

How To Identify Mixed Content Issues

Before fixing mixed content, you need to identify it. There are a few ways to spot these issues:

1. Browser Developer Tools

Most modern browsers (like Chrome and Firefox) have built-in developer tools that can help you find mixed content. Here’s how:

Right-click on your webpage and select “Inspect” or press Ctrl + Shift + I on Windows or Cmd + Option + I on macOS.

Go to the “Console” tab to look for any warnings related to mixed content.

2. Online Mixed Content Scanners

There are many online tools that can scan your WordPress site for mixed content issues, such as:

Why No Padlock?

SSL Labs’ SSL Test These tools will provide detailed reports on the specific resources causing the mixed content errors.

How to Fix Mixed Content on WordPress

Now that you understand the problem, let’s explore practical solutions to fix mixed content issues on your WordPress site.

1. Update URLs in WordPress Settings

WordPress allows you to set your site’s URL in the settings. If you’ve migrated from HTTP to HTTPS, the URLs might still be using HTTP. Here’s how to update them:

Go to the WordPress Dashboard.

Navigate to Settings > General.

Ensure that both the “WordPress Address (URL)” and “Site Address (URL)” use HTTPS instead of HTTP.

Save changes.

This update will ensure that any internal links or resources are loaded over HTTPS.

2. Use a Plugin to Replace HTTP Links

Sometimes, manually fixing each HTTP link can be time-consuming. Thankfully, several plugins make this process easier. Plugins like Better Search Replace or Velvet Blues Update URLs allow you to search for HTTP URLs in your database and replace them with HTTPS automatically.

Here’s how to use Better Search Replace:

Install and activate the plugin from the WordPress Plugin repository.

Go to Tools > Better Search Replace.

Enter http://yourdomain.com in the “Search for” field and https://yourdomain.com in the “Replace with” field.

Choose the tables to search (usually, the default is fine).

Click “Run Search/Replace.”

This plugin will update all the URLs within your WordPress database.

3. Fix Hardcoded HTTP Links in Theme Files

Some mixed content errors come from hardcoded HTTP links in your wordpress theme files. To resolve these:

Access your theme files via Appearance > Theme Editor.

Look for links to images, stylesheets, or JavaScript files that begin with HTTP.

Replace these links with their HTTPS equivalents. Alternatively, use protocol-relative URLs (e.g., //yourdomain.com/image.jpg) which automatically use the current protocol.

Be careful when editing theme files directly—always back up your theme or use a child theme to avoid losing changes during updates.

4. Check External Resources (CDNs, Third-Party Scripts)

External resources like content delivery networks (CDNs), fonts, or third-party scripts may also be served over HTTP, causing mixed content errors. To fix this:

Ensure that any resources you’re linking to are available via HTTPS.

Update external links to HTTPS if the provider supports it. If not, look for an alternative or disable the non-secure script.

5. Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN)

A CDN can help speed up your website and ensure resources are served securely. Many CDNs, like Cloudflare, offer automatic HTTPS support and can rewrite HTTP URLs to HTTPS, fixing mixed content issues across your entire site.

Preventing Mixed Content in the Future

To avoid mixed content issues in the future, follow these best practices:

Always use HTTPS for all resources (images, scripts, etc.).

Enable automatic redirects from HTTP to HTTPS on your server.

Regularly scan your site for mixed content using browser developer tools or online scanners.

Conclusion

Fixing mixed content issues on your WordPress site is essential for maintaining security, improving user experience, and enhancing your site’s SEO performance. By following the steps outlined above—updating URLs, using plugins, editing theme files, and checking external resources—you can quickly resolve mixed content errors and ensure your website runs smoothly and securely.

If you’re unsure about handling this yourself or want to ensure your site is fully optimized for performance and security, Cyfuture Cloud is here to help. We offer reliable services to fix mixed content issues, manage your WordPress site’s security, and enhance its performance. Reach out to us for expert assistance and let us help you make your website safer and more efficient.