Check an SSL certificate status and fix “not secure” error
→ SSL certificates are installed automatically on all websites hosted on our network
→ SSL certificates are installed approximately 60 minutes after a domain name nameservers or DNS have been pointed to our network and fully propagated across the internet
An SSL certificate encrypts data between a website and its visitors to create a secure connection.
Step 1: Update your domain name nameservers or DNS
To get an SSL certificate activated on your domain name, point it and allow it to propagate.
1. Add your domain name to your hosting control panel
2a. Point your domain name’s nameservers to the Skystra nameservers
2b. If pointing via a third-party DNS service, point your domain name to your hosting account IP address
3. In approximately 60-minutes, an SSL certificate will automatically install on your domain name
4. Once nameservers or DNS are updated, it can take anywhere from a few hours to 24h for the new nameservers to take effect on your domain across the internet. Monitor the update on your internet connection using the Skystra DNS tracker.
5. Once our network nameservers or DNS are updated on your internet connection, you will see your domain name loading with an SSL certificate
Step 2: Force your website visitors to https://
The next step is to force all of your website visitors to the https:// and secured SSL version of your website.
1. Open this guide: Manage and edit .htaccess file
2. At the top of your .htaccess file (if filled at the top, move the existing code snippets down to clear space) – paste in the HTTPS redirect code snippet below and click the Save File button:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]
Here is an example of the process:
Step 3: Check SSL certificate on your website from a browser
Once your domain name is pointed and propagated, and the https:// code snippet is in place, you can check the SSL certificate on your website from your internet browser.
Google Chrome:
1. Go to https://yourdomain.com (replace yourdomain.com with your own domain name)
2. Click the padlock icon on the left side of the address bar

2. Click Connection is secure

3. Click Certificate is valid

4. You can review the SSL certificate information on the popup window

Safari:
1. Go to https://yourdomain.com (replace yourdomain.com with your own domain name)
2. Click the padlock icon in the address bar

3. Click the Show Certificate button

4. You can review the SSL certificate information on the window

Mozilla Firefox:
1. Go to https://yourdomain.com (replace yourdomain.com with your own domain name)
2. Click the padlock icon on the left side of the address bar

3. Click on Connection secure

4. Click on More Information

5. Click on View Certificate

6. You can review the SSL certificate information on the new tab

Microsoft Edge:
1. Go to https://yourdomain.com (replace yourdomain.com with your own domain name)
2. Click the padlock icon on the left side of the address bar

3. Click on Connection is secure

4. Click the SSL certificate icon

5. You can review the SSL certificate information on the popup window

Step 4: Audit and fix insecure elements on your website
If you have performed all of the steps above and see your website showing up as Not Secure in your browser address bar – this means your website is using insecure http:// elements, which masks your SSL certificate. You will have to manually update the elements to load over https:// in order for your website to show as Secure and make the SSL certificate visible.
1. Open your website in the Google Chrome browser and right-click anywhere on the page
2. Select Inspect from the dropdown

3. Locate and click on the Console tab

4. In the Console tab, look for warnings about mixed content or insecure elements; these will usually include a URL that starts with http:// instead of https:// and will be marked with This content should be also be served over HTTPS

5. Note down the elements loaded over http:// – go in and update them on your website to load over https:// – if you do not feel comfortable doing this or are unsure, it’d be beneficial to get help from a website developer to do it for you.
6. Once the elements of your website load over https:// – you will see your website loading securely and the SSL certificate visible