How To Install SSL Certificate on Joomla?
This article will explore the step-by-step procedure to – “Install an SSL certificate on Joomla.” Joomla is a user-friendly CMS that allows users to create and manage online apps and websites by utilizing a Graphical User Interface (without writing the codes).
To install the SSL certificate on Joomla, you first need an SSL certificate, and to acquire one, you must submit a CSR to a trusted Certificate Authority.
If you need to learn how to generate a CSR, read the subsequent section mentioned below. If you have already submitted the CSR and got the SSL certificate issued by the CA, move on to the installation steps.
How to Create a CSR (Code Signing Request)?
To generate a CSR, use any one of the options mentioned below:
- Use a CSR Generator tool to generate CSR automatically.
- Do it manually
Note: When generating a CSR manually, ensure the information provided is accurate. After creating the file, review it for errors and send it to a CA. The time to receive your certificate may vary based on validation type.
Once the CA verifies that the details mentioned in the CSR are accurate, it will send your SSL certificate and additional files necessary for installation to your registered email in a .zip folder. Download and extract all the files from the folder onto your local machine.
Ensure you have the following files:
- Main Certificate File (.crt file)
- Root and intermediate certificates (.ca-bundle file)
- Private Key File
How To Install SSL Certificate on Joomla?
Follow the steps mentioned below to install SSL on Joomla:
Step 1: Install the SSL certificate on your domain and note down the IP address.
Step 2: Login into your web hosting account.
Step 3: Navigate to Control Panel > File Manager.
Step 4: Locate a file having a .htaccess extension. (It will be in the root directory of your website.)
Step 5: Download and save the file on your local machine.
Step 6: Open your configuration.php file using a text editor like Notepad.
Step 7: Add the below-mentioned code in the text editor:
RewriteCond %{SERVER_PORT} !^443$
RewriteRule .* https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [QSA,R=301,L]
<IfModule !mod_ssl.c>
Redirect permanent / https://www.yourdomainname.com
Step 8: Replace “yourdomainname” with your Joomla website’s domain name.
Step 9: Open your website control panel and then open File Manager.
Step 10: Browse to the directory where you saved the .htaccess file (in Step 5).
Step 11: Upload the file to your website’s root directory. (Overwrite existing .htaccess if prompted).
Step 12: Login as an administrator on your Joomla website’s administrator page.
Step 13: Click Global Configuration.
Step 14: Click on the Server tab.
Step 15: From the Force SSL list, select Entire Site.
Step 16: Click the Save button, placed on the page’s upper right corner.
Congratulations! You have successfully installed an SSL certificate on Joomla CMS.
Note: If you have more than one server or device to secure, installing the certificate on each of those you want to secure is necessary.
Test the Installation Status
To test if SSL works correctly, visit the website and view the certificate/site information in your browser at https://yourdomain.tld. (If required, restart your server for changes to take effect.) You can also use SSL SSL testing tools like SSL Checker to verify the installation status.