How to Fix Common SSL Errors
So, you’re trying to visit your website, and instead of it loading like a normal, secure site, you’re hit with a big, scary warning about SSL certificates. Maybe it says “Your connection is not private”, or “This site can’t provide a secure connection”—either way, you’re probably wondering: WTF is going on, and how do I fix it?
Let’s walk through the most common SSL errors, what causes them, and how to fix them quickly so your site gets back to being safe and secure.
Step 1: First, Check If Your SSL Certificate Is Actually Installed
Before troubleshooting anything else, let’s make sure your SSL certificate actually exists and is installed correctly.
How to Check:
✅ Visit your website using HTTPS (https://yourdomain.com).
✅ Use an SSL checker tool like:
✅ If your website loads fine in HTTPS, but the error still appears, move on to Step 2.
✅ If the SSL checker says “No valid certificate found”, your SSL certificate is either missing or expired—skip to Step 4 to reinstall it.
Step 2: Clear Your Browser Cache and Try Again
Sometimes, your browser is holding onto old SSL data, making it look like there’s still an issue—even when the certificate is fine.
How to Fix It:
✅ Open your site in an incognito window (private browsing mode).
✅ Try a different browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari).
✅ Clear your browser’s cache:
- Chrome:
Ctrl + Shift + Delete(Windows) orCmd + Shift + Delete(Mac) - Select Cached images and files, then click Clear data
✅ Restart your browser and check again.
What This Means:
- If the error disappears, your browser was just holding onto old SSL data.
- If the error still appears, continue troubleshooting.
Step 3: Make Sure Your Website is Loading Over HTTPS (And Not HTTP)
Even if your SSL certificate is installed, your site might still be loading insecurely because it’s using old HTTP links instead of HTTPS.
How to Fix It:
✅ Try manually entering your website with HTTPS:
- Go to
https://yourdomain.cominstead ofhttp://yourdomain.com.
✅ Force your site to use HTTPS automatically: - If you’re using WordPress, install the Really Simple SSL plugin—it automatically forces HTTPS.
- If you’re using another CMS, update your site settings to force HTTPS.
✅ If you’re using a custom site, update your .htaccess file: - Add this to your
.htaccessfile:
What This Means:
- If your site was loading over HTTP instead of HTTPS, this fixes it.
- Your SSL won’t work correctly unless all site traffic is redirected to HTTPS.
Step 4: Fix “Your SSL Certificate is Expired” or “Not Found”
If your browser says your SSL certificate is expired or not found, your SSL certificate either wasn’t installed or has expired.
How to Fix It:
✅ Log into the Media Giant Hosting Client Portal.
✅ Click on My Services and find your hosting plan.
✅ Look for an option to manage your SSL certificate.
✅ Check if an SSL certificate is installed:
- If it’s missing, click Install Free SSL to generate a new one.
- If it’s expired, renew it by selecting AutoSSL.
✅ Wait a few minutes, then check your site again.
What This Means:
- If your SSL was expired or missing, installing a new one will fix the issue.
- AutoSSL automatically renews your SSL certificate—so this doesn’t happen again.
Step 5: Fix “Your Connection is Not Private” (NET::ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID)
This means your SSL certificate isn’t trusted by your browser.
Common Causes:
❌ Your SSL wasn’t issued by a recognized certificate authority.
❌ Your browser is outdated and doesn’t recognize newer SSL providers.
❌ Your computer’s date & time settings are wrong (yes, really).
How to Fix It:
✅ Update your browser to the latest version.
✅ Restart your computer and router.
✅ Make sure your computer’s date & time are correct (especially on older machines).
✅ Check your SSL certificate in an SSL checker tool (Step 1).
What This Means:
- If your SSL is valid, this is usually a local issue with your browser or device.
- Updating your browser, computer clock, or router usually fixes it.
Step 6: Fix “Mixed Content” Warnings (Broken Padlock Icon)
If you see a padlock with a warning icon, your site isn’t fully secure—even though it has an SSL certificate.
Common Causes:
- Your website has HTTP images, scripts, or files mixed in with HTTPS content.
- Some old links in your code are still using HTTP instead of HTTPS.
How to Fix It:
✅ Use the Really Simple SSL plugin (for WordPress sites) to automatically fix mixed content issues.
✅ Manually update your website’s links to HTTPS:
- Open your website’s source code and search for
http://. - Change every HTTP link to HTTPS.
✅ Use a mixed content checker like Why No Padlock? to find insecure elements.
What This Means:
- Your site is using both secure and insecure content—you need to update everything to HTTPS to fix the warning.
Final Thoughts: SSL Errors Are Annoying, But Easy to Fix
SSL errors look scary, but in most cases, they’re simple to resolve. If you followed the steps above, your site should now be fully secured and loading over HTTPS.
✅ Still having issues? Contact our support team!
???? Chat with us in the Media Giant Hosting Client Portal.
???? Send a support request.
???? We’ll help you fix your SSL errors and keep your site secure!
You said:
ChatGPT said:
How to Fix Common SSL Errors
So, you’re trying to visit your website, and instead of it loading securely, you get a big, scary warning about SSL certificates. Maybe it says “Your connection is not private”, or “This site can’t provide a secure connection”—either way, you’re probably wondering: WTF is going on, and how do I fix it?
Let’s go through the most common SSL errors, why they happen, and how to fix them quickly so your site is back to being safe and secure.
Step 1: Check If Your SSL Certificate Is Installed
Before troubleshooting anything else, make sure your SSL certificate actually exists and is installed correctly.
How to Check:
✅ Visit your website using HTTPS (https://yourdomain.com).
✅ Use an SSL checker tool like:
✅ If your website loads fine in HTTPS, but the error still appears, move on to Step 2.
✅ If the SSL checker says “No valid certificate found”, your SSL certificate is either missing or expired—skip to Step 4 to reinstall it.
Step 2: Clear Your Browser Cache and Try Again
Sometimes, your browser is holding onto old SSL data, making it look like there’s still an issue—even when the certificate is fine.
How to Fix It:
✅ Open your site in an incognito window (private browsing mode).
✅ Try a different browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari).
✅ Clear your browser’s cache:
- Chrome:
Ctrl + Shift + Delete(Windows) orCmd + Shift + Delete(Mac) - Select Cached images and files, then click Clear data
✅ Restart your browser and check again.
What This Means:
- If the error disappears, your browser was just holding onto old SSL data.
- If the error still appears, continue troubleshooting.
Step 3: Make Sure Your Website is Loading Over HTTPS (Not HTTP)
Even if your SSL certificate is installed, your site might still be loading insecurely because it’s using old HTTP links instead of HTTPS.
How to Fix It:
✅ Try manually entering your website with HTTPS:
- Go to
https://yourdomain.cominstead ofhttp://yourdomain.com.
✅ Force your site to use HTTPS automatically: - If you’re using WordPress, install the Really Simple SSL plugin—it automatically forces HTTPS.
- If you’re using another CMS, update your site settings to force HTTPS.
✅ If you’re using a custom site, update your .htaccess file: - Add this to your
.htaccessfile:
What This Means:
- If your site was loading over HTTP instead of HTTPS, this fixes it.
- Your SSL won’t work correctly unless all site traffic is redirected to HTTPS.
Step 4: Reissue or Install a New SSL Certificate
If your SSL certificate is missing or expired, you need to reinstall or reissue it.
How to Fix It:
✅ Log into the Media Giant Hosting Client Portal.
✅ Click on My Services from the main menu.
✅ Select the affected hosting account from your list of services.
✅ Click on the SSL Tool.
✅ From here, you can:
- Reissue a Let’s Encrypt SSL Certificate (FREE)
- Upload a Third-Party SSL Certificate (if you purchased an SSL elsewhere)
✅ Wait a few minutes, then check your site again.
What This Means:
- If your SSL was expired or missing, reissuing a new one will fix the issue.
- Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates renew automatically, so you won’t have to do this again in the future.
Step 5: Fix “Your Connection is Not Private” (NET::ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID)
This means your SSL certificate isn’t trusted by your browser.
Common Causes:
❌ Your SSL wasn’t issued by a recognized certificate authority.
❌ Your browser is outdated and doesn’t recognize newer SSL providers.
❌ Your computer’s date & time settings are wrong (yes, really).
How to Fix It:
✅ Update your browser to the latest version.
✅ Restart your computer and router.
✅ Make sure your computer’s date & time are correct (especially on older machines).
✅ Check your SSL certificate in an SSL checker tool (Step 1).
What This Means:
- If your SSL is valid, this is usually a local issue with your browser or device.
- Updating your browser, computer clock, or router usually fixes it.
Step 6: Fix “Mixed Content” Warnings (Broken Padlock Icon)
If you see a padlock with a warning icon, your site isn’t fully secure—even though it has an SSL certificate.
Common Causes:
- Your website has HTTP images, scripts, or files mixed in with HTTPS content.
- Some old links in your code are still using HTTP instead of HTTPS.
How to Fix It:
✅ Use the Really Simple SSL plugin (for WordPress sites) to automatically fix mixed content issues.
✅ Manually update your website’s links to HTTPS:
- Open your website’s source code and search for
http://. - Change every HTTP link to HTTPS.
✅ Use a mixed content checker like Why No Padlock? to find insecure elements.
What This Means:
- Your site is using both secure and insecure content—you need to update everything to HTTPS to fix the warning.
Final Thoughts: SSL Errors Are Annoying, But Easy to Fix
SSL errors look scary, but in most cases, they’re simple to resolve. If you followed the steps above, your site should now be fully secured and loading over HTTPS.
✅ Still having issues? Contact our support team!
???? Chat with us in the Media Giant Hosting Client Portal.
???? Send a support request.
???? We’ll help you fix your SSL errors and keep your site secure!