Alexis Kestler
Cloudflare provides free SSL certificates to websites through its Universal SSL service. This allows sites to easily activate HTTPS without needing to purchase or install SSL certificates themselves. However, websites running on WordPress and Joomla often encounter issues when enabling Cloudflare‘s flexible SSL option.
In this detailed guide, we‘ll explore the technical causes behind these conflicts. You‘ll also learn proven step-by-step solutions to identify and resolve Cloudflare SSL problems in both WordPress and Joomla.
By the end, your site‘s security and performance should be improved thanks to a properly configured implementation of Cloudflare‘s free SSL certificates.
How Cloudflare‘s Free SSL Option Works
First, a quick primer on how Cloudflare is able to provide SSL certificates at no cost.
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encrypts connections between a visitor‘s browser and the web server hosting a website. This encryption provides several key benefits:
- Securing sensitive user data like passwords and payments
- Building trust and legitimacy with SSL padlock icon
- SEO ranking boosts – Google favors websites using HTTPS
Traditionally, purchasing annual SSL certificates for each domain can be expensive, especially for large sites.
Cloudflare‘s Universal SSL eliminates these costs by issuing free SSL certificates that are placed between Cloudflare‘s edge servers and end users. However, the connection between Cloudflare and the actual web server remains unencrypted.
This model allows websites to enable HTTPS and its security advantages without having to install certificates on their web hosting servers. However, it can also cause conflicts.
What Causes Cloudflare SSL Issues in WordPress?
When using the flexible SSL option, Cloudflare will encrypt traffic between its edge servers and visitor browsers. But your WordPress site itself still loads content over insecure HTTP connections.
When these insecure HTTP resources are combined with secure HTTPS pages, it causes mixed content warnings and breaks site functionality.
Symptoms you may notice include:
- Broken page layout, styling, and formatting
- Images, scripts, and assets failing to load properly
- Warnings about insecure content on the page
- General site errors and malfunctions
This happens because WordPress is loading assets and resources over unencrypted HTTP connections instead of HTTPS. When these insecure items are injected into encrypted Cloudflare pages, it creates conflicts.
The good news is that with a few configuration tweaks, we can get WordPress playing nicely with Cloudflare again.
Fixing Cloudflare SSL Certificate Issues in WordPress
There are two main methods for resolving Cloudflare conflicts in WordPress:
1. Change WordPress Content Loading to HTTPS
The proper fix is to modify your WordPress installation so all content is loaded securely over HTTPS instead of HTTP.
To do this, you‘ll need to:
- Update the WordPress address and site address to HTTPS in the General settings
- Change any hardcoded HTTP references in themes/plugins to HTTPS
- Update individual asset URLs (images, scripts, etc) to use HTTPS
This requires more effort, but ensures true end-to-end encryption.
2. Use the Cloudflare Flexible SSL Plugin
An easier approach is using the Cloudflare Flexible SSL plugin. It automatically converts page URLs to HTTPS behind the scenes.
To install:
- In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New
- Search for “Cloudflare Flexible SSL”
- Install and activate the plugin
This seamlessly fixes mixed content issues by serving all pages over HTTPS. I recommend it for most users over manually changing to HTTPS due to its simplicity.
Identifying and Fixing Cloudflare SSL Issues in Joomla
Like WordPress, Joomla sites using Cloudflare SSL can also exhibit:
- Broken page layout and styling
- Assets like images not loading properly
- General site errors and malfunctions
The issue again stems from Joomla loading content over insecure HTTP connections while the site itself runs on Cloudflare‘s encrypted HTTPS. The mismatch causes problems.
Some example symptoms:
Luckily, there‘s a straightforward plugin to automatically resolve this conflict.
How to Fix Joomla Sites with Cloudflare SSL
To seamlessly fix Cloudflare SSL issues in Joomla, use the Cloudflare Joomla plugin.
To install and configure:
- Download and install the Cloudflare for Joomla plugin via the extensions directory
- In your Joomla dashboard, go to Extensions > Manage > Install
- Upload and install the Cloudflare plugin
- Go to Extensions > Plugin Manager
- Enable the Cloudflare for Joomla plugin
The plugin will now automatically rewrite URLs to HTTPS, fixing any mixed content errors and securing communications.
Additional Optimization Tips for Cloudflare SSL
Some other best practices for improving site performance and security with Cloudflare SSL:
Enable HSTS
HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) forces browsers to only connect over HTTPS, providing enhanced security.
Add HTTP to HTTPS Redirects
Redirect requests from HTTP to HTTPS to avoid duplicate content issues and ensure visitors consistently use SSL.
Enable Cloudflare Rocket Loader
Rocket Loader speeds up page loads by reducing browser requests. Helpful for performance.
Review Server Config for Insecure Links
Double check that .htaccess files, redirects, and other server configs don‘t still reference HTTP.
Install Wordfence or Similar Security Plugins
Additional WordPress and Joomla plugins like Wordfence add layers of protection.
Conclusion and Key Takeaways
Hopefully this guide has equipped you to troubleshoot and resolve the most common Cloudflare SSL issues in WordPress and Joomla.
Some key tips to remember:
- Mixed content errors occur when assets load insecurely over HTTP instead of HTTPS.
- Use the Cloudflare Flexible SSL plugin to automatically fix WordPress conflicts.
- For Joomla, install the dedicated Cloudflare Joomla plugin.
- Perform additional optimizations like HSTS and HTTP to HTTPS redirects.
Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions! Properly implementing Cloudflare‘s free SSL certificates can significantly improve your website‘s security posture and performance.
