How to Fix “Mixed Content” Warnings After Installing an SSL Certificate
You’ve installed your SSL certificate successfully, but your website still shows a “🔒 Not Secure” or “Mixed Content” warning in the browser.
Don’t worry — this is one of the most common hosting issues website owners face after switching from HTTP to HTTPS.
In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to fix mixed content errors on your Sternhost-hosted website — whether you’re using WordPress, cPanel, or custom HTML.
What Is a Mixed Content Error?
A Mixed Content warning appears when your secure website (loaded via HTTPS) still tries to load some resources (like images, CSS, or JS files) using HTTP.
Example:
Browsers block or warn users about this because mixing secure and insecure content can expose visitors to security risks.
Step 1: Check If SSL Is Installed Properly
If your SSL wasn’t installed correctly, mixed content errors may persist.
✅ To confirm:
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Log in to your Sternhost Client Area
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Go to Services → SSL Certificates
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Verify that your domain shows as “Active” and linked to HTTPS.
You can also test it at SSL Labs Checker.
Step 2: Update Website URLs to HTTPS
Old links may still use http://. You’ll need to update them.
For WordPress:
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Log in to your WordPress Admin.
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Go to Settings → General.
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Update both WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) to
https://yourdomain.com.
Alternatively, use a plugin like Better Search Replace to update all old URLs in your database.
Step 3: Force HTTPS in .htaccess (cPanel Users)
If some pages still load over HTTP, force redirection through .htaccess.
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Go to your Sternhost cPanel → File Manager.
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Open your website’s .htaccess file (in public_html).
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Add this code at the top:
Save changes, then refresh your site.
Step 4: Fix Mixed URLs in HTML, CSS, or JS Files
If you have custom code or static pages:
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Open your files and search for any
http://links. -
Replace them with
https://or use relative URLs (e.g.,/images/logo.png).
You can also use browser tools (F12 → Console tab) to identify which files are being blocked.
Step 5: Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN)
Sometimes cached HTTP resources from old CDNs cause mixed content warnings.
If you’re using Sternhost CDN, purge the cache:
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Log in to your Client Area → CDN Settings
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Click Purge All Cache
If using Cloudflare:
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Go to SSL/TLS → Edge Certificates
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Enable Always Use HTTPS
Step 6: Clear Browser and Website Cache
After making changes, clear:
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Browser cache (Ctrl + F5)
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Website cache (if using caching plugins or CDN)
You can also clear cache directly from Sternhost cPanel → Cache Manager.
Bonus: Use an SSL Plugin (for WordPress)
To automate this process, install:
👉 Really Simple SSL – It automatically detects SSL and fixes mixed content URLs.
Mixed content errors can be frustrating, but fixing them is easy once you know what to check.
With these steps, your Sternhost-hosted website will display the green padlock and “Secure” status in no time.
Need Help?
Our support team is available 24/7 to help you resolve SSL or website issues quickly.
👉 Contact Sternhost Support or
👉 Explore Sternhost SSL Certificates
