Website display issues after SSL installation

After installing an SSL certificate, you may notice that your website’s layout appears broken, images are missing, or the browser displays a warning stating: "The page is trying to load scripts from unauthenticated sources."

Why this happens

The most common cause is the presence of hardcoded links using the http:// protocol within your website’s code or database. This is known as Mixed Content. Modern browsers block insecure CSS, JavaScript, and font files from loading on an encrypted HTTPS page to protect user security, which ultimately breaks the site’s appearance and functionality.

How to fix mixed content errors

1. Update configuration files

Many CMS platforms (such as WordPress, Joomla, or OpenCart) store the site's URL in specific configuration files.

• Locate your settings file (e.g., wp-config.php or settings.php).
• Find any mention of your domain and update the protocol from http:// to https://.

2. Perform a database search and replace

If the insecure links are stored within your content or metadata, a manual fix may be impossible. Use a tool like PHPMyAdmin or a dedicated plugin to perform a global search and replace in your database.

• Search for: http://yourdomain.com
• Replace with: https://yourdomain.com

3. Use relative paths

To prevent future issues, adopt relative paths instead of absolute URLs in your templates and scripts:

• Instead of: http://site.com/css/style.css
• Use: /css/style.css or the protocol-relative //site.com/css/style.css.

Verification steps

Once the updates are complete, verify the fix with these steps:

1. Clear browser cache: While on your website, press Ctrl + F5 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + R (Mac) to force a refresh.
2. Flush server-side cache: If you use caching plugins or server-side tools like Memcached or OPCache, ensure they are cleared.
3. Inspect the console: Press F12 to open the Developer Tools and navigate to the Console tab. It will list any remaining resources still being blocked due to insecure connections.