You bought an SSL certificate. You see https:// in your address bar. But instead of a secure green padlock, you see a scary warning:
“Not Secure” or “Your connection to this site is not fully secure.”
It is frustrating. You paid for security, so why does Google say your site is unsafe?
This is called the Mixed Content Error.
It means your website is secure (HTTPS), but some of your images or scripts are still loading from the old, insecure address (HTTP). It is like building a high-tech fortress but leaving the back door wide open.
In this guide, we will show you how to find these insecure links and fix them instantly—without breaking your site.
Why is this happening?
To understand the fix, you need to understand the problem.
HTTPS is a secure, encrypted tunnel.
HTTP is an open, insecure road.
When you moved your site to SSL (HTTPS), your text moved to the secure tunnel. But your database might still have hard-coded links pointing to the old road.
If a hacker listens to your traffic, they can’t read your text, but they can see the images loading over HTTP. Because the page is not 100% secure, browsers like Chrome mark the whole thing as “Not Secure.”
Method 1: The "One-Click" Fix (Best for Beginners)
If you are not a developer, use a plugin. This is the safest way to force all content to be secure.
We recommend: Really Simple SSL
Install: Go to Plugins > Add New and search for “Really Simple SSL.”
Activate: Click Activate.
Run: The plugin will pop up a window. It scans your site for mixed content.
Fix: Click the button that says “Fix Mixed Content” or “Activate SSL.”
What it does: It creates a “redirect” rule. Every time a browser asks for an insecure image (http://...), the plugin intercepts it and forces it to load securely (https://...).
Method 2: The "Database" Fix (Best for Speed)
The plugin method works, but it adds a tiny delay to your site speed because it has to “intercept” requests.
The professional way is to fix the database itself. We will find every mention of http://yoursite.com and replace it with https://yoursite.com.
Step 1: Install Better Search Replace Go to Plugins > Add New and install Better Search Replace.
Step 2: Run a “Dry Run”
Go to Tools > Better Search Replace.
Search for:
http://yoursite.com(Make sure there is no trailing slash/).Replace with:
https://yoursite.com.Select Tables: Select all tables (Ctrl+A or Cmd+A).
Check: Make sure “Run as dry run” is CHECKED.
Click: Run Search/Replace.
Step 3: Do it for Real The “Dry Run” will tell you how many errors it found (e.g., “Found 50 cells”).
If it looks correct, Uncheck the “Dry Run” box.
Click Run Search/Replace again.
Warning: Always backup your database before doing this!
Method 3: The Elementor Fix (Common Issue)
If you use Elementor, the methods above might not work. Elementor saves CSS files with hard-coded URLs. You need to regenerate them.
Log in to WordPress.
Go to Elementor > Tools.
Click the “Replace URL” tab.
Old URL:
http://yoursite.comNew URL:
https://yoursite.comClick Replace URL.
Then, go to the General tab and click “Regenerate Files & Data.”
This refreshes your design files and usually brings the green padlock back instantly.
Method 4: Finding "Stubborn" Errors
If you did everything above but still see the “Not Secure” warning, you have a hard-coded link in your theme files.
How to find it:
Open your website in Chrome.
Right-click anywhere and select Inspect.
Click the Console tab.
Look for red text that says: “Mixed Content: The page was loaded over HTTPS, but requested an insecure image…”
The error will tell you the exact filename (e.g.,
footer-logo.png).
The Fix:
If it is a logo, go to Appearance > Customize and re-upload the logo.
If it is in the footer, check your Footer Widgets.
If it is a script, check your theme’s
header.phpfile via FTP.
Conclusion
The “Mixed Content” error looks scary, but it is just a simple labeling error. Your database thinks it lives at the old address.
Your Repair Checklist:
Try a Plugin: Use “Really Simple SSL” for a quick fix.
Clean Database: Use “Better Search Replace” for a permanent fix.
Regenerate Elementor: Use the “Replace URL” tool.
Check Console: Find any leftover stubborn files.
Still Seeing “Not Secure”? Sometimes this issue is caused by your CDN (Cloudflare) or a deep server cache. If you can’t get the green padlock to appear, don’t ignore it. It hurts your Google Rankings and scares away customers.
Contact Our WordPress Support Team today. We can scan your site, fix the database links, and secure your site 100% in minutes.
