Troubleshooting Common Migration Issues

Certificate errors can occur despite careful implementation. "Certificate name mismatch" errors indicate the certificate doesn't match the accessed domain – verify correct certificate installation and consider Subject Alternative Names for multiple domains. "Certificate not trusted" errors suggest missing intermediate certificates – ensure the complete certificate chain is installed. "Certificate expired" errors require immediate renewal and installation of updated certificates.

Performance degradation after HTTPS implementation often stems from configuration issues rather than encryption overhead. Enable session resumption and OCSP stapling if not already configured. Verify HTTP/2 is active for improved performance. Check for cipher suite misconfigurations causing unnecessary overhead. Consider CDN implementation for geographic distribution and SSL termination. Modern HTTPS configurations typically perform better than HTTP due to protocol improvements.

SEO ranking fluctuations may occur temporarily during migration as search engines process changes. Ensure all redirects are 301 permanent redirects, not 302 temporary redirects. Verify canonical tags point to HTTPS URLs. Check that robots.txt is accessible via HTTPS and doesn't block important resources. Monitor Search Console for crawl errors or security issues. Most sites see improved rankings after successful HTTPS migration due to the ranking boost.

Mixed content warnings persist when resources still load over HTTP. Systematically audit all page resources using browser developer tools. Check CSS files for background images or fonts loaded via HTTP. Verify JavaScript files don't dynamically load HTTP resources. Update database entries that might contain HTTP URLs in content. Consider using Content Security Policy headers to automatically upgrade insecure requests during the transition period.

Successfully switching from HTTP to HTTPS enhances security, improves user trust, and provides SEO benefits. While the migration requires careful planning and execution, modern tools and services have simplified the process significantly. The next chapter explores how HTTPS implementation directly impacts search engine rankings and why security has become inseparable from SEO success.