HTTPS to HTTP redirection

If you have been struggling with .htaccess files trying to get an HTTPS domain redirected to an HTTP domain you are likely encountering at least one of several different errors:

  • The HTTPS to HTTP redirect is not working
  • Security error on the HTTPS site
  • ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED in Google Chrome

There are hundreds of forums and how-to’s on the Internet for WordPress, Drupal, Joomla and what not. You have followed them, but none of them work.

This is because they’re all wrong.

You can not redirect HTTPS to HTTP as far as I know

Two issues:

  1. Does the source domain have a valid SSL certificate? If not, you will not be able to redirect the HTTPS traffic without throwing up an error. Simply put, the browser is looking for a secure connection, and you don’t have one. Welcome to error city.
  2. You can not forward HTTPS to HTTP. Think about it, you wouldn’t want to visit bank.com and suddenly end up on b4nk.com entering your credit card details. So your destination site will need to be HTTPS as well.

Redirecting HTTPS to HTTPS

Upgrade your destination domain to HTTPS, then check out these helpful articles:

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Stop ripping your hear out and please feel free to comment below.

Len

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