Verifying and Testing Your SSL Certificate Installation
Once you’ve installed an SSL certificate on your QuickServers hosting environment, the next critical step is to verify that everything is working correctly. Proper verification ensures your visitors always experience a secure website, free from browser warnings, mixed-content errors, or trust issues.
This guide walks you through the essential methods to test and validate your SSL installation, helping you maintain a fully encrypted and trustworthy website.
What Verification Ensures
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Confirms your SSL certificate is correctly installed
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Validates the certificate chain and intermediate files
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Ensures your domain name matches the certificate
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Identifies configuration problems before they affect visitors
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Prevents “Not Secure” browser warnings
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Confirms your website is fully using HTTPS
Checking for the HTTPS Padlock
The simplest way to verify SSL installation is by visiting your website using:
https://yourdomain.com
Look for:
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A padlock icon in the browser bar
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The https:// prefix
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No security warnings or red icons
If the padlock is missing, there may be configuration errors or mixed-content issues.
Using Browser Developer Tools to Identify Issues
Your browser can reveal valuable information about SSL problems. Open Developer Tools (F12 in most browsers) and navigate to the Security tab.
Check for:
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“Connection is secure” message
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Certificate validity dates
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Issuer information
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Mixed-content warnings
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Protocol information (TLS 1.2 or TLS 1.3 recommended)
If you see warnings such as “Some resources are not secure,” this means your site contains HTTP links inside HTTPS pages.
Testing SSL with Online Diagnostic Tools
Several online tools allow you to test your SSL installation in detail. These tools can verify:
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Certificate chain validity
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Expiration dates
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Supported TLS versions
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Cipher strength
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OCSP stapling status
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Intermediate certificates
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Server configuration
Look for messages such as:
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“Certificate installed correctly”
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“Chain issues not detected”
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“Domain name matches certificate”
Warnings may indicate missing CA bundles or outdated protocols.
Checking for Mixed Content Issues
Even if SSL is installed correctly, your site may load insecure elements (images, scripts, CSS). This leads to mixed-content warnings, which browsers treat as security risks.
Common causes:
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Hard-coded “http://” URLs
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Old theme or plugin assets
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External scripts loaded over HTTP
To fix:
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Update URLs to “https://”
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Use relative URLs where possible
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Enable redirects to enforce HTTPS
Ensuring all site elements use HTTPS is essential for full security.
Confirming Certificate Chain Installation
A correct SSL installation includes:
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The domain certificate
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The private key
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The intermediate CA bundle
Verify that the chain is complete by checking:
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“Certificate chain is valid” messages in diagnostic tools
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No “self-signed certificate” errors
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No “incomplete chain” warnings
If the chain is incomplete, upload and include the CA bundle file in your server configuration.
Checking SSL Expiration and Renewal Status
Make sure your certificate is not close to expiration. Look for:
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Valid “not before” and “not after” dates
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Upcoming expiration warnings
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Reminders from your QuickServers dashboard
Expiring certificates lead to major browser warnings, so monitor renewal dates carefully.
Verifying Proper Redirects to HTTPS
To ensure all traffic is secure:
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Confirm that http:// automatically redirects to https://
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Test multiple URLs, including subpages
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Verify no redirects loop or cause errors
Common redirect methods include:
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.htaccess rules (Apache)
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Server blocks (Nginx)
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Control panel redirect settings
A complete redirect ensures consistent encryption site-wide.
Validating TLS Versions and Security Strength
Test whether your server supports modern security protocols. Your SSL test should show:
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TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3 enabled
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SSLv3, TLS 1.0, and TLS 1.1 disabled
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Strong cipher suites
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Secure renegotiation settings
Modern browsers require secure TLS protocols, so outdated versions should be disabled.
Final Checklist for SSL Verification
Your SSL installation is fully working when:
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The browser shows a padlock
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HTTPS loads without warnings
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The certificate chain is complete
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The domain matches the certificate
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No mixed content is present
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Strong TLS versions are enabled
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All pages redirect to HTTPS
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Diagnostic tools report no errors
Once everything checks out, your SSL installation is complete, optimized, and ready for secure traffic.
QuickServers Recommendation
At QuickServers, we encourage customers to verify SSL immediately after installation to ensure uninterrupted security and optimal website trust. Our integrated SSL management system makes it easy to install, renew, and maintain certificates — but proper testing is essential for maximum protection.
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