Install Free CloudFlare SSL Certificate on GoDaddy Hosted Website And Force HTTPS via .htaccess

Change DNS From GoDaddy To CloudFlare

In the CloudFlare dashboard, click “Add a website” button to copy and save the nameservers to add later in the Godaddy;

Next, login to your GoDaddy hosting dashboard and change GoDaddy DNS by adding CloudFlare nameservers in the GoDaddy products domains dashboard. Click “DNS” under “Domains” next to your website;

Next, remove Godaddy nameservers and DNS entries and use the nameservers provided by CloudFlare;

Generate SSL Certificate on CloudFlare

In the CloudFlare.com dashboard, click on the target website. Next click the down-arrow next to SSL/TLS menu on the left and select “Origin Server”;

Click “Create Certificate” button to continue;

Make sure “RSA (2048) is selected and your domains are listed under hostnames as *.domain.com and domain.com. Click “Create” button to continue;

In the next screen, make sure Key Format is “PEM”. Copy and save “Origin Certificate” and “Private Key” text for use later. Press OK when done;

Next, click “SSL/TLS” menu button on the left and make sure SSL/TLS encryption mode is Full (strict) as below;

Install CloudFlare SSL Certificate on GoDaddy

Next, in the GoDaddy Cpanel, click “SSL/TLS” under “Security”;

Make sure “RSA, 2,048 bit” key type s set as default;

Click “Manager SSL sites” under “Install and manage SSL for your site (HTTPS)”

Select the domain from the drop down list and paste the Certificate (CRT) key and Private key (KEY) in the corresponding textboxes. When done, click “Install certificate” button;

Verify Newly Installed SSL Certificate via SSLShopper.com

To verify if the SSL certificate is working, enter your domain name in this URL;

https://www.sslshopper.com/ssl-checker.html

Force HTTPS by Editing .htaccess via GoDaddy’s File Manager

Now, head back to GoDaddy Cpanel File Manager and browse “Public_html” folder. Click “Settings” on the top right hand corner of the File Manager and check-mark “Show hidden files (dotfiles)” option to reveal .htaccess file. Right-click on this file to edit;

Next, to force HTTPS rule on the GoDaddy hosted website, add this code in .htaccess file in the public_html folder (via CPanel File Manager) right after RewriteEngine On;

RewriteEngine On

RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off

RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]

Now, open your website in a browser and your HTTPS and SSL certificate should be working like this;