How do you replace internal HTTP links with HTTPS?

Confirm that HTTPS works correctly for the root domain, www, and any required subdomains before changing stored links. Set the site’s official address to the final HTTPS version and add one server-side redirect from HTTP. Keep a database and file backup that can be restored if the replacement affects structured data.

For a small site, update links in content, menus, widgets, theme settings, and reusable blocks through the normal editor. For a larger WordPress database, use a migration or search-and-replace tool that understands serialized values. A plain SQL replacement can corrupt serialized page-builder and plugin settings when string lengths change.

Search theme files, CSS, JavaScript, and configuration for hard-coded HTTP addresses. Review canonical links, the XML sitemap, structured data, Open Graph images, form actions, and API endpoints. External links do not need to change unless the destination supports HTTPS and the link affects page security.

Clear every cache and crawl the site for remaining internal HTTP URLs. Use the browser console to find mixed content that a text search missed. Leave the HTTP-to-HTTPS redirect active so old bookmarks and external links continue to reach the correct page.