Godaddy Domain Forwarding Not Working With Https

GoDaddy Domain Forwarding Not Working with HTTPS: Troubleshooting Guide

Meta Description: Is your GoDaddy domain forwarding failing to redirect HTTPS traffic? This comprehensive guide walks you through common causes and effective troubleshooting steps to get your domain forwarding working correctly with HTTPS.

Many website owners utilize GoDaddy for domain registration and management. A common feature is domain forwarding, a handy tool to redirect traffic from one domain to another. However, problems can arise when attempting to forward a domain using HTTPS. This article will delve into the common reasons why GoDaddy domain forwarding might not work with HTTPS, offering practical solutions to get your redirection working smoothly.

Understanding the Problem: Why HTTPS Forwarding Fails

When you set up a domain forwarding in GoDaddy, you're essentially instructing the GoDaddy servers to redirect incoming requests to a different destination URL. The issue with HTTPS arises when the target URL (the website you're forwarding to) utilizes an SSL certificate (the 'https' protocol), and the forwarding setup isn't correctly configured to handle the secure connection. This can result in several scenarios:

• Looping Redirects: The browser might get stuck in an endless loop of redirects, never reaching the intended destination.
• Error Messages: Users might see error messages like "ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS" or other HTTPS-related errors.
• Incorrect Redirection: The site might load, but not using the secure HTTPS protocol.

Common Causes and Troubleshooting Steps

Let's examine the most frequent causes and how to resolve them:

1. Incorrect Forwarding Type:

• Problem: GoDaddy offers different forwarding types (e.g., masking, forwarding). Masking hides the original domain, while forwarding displays the target URL in the browser's address bar. If you're using a masking method, and the target site only supports HTTPS, this might cause issues.
• Solution: Check your GoDaddy forwarding settings. Ensure you're using the appropriate forwarding type. For HTTPS targets, using a simple "forwarding" method is often more reliable. If masking is essential, confirm your target website's setup is compatible with this method.

2. SSL Certificate Issues on the Target Website:

• Problem: The target website might have SSL certificate problems (expired, invalid, or incorrectly configured), preventing successful HTTPS redirection.
• Solution: Verify the SSL certificate on the target website. Use an online SSL checker to ensure it's valid and properly installed. Contact the target website's administrator if you detect any issues.

3. CNAME Records Conflict:

• Problem: Incorrect or conflicting CNAME (Canonical Name) records in your GoDaddy DNS settings can interfere with domain forwarding.
• Solution: Review your GoDaddy DNS records. Ensure there are no conflicting CNAME records that might be interfering with the forwarding process. Focus on the correct A record if you are using IPv4 and AAAA record if you are using IPv6. Remove or correct any conflicting entries.

4. GoDaddy Server-Side Issues:

• Problem: While rare, there might be temporary issues on GoDaddy's servers affecting forwarding.
• Solution: Check GoDaddy's status page for any reported outages or service disruptions. If issues persist, contact GoDaddy's support team.

5. Incorrect HTTPS URL in Forwarding Settings:

• Problem: A simple typo in the HTTPS URL you entered during the forwarding setup can cause redirection failures.
• Solution: Double-check that you've entered the correct HTTPS URL (including https://) in your GoDaddy domain forwarding settings.

6. Caching Issues:

• Problem: Your browser or DNS servers might be caching outdated redirection information.
• Solution: Clear your browser's cache and cookies. You might also try flushing your DNS cache (instructions vary depending on your operating system).

7. Firewall or Security Restrictions:

• Problem: Firewalls or security measures on either your end or the target website's server might be blocking HTTPS traffic.
• Solution: Check your firewall settings and any security software to ensure they aren't blocking HTTPS connections. Contact the target website's administrator to inquire about any possible restrictions.

By systematically addressing these potential problems, you can significantly increase the chances of successfully configuring GoDaddy domain forwarding to work flawlessly with HTTPS. Remember to test your forwarding setup after each troubleshooting step to identify the root cause and confirm the resolution.