.htaccess - WordPress redirect all HTTPS to HTTP -

we have wordpress site, , used have ssl certificate. site used https, , don't need ssl anymore let expire.

we've changed site address , wordpress address in admin panel http://example.com.

we have several links out in wild link https:// , if user accesses site https:// site breaks or user gets warning message in browser.

bottom line, need redirect https:// traffic http://.

i tried couple of plugins (no luck):

• https://wordpress.org/plugins/force-non-ssl/
• https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-force-http/

and changed .htaccess file (still no luck)

<ifmodule mod_rewrite.c> rewriteengine on  rewritecond %{server_port} ^443$ rewriterule ^(.*)$ http://%{http_host}/$1 [r=301,l]  rewritebase / rewriterule ^index\.php$ - [l] rewritecond %{request_filename} !-f rewritecond %{request_filename} !-d rewriterule . /index.php [l] </ifmodule> 

not sure else need do.

the problem here lies fact before apache or wordpress come in play, browser needs establish connection server on https connecting, performing ssl handshake, exchanging (and verifying) certificates, , after done, browser issue http request tells server resources looking for.

because of that, no .htaccess or wordpress plugin going able redirect user without them establishing secure session.

of course if install self-signed certificate, user going presented warning before of happens. if chance (which doesn't seem cast) had been sending strict transport security headers on https, previous visitors' browsers may not allow them connect on http.

if want redirect https traffic http, unfortunately going have acquire valid certificate , redirect using .htaccess or php code are.

if you're looking certificates trusted majority of browsers without paying, can free ssl certificate startcom certification authority or let's encrypt (not quite available yet).

bottom line, if want seamlessly redirect https traffic http without warning messages, need install ssl certificate trusted ca.