GoDaddy Domain Forwarding Not Working with HTTPS: How to Fix It

GoDaddy's built-in domain forwarding is a common source of frustration — especially when HTTPS is involved. If your forwarded domain is showing security warnings, redirecting to HTTP instead of HTTPS, or not forwarding at all, here's what's happening and how to fix it.

GoDaddy's domain forwarding feature works by pointing your domain to GoDaddy's own forwarding servers, which then redirect visitors to your destination URL. The problem: GoDaddy's forwarding servers don't have an SSL certificate for your domain.

This means:

• Visitors who type https://yourdomain.com get a security warning before being forwarded
• Some browsers block the redirect entirely
• The forwarding works fine for HTTP but fails for HTTPS

This is a fundamental limitation of GoDaddy's forwarding feature — it was designed before HTTPS became the standard.

Instead of using GoDaddy's forwarding feature, use DNS records to point your domain directly to your destination, then let the destination server handle the SSL.

Option 1: Use an A Record (if forwarding to a website you control)

1. In GoDaddy DNS management, remove any forwarding rules
2. Add an A record pointing @ to your web server's IP address
3. Add a CNAME record pointing www to your domain or server hostname
4. Install an SSL certificate on your web server
5. Configure your server to redirect to the correct URL

Option 2: Use Cloudflare for Free HTTPS Forwarding

Cloudflare offers free DNS management with a Page Rule feature that handles HTTPS forwarding correctly:

1. Transfer your DNS to Cloudflare (free)
2. Enable Cloudflare's proxy (the orange cloud icon)
3. Create a Page Rule: yourdomain.com/* → Forwarding URL (301) → https://destination.com/$1
4. Cloudflare handles SSL automatically

This is the most reliable free solution for HTTPS domain forwarding.

Option 3: Use a Hosting Account for Forwarding

If you have a hosting account, you can point your domain to the hosting server and configure a redirect at the server level (via .htaccess or your hosting control panel). This gives you full HTTPS support.

If you have GoDaddy forwarding active, you must remove it before DNS changes will take effect. GoDaddy's forwarding overrides your DNS records.

To remove forwarding:

1. Go to your domain's DNS management in GoDaddy
2. Scroll to the Forwarding section
3. Delete any active forwarding rules
4. Then make your DNS changes

DNS and HTTPS configuration can be tricky. VSF Technology handles domain setup, DNS configuration, and SSL installation for businesses in Tampa Bay and nationwide. Contact us if you need help getting your domain forwarding working correctly.