HTTP links still in Google's SERPs after moving to HTTPS

Question

I've moved my WordPress site from HTTP to HTTPS almost a month ago. Here are the steps that I've taken:

• Replace all the internal links over the site like navigation etc. (HTTP links still there in content)
• Changed the protocol in Google Analytics.
• Add new property in Web Master Tools with the HTTPS protocol.
• Force HTTPS everywhere via .htaccess file
• Change the site address in WordPress admin panel

After all these, Google still keeps HTTP links in SERPs and whenever I Google https://example.com it goes:

Did you mean http://example.com

Moreover, when I Google site:example.com inurl:http it returns like 1450 results, and for site:example.com inurl:http://example.com it returns 130 results.

In my opinion, something makes my site stuck in HTTP and does not let it be HTTPS.

Is there anyone here with any suggestions?

Answer 1

It doesn't sound like you have done anything wrong. Google sometimes takes weeks or months to get new URLs indexed perfectly after a mass URL change. In the meantime, any user that gets directed to HTTP will get properly redirected to HTTPS. The "did you mean" will eventually disappear but it may take a while.

The only thing that you should make double sure is that your redirects are really the 301 permanent variety. If you are using 302 temporary redirects, Google will take much longer to move things over. Use a command line like curl --head http://example.com/ and make sure it is a 301 or use a checker site like this one.

As user82217 says in the comments, the site: search results are not very reliable. Google often shows redirect results and duplicate content in a site: search that it will never show otherwise.