How to locate and create .htaccess file – A step-by-step guide

.htaccess (hypertext access) is a hidden file used to configure additional features for websites hosted on Apache Web Server. With it, you can rewrite URL, password-protect directories, enable hotlink protection, disallow access to specific IP addresses, change your website’s time zone or alter default index page, and much more. Here you’ll learn how to locate and create .htaccess file.

How to Locate an Open .htaccess File?

We will show how to locate and open .htaccess file in both Hostinger’s hPanel and cPanel.

hPanel

Finding and editing the file in Hostinger’s hPanel takes only a few clicks. Here’s how to do it:

1. Once you’re logged in to your WordPress Dashboard, use the search feature to find the File Manager located under the Files category.
2. By default, .htaccess is visible in hPanel’s public_html directory, so you can immediately access the file and its content by right-clicking and selecting Edit.

cPanel

If you are using cPanel, the process is more or less similar.

1. Access File Manager → public_html.
2. If you can’t find the file, go to the  Settings on the upper right menu and tick the Show Hidden Files option to enable viewing.

How to Create .htaccess File?

If .htaccess file is not present, here’s how you create one. This method is applicable to both hPanel and cPanel:

1. Click the New File button in the upper menu.
2. Enter .htaccess as the file name, insert the code below and press Create to save your changes.

   # BEGIN WordPress
   <IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
   RewriteEngine On
   RewriteBase /
   RewriteRule ^index.php$ - [L]
   RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
   RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
   RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
   </IfModule>
   # END WordPres

Conclusion

You’ve learned how to locate and create .htaccess file using the File Manager. .htaccess enables you to create website redirects, set default pages, password-protect directories and much more.

If you have any questions regarding this guide, let us know in the comments below!