{"id":553,"date":"2019-10-31T13:13:21","date_gmt":"2019-10-31T13:13:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.hostinger.io\/hostinger-tutorials\/uncategorized\/htaccesshow-to-locate-htaccess-file-on-cpanel-file-manager\/"},"modified":"2026-10-27T10:05:28","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T10:05:28","slug":"locate-and-create-htaccess","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/uk\/tutorials\/locate-and-create-htaccess\/","title":{"rendered":"How to find and create the .htaccess file"},"content":{"rendered":"

The .htaccess<\/code> file is a hidden server configuration file typically found in your website’s root directory, such as public_html<\/code>. It’s used by Apache and compatible web servers to manage redirects, URL rewriting, and access restrictions.<\/p>

You can locate it through your hosting control panel, FTP\/SFTP, or SSH. If the file is missing, you can create one manually, provided your website requires it. Below, we’ll cover the common file locations, access methods, and safe configuration steps.<\/p>

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Where is the .htaccess file located?<\/h2>

The .htaccess<\/code> file is usually located in your website’s root directory, alongside files such as index.php<\/code>. On many hosting accounts, this directory is named public_html<\/code>. However, the exact location depends on your hosting environment and website configuration.<\/p>

Here are the most common locations:<\/p>

Hosting environment<\/th>Typical .htaccess location<\/th><\/tr>
Hostinger web hosting<\/td>public_html\/.htaccess<\/code><\/td><\/tr>
cPanel hosting<\/td>public_html\/.htaccess<\/code> or the domain’s document root<\/td><\/tr>
WordPress<\/td>Website root directory, usually alongside index.php<\/code><\/td><\/tr>
FTP\/SFTP<\/td>Website’s document root on the server<\/td><\/tr>
VPS with Apache<\/td>Configured document root, such as \/var\/www\/html\/.htaccess<\/code><\/td><\/tr>
Local XAMPP installation<\/td>Inside the website folder under htdocs<\/code><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>

On WordPress websites, the file often contains permalink and URL rewrite configuration<\/a>, which controls how the web server processes requests for individual pages and posts.<\/p>

Important:<\/strong> Files beginning with a dot are commonly hidden, so you may need to enable hidden-file visibility in your file manager or FTP client. If the file still doesn’t appear, it may not exist yet.<\/p>

The .htaccess<\/code> file is supported by Apache and compatible web servers such as LiteSpeed. Servers running Nginx don’t process .htaccess<\/code> files, so their configuration rules must be managed differently.<\/p>

How to find and open the .htaccess file<\/h2>

You can locate and open the .htaccess<\/code> file using your hosting control panel, an FTP\/SFTP client, or SSH. The best method depends on how you access your website files.<\/p>

Before editing the file, download a backup of the original version<\/strong>. Incorrect configuration rules can cause redirects to fail or make your website inaccessible.<\/p>

Using Hostinger File Manager<\/h3>

Hostinger File Manager displays hidden files by default, so you can find .htaccess<\/code> directly in your website’s root directory.<\/p>

    \n
  1. Log in to your Hostinger dashboard<\/strong>, navigate to Websites<\/strong>, and select Dashboard<\/strong> next to your website.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Open File Manager<\/strong>, navigate to public_html<\/code>, and locate .htaccess<\/code>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Right-click the file and select Edit<\/strong> to view its contents.\"The<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>

    If the file isn’t listed, it may not exist yet. You can create one using the instructions in the next section.<\/p>

    Using cPanel File Manager<\/h3>

    If your hosting provider uses cPanel, you can access .htaccess<\/code> through its built-in File Manager.<\/p>

      \n
    1. Log in to cPanel and open File Manager<\/strong> under Files<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Navigate to public_html<\/code> or the document root configured for your domain.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. If .htaccess<\/code> isn’t visible, click Settings<\/strong> in the upper-right corner, enable Show Hidden Files (dotfiles)<\/strong>, and save your preferences.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Locate .htaccess<\/code>, right-click it, and select Edit<\/strong> to open the file.<\/li>\n<\/ol>

      Using FTP or SFTP<\/h3>

      An FTP client such as FileZilla lets you access website files without opening your hosting control panel.<\/p>

        \n
      1. Connect to your hosting server using the connection details provided by your hosting provider. Use SFTP when it’s supported.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Navigate to your website’s document root, typically public_html<\/code>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. If you’re using FileZilla and can’t see .htaccess<\/code>, select Server → Force showing hidden files<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. Locate the file and use your client’s View\/Edit<\/strong> option to open it in a text editor.<\/li>\n<\/ol>

        Make sure to upload any saved changes if your FTP client asks you to synchronize the edited file with the server.<\/p>

        Using SSH<\/h3>

        If you have SSH access to your hosting server, you can locate .htaccess<\/code> directly from the terminal.<\/p>

          \n
        1. Connect to your server using SSH.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. Navigate to your website’s document root. For example, run cd \/var\/www\/html<\/code> if that’s the configured location.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        3. Run ls -la<\/code> to display all files, including hidden files.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        4. Open .htaccess<\/code> using a text editor such as Nano by running nano .htaccess<\/code>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>

          If the file doesn’t exist, Nano may open an empty buffer instead. Exit without saving if you only want to check whether the file is present.<\/p>

          On a local development environment<\/h3>

          If you’re developing a website locally with XAMPP, the .htaccess<\/code> file is usually located inside the website folder under htdocs<\/code>.<\/p>

          For example, common locations include:<\/p>