Finding and editing .htaccess in cPanel

Identify the website’s document root and download the current .htaccess file before changing it. Keep framework, WordPress and panel-managed sections intact unless you are deliberately updating them. A rule that works with one web-server handler may not apply to another.

1. Open File Manager, select Settings and enable Show Hidden Files (dotfiles). Save that display setting.
2. Navigate to the correct document root and find .htaccess. If none exists, check the path and application requirements before creating a new file with that exact name.
3. Choose Edit and add only the required rule in a suitable location. Rule order matters, especially when an application already has a front-controller rewrite section.
4. Save and test the affected URL, the homepage and a normal internal page in a private browser window. Check for redirect loops as well as server errors.

Verify the intended status or restriction, not merely that the page loads. For a redirect, confirm its final destination and whether it should be temporary or permanent.

If the site starts returning an error, restore the previous file immediately and inspect the error log. Renaming .htaccess may restore access but can also remove application routing or protection, so treat that as a short diagnostic step rather than a permanent fix.

• Editing a text file in cPanel File Manager
• Creating a page or domain redirect in cPanel
• Password-protecting a website folder with cPanel Directory Privacy
• Finding hidden configuration files in cPanel File Manager

• cPanel: File Manager
• cPanel: Redirects