Preventing WordPress from Overwriting the .htaccess File

The .htaccess file is an important configuration file used by the Apache web server to control the behavior of the server for specific directories or files. However, WordPress can sometimes overwrite the .htaccess file, which can lead to unexpected behavior or security issues.

In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to stop WordPress from overwriting the .htaccess file.

Step 1: Backup your .htaccess file

Before making any changes to your .htaccess file, it is always a good practice to backup the existing file. You can download the existing file from your website’s root directory using an FTP client, or by accessing it via cPanel or other server management tools.

# BEGIN WordPress

RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule .* - [E=HTTP_AUTHORIZATION:%{HTTP:Authorization}]
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]

# END WordPress

Step 2: Disable WordPress automatic .htaccess updates

WordPress updates the .htaccess file automatically whenever you save your permalinks settings or update a plugin. You can disable this feature by adding a line of code to your site’s wp-config.php file. This file is located in the root directory of your WordPress installation.

Open the wp-config.php file using a text editor and add the following line of code:

define( 'WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE', false );

This line of code will disable automatic updates for WordPress core, plugins, and themes.

Step 3: Protect your .htaccess file

To prevent other users or applications from modifying your .htaccess file, you can change its file permissions. Use an FTP client or file manager in your web hosting control panel to set the permissions of the .htaccess file to 644, which allows read and write access for the owner and read-only access for everyone else.

Step 4: Add code to your functions.php file

You can add code to your site’s functions.php file to prevent WordPress from overwriting the .htaccess file. This file is located in the /wp-content/themes/your-theme-name/ directory.

Open the functions.php file using a text editor and add the following lines of code:

function disable_wp_htaccess_update() {
global $wp_filesystem;
$wp_filesystem->chmod(ABSPATH . '.htaccess', 0644);
remove_action('save_post', 'flush_rewrite_rules');
}
add_action('init', 'disable_wp_htaccess_update');

This code will disable WordPress from updating the .htaccess file when you save your permalinks settings or update a plugin.

Step 5: Test your changes

After following the above steps, it is important to test your website to ensure that it is functioning as expected. Check the site’s front-end and back-end functionality, especially related to permalinks and rewrite rules.

If you encounter any issues, you can revert the changes by restoring your backup .htaccess file and removing the code added to your wp-config.php and functions.php files.

Also Read: How to Create Custom Post Types in WordPress Without Plugins

Additional Tips

Here are some additional tips to consider when managing your .htaccess file in WordPress:

• Use a secure password to protect your WordPress admin dashboard to prevent unauthorized access to your site’s configuration files.

• 2. Keep your WordPress installation, themes, and plugins up-to-date to avoid security vulnerabilities and compatibility issues.

• Use a child theme when making changes to your site’s functions.php file to avoid losing your changes when you update your theme.

• Avoid making changes to your .htaccess file if you are not familiar with Apache server configurations. Incorrect settings can cause your site to stop functioning or become inaccessible.

Conclusion

The .htaccess file is an important configuration file used by the Apache web server. WordPress can sometimes overwrite this file, which can lead to unexpected behavior or security issues. By following the above steps, you can disable WordPress automatic updates and add code to your site’s functions.php file to prevent the file from being overwritten. Remember to always backup your files before making any changes