The End of .htaccess: What You Need to Know
If you’re a WordPress user, you’ve probably come across the .htaccess file at some point. Perhaps you’ve even edited it to tweak your site’s settings. But did you know that as of October 2022, WP Engine will no longer support the .htaccess file?
This change is necessary in order to improve performance and security for the customers of WP Engine. While we understand that this may be disruptive for some customers, we believe that it is in the best interest of all of our customers to make this change.
In this blog post, we’ll explain why WP Engine is ending support for .htaccess and what this means for your WordPress site. We’ll also give you some tips on how to prepare for the change.
What is .htaccess?
.htaccess is a configuration file used by Apache-based web servers. It allows you to control various server settings, such as redirects, password protection, and caching. WordPress uses .htaccess to generate permalinks (pretty URLs) and handle other URL-related tasks.
Why is WP Engine discontinuing .htaccess support?
There are several reasons for this decision:
- .htaccess files can negatively impact server performance.
- .htaccess files are often the target of attacks, as they can be used to gain access to sensitive information or take over a website entirely.
- By discontinuing .htaccess support, WP Engine can provide a more secure and performant platform for all customers.
How to prepare for the change to .htaccess support
As we mentioned, WP Engine will no longer support the .htaccess file as of October 2022. This change may be disruptive for some customers, so we want to make sure you’re prepared.
Here are a few things you can do to get ready:
- Back up your WordPress site. This is always a good idea before making any changes to your site, just in case something goes wrong.
- Familiarize yourself with alternative methods of editing WordPress settings. If you’re used to editing settings in .htaccess, you’ll need to find another way to do it after October. One option is to use the WP Engine Web Rules.
- Review your WordPress plugins and themes. Some of them may rely on .htaccess settings, so you may need to find alternatives.
- Contact TOMIS if you have any questions or concerns. We’re here to answer your website hosting questions and can perform server maintenance health checks, in addition to helping you prepare for the end of the .htaccess file.
What do I need to do?
If your WordPress site is using .htaccess, you will need to make some changes to your site in order to continue using WP Engine. We recommend that you consult with a WordPress developer or server support team to help you make these changes. They have the experience to discontinue your .htaccess before WP Engine makes that change automatically, possibly disrupting your website’s online status.
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Get a Server Health Check from TOMIS
If you have any questions or concerns about this change, please contact our team and we can help you through this process.
For additional server related questions and ongoing maintenance for peace of mind, reach out to learn more about hosting with TOMIS on our private WP Engine server.