Activate WordPress permalinks with FTP

Using custom WordPress permalinks can improve search engine optimization(SEO) and make your website's URL more attractive for searches. WordPress permalinks are the permanent URLs for your posts and pages.

1. You should always backup your site before making any changes.
2. Connect to your hosting with FTP.
3. Add URL rewrites using one of the following instructions depending on your hosting type:

   cPanel/Linux

   1. Locate the .htaccess file.

      Note: If you do not have a .htaccess file then you can create one with your FTP client, or create one on your local computer and upload it to the hosting account.

   2. Edit the .htaccess file, and add the following to the file if it is not already present:

      # 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]
      </IfModulec>
      # END WordPress

   3. Save the file, and upload it to your hosting account.

   Plesk/Windows

   1. Locate the web.config file.

      Note: If you do not have a web.config file then you can create one with your FTP client, or create one on your local computer and upload it to the hosting account.

   2. Edit the web.config file, and add the following if it is not already present to the configuration section:

      <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
      <configuration>
        <system.webServer>
          <rewrite>
            <rules>
              <rule name="WordPress Rule" stopProcessing="true">
                <match url=".*" />
                <conditions>
                  <add input="{REQUEST_FILENAME}" matchType="IsFile" negate="true" />
                  <add input="{REQUEST_FILENAME}" matchType="IsDirectory" negate="true" />
                </conditions>
                <action type="Rewrite" url="index.php" />
              </rule>
            </rules>
          </rewrite>
        </system.webServer>
      </configuration>

   3. Save the file, and upload it to your hosting account.

Next steps

• After activating WordPress permalinks through FTP, you may want to change the permalink structure to a look you prefer. You can change the permalink structure in the database.
• If you're unfamiliar with managing a database, then you should update the permalink setting in WordPress.

More info

• Return to Update, activate, or reset WordPress permalinks.