.htaccess Generator

Generate .htaccess rules for redirects, URL rewriting, security headers, and caching. Build Apache configurations without memorizing syntax.

100% client-side No signup Free forever

Configuration Options

URL Rewriting

Security

Performance

Error Pages

Custom Redirects

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Generated .htaccess


                        

                    

            

        

    


    
    

        

            


                
                
                                

                    // how to use
                    
How to Use .htaccess Generator

                    
How to Generate .htaccess Rules


    

  1. Select features: Choose which configurations you need from the list
    2. 

  2. Configure each feature: Enter URLs, paths, and settings for selected features
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  3. Preview rules: See the generated .htaccess code
    4. 

  4. Validate: Check for syntax errors or conflicts
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  5. Copy or download: Get your .htaccess file
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  6. Upload: Place in your web root via FTP or file manager
    7. 




Testing Your .htaccess


    

  1. Back up any existing .htaccess file
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  2. Upload the new file
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  3. Test that your site loads correctly
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  4. Check that redirects work as expected
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  5. Monitor server logs for errors
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Features

                    
    
                                                
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                            301/302 redirect generator                        
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                            Force HTTPS redirect                        
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                            WWW to non-WWW (and vice versa)                        
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                            Custom error pages (404, 500)                        
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                            URL rewriting rules                        
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                            Browser caching headers                        
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                            GZIP compression                        
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                            Hotlink protection                        
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                            IP blocking                        
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                            Security headers (XSS, CSP)                        
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                            Directory listing prevention                        
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                            Syntax validation and preview                        
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                    // about
                    
About .htaccess Generator

                    
The .htaccess file controls critical Apache server behavior: URL routing, redirects, access control, and performance optimization. Writing these directives from scratch requires memorizing obscure syntax and understanding complex flag systems. Our generator creates correct configurations through guided options.



Common .htaccess Tasks


The generator helps with frequently needed configurations:


    

  • URL redirects: 301/302 redirects, domain canonicalization, HTTPS forcing
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  • URL rewriting: Clean URLs, parameter hiding, extension removal
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  • Security: Directory listing prevention, hotlink protection, headers
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  • Caching: Browser caching rules, compression settings
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Understanding Rewrite Rules


Apache's mod_rewrite is powerful but complex. Rules consist of patterns, substitutions, and flags. Getting the regex right, understanding when to use [L], [R], [QSA] flags, and knowing the difference between %{REQUEST_URI} and %{REQUEST_FILENAME} trips up developers constantly. The generator handles these details automatically.



Security Configuration


Modern web security requires specific HTTP headers: Content-Security-Policy, X-Frame-Options, X-Content-Type-Options. The generator creates properly formatted header directives that protect against clickjacking, XSS, and content sniffing attacks.



Performance Optimization


Proper caching headers dramatically improve page load times for returning visitors. The generator creates ExpiresByType and Cache-Control directives optimized for different asset types—long caching for images and fonts, shorter for CSS and JavaScript.

                

                
                                

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Frequently Asked Questions

                    

                                                

                            What is .htaccess and what can it do?
                            
.htaccess is an Apache web server configuration file that controls directory-level settings: redirects, URL rewriting, access control, caching, compression, security headers, and more. It's powerful but errors can break your site - always backup before changes.

                        

                                                

                            How do I redirect HTTP to HTTPS?
                            
Our generator creates the correct redirect rules: "RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off" then "RewriteRule ^ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]". This forces secure connections. Make sure you have a valid SSL certificate installed first.

                        

                                                

                            How do I redirect www to non-www (or vice versa)?
                            
Consistency helps SEO. To remove www: redirect www.example.com to example.com. To add www: redirect example.com to www.example.com. Pick one and stick with it. Our generator creates the correct rules for either direction, including HTTPS handling.

                        

                                                

                            How do I enable GZIP compression?
                            
GZIP dramatically reduces file sizes (often 70%+ for text files). Our generator adds the proper mod_deflate rules to compress HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other text-based files. This is one of the most impactful performance optimizations.

                        

                                                

                            How do I set up browser caching?
                            
Browser caching stores static files locally, speeding up repeat visits. We generate rules to cache images, CSS, JS, and fonts for appropriate durations. Static assets might cache for a year; HTML for a few hours. Our generator creates optimal cache headers.

                        

                                                

                            My .htaccess changes cause a 500 error. What's wrong?
                            
Common causes: syntax errors, mod_rewrite not enabled, rules conflicting with WordPress or other CMS. Check Apache error logs for specifics. Start with minimal rules and add incrementally. Our generator creates syntactically correct rules for Apache 2.4.