WordPress, by default, depends on file permissions and sometimes automatically modifies the site’s .htaccess file.
Moreover, plugins and WordPress add their own code to the .htaccess file for their own configuration purposes.
Most of the time, it does not do anything to the site’s content, and most of the changes go unnoticed, so it’s not a big deal, but sometimes 3rd party plugins or theme add code to access and override the website core to their own benefit, so this becomes unethical and can cause some serious problems.
So to stop this overwriting; this post will explain how it works, how dangerous it is, and how to prevent it from happening.
So, let’s get right into it.
Why Does WordPress Replace The Contents Of The .htaccess File?
The Apache web server’s .htaccess configuration file holds critical content management system settings. You may add multiple rules here to specify how the system or individual plugins should act. For Example, this file allows URL addresses to be rebuilt as “pretty URLs.”
Data in the.htaccess file can be overwritten. For Example, whenever you modify the structure of nice URLs in the system. At that point, WordPress saves updated rewrite rules to the file. Some plugins that contain code do the same function.
As a result, if you update the settings of such a plugin, it will immediately access the.htaccess file and amend the rules within it.
Your own rules that you previously saved in the .htaccess file may be overwritten or removed as a result of this.
How to stop WordPress from overwriting files in .htaccess
The good news is that the .htaccess file can have custom rules added to it to stop it from being rewritten in the above scenarios.
Basic rules to avoid while prevent overwriting in WordPress
Avoid inserting your rules between WordPress tags
Tags are used to identify rules set by the CMS itself.
A comment identifies them in the file. Comment lines should start with “# BEGIN WORDPRESS” and finish with “# END WORDPRESS”. All code included between these tags is owned by the WordPress system. If you write your own rules between these tags, they will be replaced whenever the CMS creates new rules. As a result, it’s critical not to include any of your own rules between these two tags.
# 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]
</IfModule>
# END WordPressDo Not Place Your Rules Within Plugin Tags
The same goes for plugins. Any plugin that updates rules in the .htaccess file must mark them. The marking is the same, with the exception that the plugin’s name appears after the words BEGIN and END.
For Example, use # BEGIN WP FASTEST CACHE and # END WP FASTEST CACHE.
The above statement also applies here, and if you don’t want to lose your rules every time you alter the cache plugin settings, don’t put any custom rules between these tags.
You Can Create Your Own Tags for Your Custom rules
Make sure to label the section you create in .htaccess if you are changing any rules there. Mark the start and finish of your custom section using the tags BEGIN and END.
Here is one Example:
# BEGIN Custom RulesRewriteEngine OnRewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^Example\.com$RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://www.Example.com/$1 [R=301,L]# END Custom RulesThe automated domain redirection from non-www to www domain may be seen in this sample code snippet. A comment in the.htaccess file is produced using the # symbol, which is the shorthand for ALT + X.
To guarantee that any modifications made to the WordPress administration settings do not overwrite this section, I may construct a custom section with rules and keep it apart from sections generated by the system or plugins.
Use wp-config.php File to Prevent File Rewriting
Using the following code in the WordPress configuration file is the last method to prevent rewriting:
add_filter('got_rewrite', '__return_false');Enter your cPanel or FTP credentials, find the wp-config.php file in your website’s root directory, and manually add the line that follows.
WordPress won’t make any more modifications to the file once you save it. It is crucial to remember that WordPress will not be able to make any changes to the file, therefore changes to the URL format, etc., will also not be permitted.
Conclusion
A calculated strategy is needed to stop WordPress from overwriting custom rules in the .htaccess file.
Users may prevent their own configurations from being unintentionally altered during WordPress upgrades or plugin revisions by using custom tags and sections within the.htaccess file.
By putting these safeguards in place, you can manage your WordPress website with ease and preserve custom directives, such as URL redirections or security improvements.
FAQs on Stop WordPress From Overwriting .htaccess File
Will my customized .htaccess rules be impacted by WordPress upgrade processes?
Updates to WordPress usually don’t change custom rules in the.htaccess file directly. However, it is possible for certain plugin updates or installs to overwrite the file. Custom labels and divisions can lessen this danger.
How can I make sure that when I update a plugin, my personalized .htaccess rules don’t get lost?
Examine your.htaccess file on a regular basis following plugin changes. Reapply your customized rules in the appropriate parts if you see any modifications. Additionally, think about utilizing tools or plugins that make it easier for you to manage.htaccess rules.
Are there any disadvantages to using portions of custom .htaccess?
Custom sections need to be managed manually even if they preserve your rules. Users are responsible for making sure any changes they make to WordPress settings or plugin setups do not interfere with their custom directives.
