Let's go through some screenshots to see it in action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you open File Manager for the first time on a WordPress installation, it will probably look something like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/intelliwolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/2020-10-16-show-hidden-cpanel-files-01-600x568.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nYou might have more files and folders than this, or you might not have \/cgi-bin\/, \/wp-snapshots\/, error_log or the fantastico files. Those are just because of the particular server and WordPress setup that site uses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The rest of the files and folders will be present on every WordPress installation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Notice the absence of .htaccess?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every WordPress installation has a .htaccess file to control how it serves the page structure and permalinks. The .htaccess file can also have code from security, caching or speed plugins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you delete the .htaccess file, your site will be instantly broken, which is why cPanel hides it by default.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, we're responsible website developers and can handle the pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We need to be able to access it if things aren't working properly<\/a>, or we need to redirect pages<\/a>, close down a website<\/a>, or even manually backup WordPress<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the top right corner of File Manager, click \"Settings\".<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure that \"Show Hidden Files (dotfiles)\" is checked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Click \"Save\".<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now you should see the .htaccess file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might also see the .well-known folder. This is used for serving the SSL certificate on many systems. You don't need to touch it or worry about it unless something stops working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just know it's there for a reason and don't delete it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Every WordPress installation has at least one “dotfile” called .htaccess. Files usually have a file name, then an ending, like index.php. But .htaccess is just the ending. By default, cPanel’s File Manager doesn’t show dotfiles. You have to change a setting so that you can see them. To show hidden files in cPanel like .htaccess,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/intelliwolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/2020-10-16-show-hidden-cpanel-files-02-1-600x336.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/intelliwolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/2020-10-16-show-hidden-cpanel-files-03.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/intelliwolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/2020-10-16-show-hidden-cpanel-files-04.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/intelliwolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/2020-10-16-show-hidden-cpanel-files-05-600x435.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n