// build redirects, HTTPS force, and deny rules via UI
Generate .htaccess files visually. Build redirects, force HTTPS, www/non-www canonicalization, deny rules, CORS headers, caching, and custom error pages — free, no signup.
Toggle the sections you need in the left panel. Each section expands to show its configuration options — only enabled sections appear in the output.
Fill in the options for each enabled section — redirect URLs, IP addresses to deny, cache durations, custom error pages, and more. The output updates live.
Click "⎘ Copy" to copy the complete .htaccess to clipboard, or "↓ Download" to save it as a .htaccess file ready to upload to your server.
The .htaccess Generator creates Apache configuration files from a visual interface. Instead of memorising RewriteRule syntax or searching Stack Overflow, you configure each rule through form controls and get a production-ready file instantly. Sections are commented and organized for easy maintenance.
An .htaccess file is a directory-level configuration file used by the Apache web server. It allows you to override global server settings for a specific directory — including URL rewrites, redirects, access control, authentication, compression, and security headers — without editing the main server configuration.
Place .htaccess in the root directory of your website (the same folder as your index.html or index.php). Rules in this file apply to that directory and all subdirectories. You can also place .htaccess files in subdirectories to apply rules only to those folders.
.htaccess is specific to Apache web servers. It does not work on Nginx, IIS, or other server software. Most shared hosting providers run Apache and support .htaccess. VPS and cloud deployments often use Nginx, where equivalent rules are written in the server{} block configuration instead.
A 301 redirect is permanent — it tells browsers and search engines that the page has moved forever. Search engines transfer the original page's authority to the new URL. A 302 redirect is temporary — it does not transfer SEO value and search engines continue to index the original URL. Use 301 for site migrations and canonical URL enforcement.
Incorrect .htaccess rules can cause redirect loops or 500 errors. Always test on a staging server first. The most common issue is conflicting redirect rules — for example, having both Force HTTPS and WWW redirect enabled without ensuring they don't loop. This generator orders rules correctly to avoid the most common pitfalls.
Yes. For .htaccess to work, the Apache configuration must include AllowOverride All (or the appropriate directives) for the directory. If your rules appear to have no effect, check with your hosting provider that AllowOverride is enabled for your document root.
Apache's .htaccess syntax — a combination of RewriteEngine, RewriteCond, RewriteRule, and Header directives — is powerful but arcane. A single misplaced character can take down a production site. This generator abstracts the syntax into simple toggles and form fields, producing well-commented, tested rules without requiring any knowledge of Apache's configuration language.
Two of the most important uses of .htaccess are forcing HTTPS and establishing a canonical domain (www vs non-www). Both are essential for SEO — duplicate content across http:// and https://, or between www.example.com and example.com, dilutes ranking signals. A single 301 redirect rule resolves both issues permanently.
Apache's Header directive allows adding security headers like X-Content-Type-Options, X-Frame-Options, Referrer-Policy, and Permissions-Policy to every response. These headers protect against clickjacking, MIME-type sniffing, and information leakage — and they can be set entirely in .htaccess without touching server-level config.