The .htaccess file is a configuration file that gives WordPress owners and users full access to make additional changes. Every WordPress website on the internet has a .htaccess file. 

And, if you are a WordPress user, what you should do is have a decent idea about the file and know the ways you can use it for different purposes. WordPress comes with different configuration files. Among them, .htaccess is considered the most useful. 

But the first thing that may pop into your head is where to find the .htaccess file. Well. you can get the .htaccess file located in the root directory, depending on your hosting provider. 

Now, let’s follow the below process to find the  .htaccess configuration file on your WordPress website. 

• Step 1: Go to the Control Panel.
• Step 2: Go to File Manager.
• Step 3: Now click file_html  from the navigation bar. 
• Step 4: Click the folder labeled ‘WordPress’
• Step 5: Look for the .htaccess file.

This is the most prominent way to find the .htaccess file from the Cpanel of your WordPress website. 

In the next part of this article, we’ll cover how the .htacces file can help you or the use of the file. 

• Creating Redirect URLs

This is one of the core uses of the .htacces file. Let’s say you have changed the domain name of your website. Now, if your visitor searches for the older domain and enters the website, they will be more likely to see Error 404 as the domain no longer exists there. 

Here is where the importance of the .htaccess file comes into play. With the help of this file, you can redirect the whole website and the individual web pages. 

Are you facing a duplicate content issue on your website? No worries, with the .htaccess file, you can redirect visitors to one page you want them to see whenever they search for the previous web pages.

Beyond this, you can also create custom error pages of websites using the .htaccess file in case of any needs.  

• Forcing Visitors to HTTPS

You may never want to see any of your visitors use HTTP instead of HTTPs at this time. However, you can forcibly let the users use the htTPs with the help of the .htaccess file. 

For this, whenever your visitor searches your website using HTTP will be redirected to the HTTPS version of your website. 

• Protecting Password

While creating or developing your website, you need to be pretty careful about the security of your different passwords. In this case, you will find the .htaccess file helpful a lot. 

You can create a password to protect your website from different points and stages with the file. Now, you have come to know the importance of the .htaccess configuration file for your websites. Why not make the most out of it?