The .htaccess file is a powerful configuration file used by Apache servers (which most shared hosting platforms, including cPanel, run on). It controls various aspects of your website’s behavior such as URL redirections, access restrictions, permalink structure, and more.
However, editing .htaccess incorrectly can break your site, cause 403/500 errors, or lock you out entirely. That’s why knowing how to safely edit the .htaccess file via cPanel is an essential skill for website owners and WordPress users.
In this article, you’ll learn step-by-step how to access, edit, and back up your .htaccess file from cPanel, without any coding experience.

What is the .htaccess File?

• The .htaccess file (short for “hypertext access”) allows you to set server-level rules for your website.

• It is located in the root directory of your site (e.g., public_html).

• WordPress automatically uses .htaccess to manage pretty permalinks.

• It’s also used to:

  • Redirect URLs (301 or 302)

  • Deny IP addresses

  • Force HTTPS

  • Enable caching and compression

  • Protect sensitive directories

Important: Always Take a Backup First

Before making changes:

1. Go to cPanel > File Manager
   
   

2. Navigate to public_html


3. Right-click on .htaccess and choose Download

This saves a copy of your working configuration. If anything breaks, you can restore it immediately.

How to Edit .htaccess via cPanel – Step by Step

Step 1: Log In to cPanel

Access your hosting account and locate the cPanel login from your client dashboard. Most hosts provide a direct link in your welcome email or account portal.

Step 2: Open File Manager

• In cPanel, scroll down to the Files section.

• Click on File Manager.
  

• This opens your website’s directory structure.

Step 3: Locate the .htaccess File

• In File Manager, go to the public_html/ folder (this is the root for most websites).

• If you don’t see .htaccess, click Settings in the top-right corner and:
  

  • Enable “Show Hidden Files (dotfiles)”
    
    

  • Click Save

You should now see .htaccess listed.

Step 4: Edit the File

• Right-click on .htaccess

• Choose Edit

• A popup may ask for character encoding leave it as utf-8 and click Edit

Now you can view and modify the contents in a plain text editor.

Step 5: Make Your Changes Carefully

You can now add or modify rules. Here are a few safe and common examples:

Redirect a Single Page

Deny Specific IP Address

Force HTTPS

Enable Browser Caching

Tip: Never remove existing WordPress permalink rules unless you know what you’re doing.

Step 6: Save and Close

After making changes:

• Click Save Changes (top-right)

• Close the editor

• Visit your website in a new tab to confirm it still loads properly

Troubleshooting .htaccess Mistakes

If something goes wrong after editing:

1. Go back to File Manager

2. Rename .htaccess to .htaccess-broken

3. Reload your site it should work with default settings

4. Log in to your WordPress admin

5. Go to Settings > Permalinks

6. Click Save Changes WordPress will regenerate a fresh .htaccess

Best Practices for .htaccess Edits

• Always back up before making changes

• Avoid unnecessary edits stick to tested rules

• Don’t use chmod 777 permissions on .htaccess

• Validate your syntax (one wrong character can crash your site)

• Add comments with # to describe your changes

Example:

Conclusion

The .htaccess file is a powerful ally when managed correctly. Whether you’re improving SEO with redirects, boosting security, or managing resources, you don’t need to be a developer to make useful changes.
Using cPanel’s File Manager, you can safely view, edit, and restore your .htaccess file without needing FTP access or third-party tools. Just follow a careful, backup-first approach and you’ll have full control over your site’s backend rules.