.htaccess Generator
Generate Apache .htaccess configuration files with URL redirects, rewrites, security rules, HTTPS enforcement, caching, GZIP compression, and custom error pages. Perfect for web developers and system administrators.
Configuration
Add 301 (permanent) or 302 (temporary) redirects
No redirects added yet
Click "Add Redirect" to create one
Generated .htaccess
# No rules configured yet # Add rules using the tabs above to generate your .htaccess file
Important: Always backup your existing .htaccess file before replacing it. Test the new file on a staging environment first.
About .htaccess Generator
A comprehensive .htaccess file generator that helps you create Apache web server configuration files with common rules and directives. Generate redirects (301/302), URL rewrites, security settings, HTTPS/WWW enforcement, GZIP compression, browser caching, IP blocking, custom error pages, and more. This tool provides an intuitive interface for creating complex .htaccess files without memorizing Apache syntax.
Why use a .htaccess Generator?
Essential for web developers and system administrators who need to configure Apache servers but don't want to memorize complex .htaccess syntax. Prevents configuration errors, saves time, and ensures best practices for security, performance, and SEO. Supports common use cases like enforcing HTTPS, removing file extensions, blocking IPs, and optimizing website performance through caching and compression.
Who is it for?
Perfect for web developers, system administrators, SEO specialists, and website owners who manage Apache-based hosting. Also valuable for freelancers, agencies, and anyone responsible for website configuration, security hardening, or performance optimization on Apache servers (cPanel, shared hosting, VPS, dedicated servers).
How to use the tool
Select the rules you need: redirects, rewrites, security, HTTPS/WWW, performance, or error pages
Configure each rule with your specific requirements using the form inputs
Add multiple rules of the same type if needed (e.g., multiple redirects)
Preview the generated .htaccess code in real-time with syntax highlighting
Copy the generated code to clipboard or download as .htaccess file
Upload the file to your website's root directory or specific folder via FTP/cPanel
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I generate an .htaccess file online?
Select the configurations you need: URL redirects (301, 302), URL rewrites (`mod_rewrite` rules), password protection, custom error pages, HTTPS redirects, GZIP compression, browser caching, security headers (CORS, CSP, X-Frame-Options). The tool generates the `.htaccess` syntax. Copy or download. Place in your web root (or specific directory) on an Apache web server. Runs entirely in your browser.
What is .htaccess?
`.htaccess` is a configuration file for Apache web server (mod_rewrite, mod_headers, etc.). Used for per-directory configuration: URL redirects, rewrites, authentication, custom error pages, compression, caching, security headers. Apache reads `.htaccess` files on each request — flexible but slower than server-level config. For high-traffic sites, prefer main Apache config (faster); for shared hosting where you can't edit main config, `.htaccess` is the way.
Is my configuration sent to a server?
No — .htaccess generation runs entirely in your browser. The tool has the directive templates embedded; generation is just selecting and joining text. Zero HTTP requests during generation. Safe for proprietary domain configurations, redirect maps for migration, or any sensitive routing logic.
Does this work with Nginx?
**No** — `.htaccess` is Apache-specific. Nginx uses a completely different configuration syntax in `nginx.conf` and site-specific config files. For Nginx, you'd write `server { ... location { ... } }` blocks with different directives. Some `.htaccess` patterns have Nginx equivalents (`rewrite` is similar; redirects via `return 301`); others (per-directory config) work differently in Nginx. This tool generates Apache `.htaccess`; for Nginx, you'd need a different generator.
How do I redirect old URLs to new ones (301 redirects)?
Configuration. `Redirect 301 /old-page /new-page` redirects a specific path. `RedirectMatch 301 ^/old-(.*)$ /new-$1` uses regex for pattern-based redirects. For more complex rewrites (query string handling, conditional logic), use `mod_rewrite`: `RewriteRule ^old-page$ new-page [R=301,L]`. The tool generates these from a simple mapping interface. After deploying, test thoroughly — broken redirects damage SEO.
What HTTPS / SSL directives should I add?
Common HTTPS-related directives. Force HTTPS: redirect all HTTP to HTTPS via `RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off` + `RewriteRule (.*) https://%{HTTP_HOST}/$1 [R=301,L]`. HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security): `Header always set Strict-Transport-Security 'max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains; preload'`. Disable mixed content via Content Security Policy: `Header set Content-Security-Policy 'upgrade-insecure-requests'`. Together, these enforce HTTPS site-wide. Test with [SSL Certificate Checker](/tools/ssl-certificate-checker/) after deployment.
What about security headers?
Modern security headers. `X-Frame-Options: SAMEORIGIN` (clickjacking protection). `X-Content-Type-Options: nosniff` (MIME-type sniffing protection). `Strict-Transport-Security: max-age=31536000` (HSTS — HTTPS enforcement). `Content-Security-Policy: ...` (CSP — XSS protection; complex to configure correctly). `Referrer-Policy: strict-origin-when-cross-origin`. `Permissions-Policy: ...` (formerly Feature-Policy). Add via `Header set <name> '<value>'`. Test with [HTTP Header Checker](/tools/http-header-checker/) after deployment.
Why is my .htaccess not working?
Common causes. (1) `AllowOverride` set to `None` in the main Apache config — `.htaccess` is disabled. Change to `AllowOverride All` for the directory. (2) Required Apache modules not enabled (`mod_rewrite`, `mod_headers`). Enable via `a2enmod rewrite headers`. (3) Syntax error in the file — check Apache error log. (4) File not in the directory it should affect — `.htaccess` applies only to its directory and subdirs. (5) Server isn't Apache (Nginx, LiteSpeed handle .htaccess differently or not at all). Check the server's documentation.
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