How To Remove Index.php From WordPress Permalinks || Blogging Mentor

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems in the world, and it allows you to create and publish content easily. However, if you want to optimize your site for search engines, you may want to remove the index.php from your permalinks. The index.php file is the main file of WordPress, and it is used to display the content of your website. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to remove the index.php from your WordPress permalinks.

Step 1: Backup your website

Before making any changes to your website, it is important to backup your website. This is to ensure that you have a copy of your website that you can restore if anything goes wrong during the process. You can use a plugin like UpdraftPlus to backup your website.

Step 2: Change your permalink structure

To remove the index.php from your permalinks, you need to change your permalink structure. To do this, go to your WordPress dashboard, and navigate to Settings > Permalinks. From here, you can select a new permalink structure that does not include the index.php file. For example, you can choose the "Post name" option, which will remove the index.php file from your permalinks.

Step 3: Save your permalink structure

After you have chosen your new permalink structure, click the "Save Changes" button to save your new permalink structure. WordPress will automatically update your permalinks and remove the index.php file.

Step 4: Update your .htaccess file

If you have a custom .htaccess file, you may need to update it to reflect your new permalink structure. To do this, open your .htaccess file and add the following code:

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>

RewriteEngine On

RewriteBase /

RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d

RewriteRule . /index.php [L]

</IfModule>

This code will remove the index.php file from your permalinks and redirect all requests to the index.php file to the home page of your website.

Step 5: Test your website

After you have updated your permalink structure and .htaccess file, you should test your website to ensure that everything is working correctly. Check all of your pages and posts to make sure that they are loading correctly and that the permalinks are correct. You can also use a tool like Google Search Console to check your website for any errors or issues.

Conclusion

Removing the index.php from your WordPress permalinks is an important step in optimizing your website for search engines. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily remove the index.php file from your permalinks and ensure that your website is SEO-friendly. Remember to backup your website before making any changes, and always test your website after making any changes to ensure that everything is working correctly.