how to remove index.php from WordPress url

Removing index.php from WordPress URLs not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of your website links but also improves user experience and can contribute to better SEO performance. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to achieve cleaner URLs by eliminating the index.php part in WordPress.

Step 1: Check Your WordPress Hosting Environment

Firstly, ensure that your server runs on Apache or nginx, as these are the most common configurations supporting URL rewriting. If unsure, contact your hosting provider to confirm that your server uses Apache with the mod_rewrite module or nginx, as these are necessary for removing index.php.

Step 2: Update Your WordPress Permalinks

The next step involves adjusting the permalink settings in your WordPress dashboard. Permalinks are the permanent URLs to your individual blog posts, categories, and other lists of weblog postings. Here’s how to update them:

1. Log in to your WordPress Dashboard.
2. Go to Settings > Permalinks.
3. Select a permalink structure that does not include index.php. Typically, choosing Post name in the Common Settings is advisable as it makes URLs SEO-friendly.
4. Click Save Changes.

If the index.php is still present after saving changes, it indicates that the mod_rewrite module is either not enabled or not functioning correctly.

Step 3: Modify the .htaccess File

For those using Apache as their server, modifying the .htaccess file is crucial. This file controls the high-level configuration of your site, and tweaking it can help remove index.php from URLs. Follow these steps:

1. Access your site’s root directory using FTP or File Manager in your hosting control panel.

2. Locate the .htaccess file. If you can’t see it, make sure to enable the option to view hidden files.

3. Backup the .htaccess file before making changes to avoid any site issues.

4. Edit the .htaccess file and add the following code at the beginning of the file if it’s not already present:

   
   RewriteEngine On
   RewriteBase /
   RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
   RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
   RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
   

5. Save changes and upload the file back if edited offline.

Step 4: Configure nginx to Remove index.php

For those using nginx instead of Apache, you’ll need to alter the server configuration slightly. Here are the required steps:

1. Access your nginx configuration file, typically found at /etc/nginx/sites-available/yourdomain.

2. Add or edit the following lines in the location block:

   try_files $uri $uri/ /index.php?$args;

3. After making changes, restart nginx to apply them:

   sudo service nginx restart

Step 5: Test Your New URLs

After applying the changes, test different URLs of your site to ensure that they are loading without the index.php. If you encounter any issues like 404 errors, double-check the changes made in the .htaccess or nginx configuration file. Verify that you’ve selected the correct permalink structure in the WordPress settings and cleared any caching plugins that might be caching the old URLs.

Step 6: Update Your SEO Strategy

Post the cleanup of URLs, update your internal links to reflect the new structure. Additionally, consider setting up redirects from the old index.php URLs to the new ones to retain SEO value and user access, especially if the previous URLs were already indexed or linked externally.

Step 7: Monitor and Maintain

Periodically check your URLs and maintain the .htaccess or nginx files according to updates in your WordPress environment or server configuration. Keeping a pulse on how your URLs are functioning is vital for ongoing SEO performance and usability.

By following these detailed steps, you can successfully remove index.php from your WordPress URLs, leading to cleaner links that are both user-friendly and optimized for search engines. Remember, each aspect from server type to permalink settings plays a crucial role in achieving the desired URL structure.