Show hidden files like .htaccess in cPanel

Certain files may not be displayed by default in the cPanel File Manager. These include so-called hidden files or rather Dotfiles, whose filename starts with a period.

A particularly important example is:

.htaccess

If you cannot find such a file in the file manager, it does not automatically mean that it does not exist. In this guide, we will show you how to show hidden files in the CURIAWEB cPanel and what you should check if an expected .htaccess-file is still missing.

Briefly explained: On Linux-based systems, files and directories whose names begin with a period are traditionally treated as hidden. cPanel therefore also refers to them as dotfiles.

Which files can be hidden? #

You can usually recognize hidden files by the fact that their name starts with a dot.

Typical examples are:

.htaccess

.well-known

.gitignore

Depending on the software used, additional hidden files and directories may be present.

The fact that a file is hidden says nothing about its importance. Configuration files in particular can have a significant impact on a website.

1. Open cPanel File Manager #

Log in to your CURIAWEB cPanel.

Then open:

Files → File Manager

If you are not yet familiar with the file manager, you can find a detailed introduction at Use cPanel File Manager.

2. Open file manager settings #

In the file manager, click in the top right on Settings.

cPanel then opens the settings for the file view.

3. Enable hidden files #

Enable the option:

Show hidden files (dotfiles)

The exact translation may vary slightly depending on the language of the cPanel interface. The crucial factor is the option to display the dotfiles.

Then save the setting.

4. Check file view #

After saving, you should also be able to see files and directories whose names begin with a dot.

Now open the folder where you expect the hidden file.

For a website, this is, for example, its document root.

For the main domain, this can often be:

public_html

Important: With multiple domains, each website can use a different document root. If you .htaccess are looking for, so check first whether you are actually in the correct website's directory.

Search for .htaccess #

If a .htaccess-file is present, it should be visible in the corresponding directory after activating hidden files.

In a WordPress installation, a relevant .htaccess-file, for example, be located in the main directory of the installation.

Typically, you will also find files and folders there like:

.htaccess
index.php
wp-admin/
wp-content/
wp-includes/
wp-config.php

However, the exact structure may vary depending on the installation and configuration.

What is an .htaccess file? #

.htaccess is a configuration file that can influence settings at the directory level on appropriately configured Apache-based web servers.

For example, it can set rules for:

• Redirects
• URL rewrites
• Access restrictions
• certain web server settings

contain.

WordPress uses .htaccess in suitable server configurations, among other things for its permalink or rewrite rules.

Attention: A faulty change to .htaccess can cause individual pages or the entire website to no longer be accessible correctly. Therefore, do not modify the file without a backup.

Showing hidden files does not change them #

Activating Show hidden files (dotfiles) neither changes .htaccess other files.

The setting merely determines whether the file manager displays such files in its interface.

Therefore, you can activate the ad without changing the functionality of your website.

.htaccess is not present despite enabled display #

If you have enabled the display of hidden files and still cannot .htaccessfile, you should not immediately assume that there is an error.

First check if you are in the correct directory.

Check in particular:

• the correct domain
• the document root of the domain
• the installation directory of the website
• whether the file view has been updated

Not every website needs an .htaccess file #

A website does not necessarily have to be .htaccess-Own file.

Whether it is required and evaluated depends, among other things, on the web server configuration used and the website application.

Therefore, do not create an empty one as a precaution. .htaccess-File, just because you can't find one.

Important: „No .htaccess visible and“.htaccess missing and faulty are not the same. First, check whether the website in question even needs such a file.

.htaccess is missing in WordPress #

If you use WordPress and have problems with permalinks or subpages, a missing or faulty .htaccess-configuration can be a possible cause.

Under appropriate conditions, WordPress can update its rewrite rules via the permalink settings.

Before copying any rules from the internet into the file, however, you should determine the actual cause of the problem.

.Do not copy .htaccess from a foreign website #

A .htaccess-file can be individually customized to a website.

For example, it can contain special redirects, security rules, or application-specific settings.

Therefore, do not simply copy the complete .htaccess from another website into your own installation.

Safety: Do not accept any unknown .htaccess-Rules from forums, AI answers, or third-party websites without understanding what they do.

.Backup .htaccess before changes #

If you have an existing .htaccess-you must edit a file, you should create a backup first.

You can, for example, download the file to your computer.

Alternatively, you can make a copy for short-term backup.

We explain how to download and edit files at Upload, download, and edit files in cPanel.

The actual processing of .htaccess let's discuss separately under .htaccess explained and safely edited.

Why does .htaccess start with a dot? #

The period is part of the file name.

The file is actually named:

.htaccess

and not:

.htaccess

or:

htaccess.txt

This is important when you create such a file anew, rename it, or transfer it from your computer to the server.

Pay attention to the .txt extension #

Especially when creating a file on a local computer, it can happen that a text editor adds a file extension unnoticed.

From:

.htaccess

can then, for example,

.htaccess.txt

become.

For the web server, these are two different file names.

Practical Tip: Check the full file name in the cPanel File Manager. A file named .htaccess.txt is not the same as .htaccess.

Also show hidden folders #

The setting does not only affect individual files.

Directories whose names begin with a dot are also displayed.

An example is:

.well-known

Such directories can be used by web services or automated processes.

Do not delete them just because you didn't create them yourself.

.Do not delete .well-known indiscriminately #

The directory:

.well-known

can be used for standardized web mechanisms.

Depending on the server and domain configuration, this may contain files for verification or validation processes, for example.

If you do not know its purpose, you should not modify or remove it.

More unknown dotfiles #

After enabling hidden files, you may be able to see files that you haven't noticed before.

This does not mean that these were newly created.

They may have already existed and were merely hidden by the file manager.

Basic rule: An unknown file is no reason to delete it. Determine its purpose first.

Hidden files and security issues #

The fact that a file is treated as „hidden“ in the file manager does not constitute access protection.

„Hidden“ in this context simply means that it is not displayed by default in certain file views.

This does not automatically mean that the file is inaccessible via the web server or cannot contain security-relevant content.

Do not store passwords in hidden files #

Do not store confidential information in a file solely because its name begins with a dot.

A name like:

.passwords

is not a safety mechanism.

Appropriate access and storage mechanisms are required for sensitive data.

.accidentally renamed .htaccess #

If a website immediately after renaming .htaccess reacted differently, this may be because the web server no longer recognizes the file under its new name as .htaccess processed.

A name like:

.htaccess-alt

can be used intentionally during troubleshooting to temporarily remove the original file from processing.

Afterwards, however, you should know exactly how to restore the original state.

Website shows a 500 error after .htaccess modification #

If immediately after a change to .htaccess a 500 Internal Server Error appears, it is suspected that a new or modified instruction cannot be processed.

In this case, first restore the previously saved version.

We cover how you can then systematically investigate the error under Fixing a 500 Internal Server Error.

Website shows a 403 error #

Yes .htaccess may also contain access rules, certain configurations can lead to a 403 Forbidden contribute.

However, do not simply remove the entire file without considering its other functions.

We cover systematic troubleshooting under Fix 403 Forbidden.

Do not confuse file permissions with visibility #

Whether a file is hidden in the cPanel File Manager and what file permissions it has are two different things.

The option Verborgene Dateien anzeigen verändert keine Berechtigungen.

Wenn eine Datei zwar sichtbar ist, aber nicht wie erwartet gelesen oder bearbeitet werden kann, können die Dateirechte separat relevant sein.

You can find more about this at How to correctly set file permissions 644 and 755 in cPanel.

Versteckte Dateien wieder ausblenden #

Wenn du die Dotfiles nach Abschluss deiner Arbeiten nicht dauerhaft sehen möchtest, kannst du die Einstellung wieder deaktivieren.

Öffne dazu erneut Settings im Dateimanager und entferne die Option zum Anzeigen versteckter Dateien.

Die Dateien werden dadurch nicht gelöscht oder verändert. Sie werden lediglich wieder ausgeblendet.

Empfohlene Vorgehensweise #

1. Open Files → File Manager.
2. Klicke oben rechts auf Settings.
3. Aktiviere Show hidden files (dotfiles).
4. Save the setting.
5. Öffne den Dokumentenstamm der richtigen Website.
6. Prüfe, ob die erwartete versteckte Datei jetzt angezeigt wird.
7. Erstelle vor einer Änderung an .htaccess eine Sicherung.

Note: Das Einblenden versteckter Dateien ist ungefährlich. Das Bearbeiten oder Löschen dieser Dateien kann dagegen erhebliche Auswirkungen auf deine Website haben.

When should you contact support? #

Wenn du eine bestimmte versteckte Datei erwartest, sie trotz aktivierter Dotfile-Anzeige aber nicht findest, solltest du zunächst den Dokumentenstamm der Domain kontrollieren.

For further analysis, the following information is particularly helpful:

• affected domain
• Name der gesuchten Datei
• Verzeichnis, in dem du die Datei erwartest
• Whether "ob" is an abbreviation for something specific or a typo in your source text, it translates to **whether** or **if** in English (from German, for example). If you intended a specific context, please provide the full sentence. Show hidden files (dotfiles) aktiviert ist
• ob aktuell ein Website-Fehler auftritt
• gegebenenfalls die genaue Fehlermeldung

Teile keine Passwörter oder andere Zugangsdaten innerhalb einer normalen Fehlerbeschreibung mit.

Summary #

Versteckte Dateien kannst du im CURIAWEB-cPanel über Dateien → Dateimanager → Einstellungen einblenden. Aktiviere dort die Option Show hidden files (dotfiles).

Danach werden auch Dateien und Verzeichnisse angezeigt, deren Namen mit einem Punkt beginnen. Ein wichtiges Beispiel ist .htaccess.

If .htaccess trotz aktivierter Anzeige nicht vorhanden ist, kontrolliere zuerst den richtigen Dokumentenstamm. Nicht jede Website beziehungsweise Serverkonfiguration benötigt zwingend eine solche Datei.

Das Einblenden von Dotfiles verändert die Dateien nicht. Beim Bearbeiten solltest du dagegen vorsichtig sein und insbesondere .htaccess vor jeder Änderung sichern.