How to Create an .htaccess File

Here’s how to create a text file suitable for an .htaccess file:

1. Open up any text editor application on your computer. We recommend that you use Notepad (Windows), Textpad, SimpleText (Macintosh), or Emacs (Linux / UNIX).
2. Save the file in a place where you can located it as .htaccess (including the dot in the beginning of the name).
3. Now, make sure that your text editor did not append a .txt suffix to the file name.  (In Windows, you can do this by right-clicking the icon for the text file and selecting Properties.) If the file name does have a .txt suffix (i.e. ‘.htaccess.txt’), remove the suffix by renaming the file.
4. Before entering code into your new file, make sure that Word Wrap is turned off. (In Notepad, select Format, from the top navigation bar and make sure that Word Wrap is unchecked. This is important because most .htaccess commands need to be placed on one line only.
5. You can now enter your code into the file. (paste if you have it)
6. Upload the .htaccess file into your web space in ASCII mode. The .htaccess file will affect the folder that it is uploaded to and all its subsequent subfolders beneath it.