Although SSH is typically used by more advanced WordPress users, it can also be a huge help if you can’t get into your WordPress admin area.

In this article, we will show you some SSH commands that every WordPress user should know.

Here are all the topics and commands we will cover in this guide. You can click the links below to jump ahead to any section:

What Is SSH?

SSH, short for Secure Shell, is a secure protocol for running your website using a command-line interface. It lets you connect your computer to your site’s server.

The best part about using SSH is that it lets you access your WordPress site from a remote server. You don’t have to open the WordPress dashboard.

Simply write different commands to perform tasks like installing WordPress, transferring files, creating directories, and more.

Using SSH is meant for more technical users or developers who want to execute commands.

However, other users can also use SSH to access their site in case something goes wrong and they can’t open the WordPress admin.

That said, let’s first look at how you can use SSH to connect to your site’s server.

How to Connect to Your WordPress Site Using SSH

The first thing you need to do is check whether SSH is installed on your site server.

Since SSH is a client-server technology, you can check if it’s configured by contacting your WordPress hosting service, and they can tell you. Or you can try accessing the cPanel or hosting dashboard.

You should find something that looks like the image below:

Next, you will need to note down the IP address, username, password, and port. This information will be needed when you use SSH to connect your site from your computer.

Using SSH on a Mac or Linux Computer

If you’re using a Mac or Linux operating system, then you can simply connect to your site using the terminal app.

Go ahead and enter the following command in the terminal:

ssh username@server_ip_address

Just replace the username and server_ip_address with the information of your hosting provider.

Using SSH on a Windows Computer

To use SSH and connect to your site on a Windows machine, you will need a third-party tool like PuTTY.

Once you download and install the application, you will need to enter the host name (IP address) and port number you noted above to connect to your site.

After entering these details, click the ‘Open’ button. In the next step, a terminal window will open where you can simply enter the username and password to access your site.

Now, let’s look at some common SSH commands every WordPress user should know.

SSH Commands for Basic Navigation

You can use different SSH commands to navigate your way around files and directories. Here are some basic navigation commands you should know.

1. pwd – Shows Full Path to the Directory

The pwd command displays the full path to the current directory. This is really useful for navigating between different files and folders:

pwd

Since you don’t get any visual references to pinpoint where you are currently on the server, you can simply use this command to find your way.

2. ls – Lists Files and Folders in a Directory

If you want to view the contents of a directory, then you can simply use the ls command.

You can also use additional parameters to get more information about the content. For example, simply add -l for detailed information or -a to show hidden files.

ls -1

3. cd – Change Directory

The cd command lets you change directories. You can move to a subdirectory or an entirely different directory:

cd [directory]

In the above code, you can replace [directory] with the name of the directory.

For instance, if you enter thecd wp-content/themes command, then it will move you to the themes directory within your WordPress installation.

SSH Commands for File and Folder Management

Next, let’s look at some SSH commands for managing files and folders on your WordPress website server.

4. mkdir -Create a New Directory

Using the mkdir command, you can create a new directory in the current directory. Simply enter the following command along with the name of the folder:

mkdir [folder name]

For example, let’s say you want to create a folder for stylesheets. The SSH command for this will be mkdir stylesheets.

On the other hand, if you want to create a new directory that is within another subdirectory, then you’ll need to enter the structure along with the mkdir command.

Here’s what the syntax will look like:

mkdir /plugins/myplugin/stylesheets

5. rmdir – Remove Empty Directory

You can use the rmdir command to delete a directory from your site’s server. All you have to do is enter the command followed by the directory name:

rmdir [folder name]

Important Note: Be careful when using this command. Once a directory is removed from the server, you cannot undo it.

6. cp – Copy a Folder or File

The cp command lets you copy a file or folder to another location. When entering the command, you’ll need to specify the name of the file or folder and the destination where the copy will be saved:

cp [file name] [destination]

When entering the file name, you will also need to include the file extension, such as examplefile.txt or readme.html.

If you want to make a copy of the file in the same folder, then you can enter the following command:

cp readme.html readme2.html

If you want to copy a file to a different folder, then you’ll need to enter the following command:

cp /public_html/wp-content/readme.html /public_html/etc/

You can also use different parameters with the cp command, like:

• cp -r copy all the content of a folder
• cp -a archive all the files
• cp -u overwrite a file in a destination folder only if it contains new or different content
• cp -n won’t copy a file if it already exists
• cp -i shows a warning before copying a file
• cp -f replaces or removes a file from the destination folder if there is another file with the same name

7. mv – Moves a File or Folder

If you want to move a file or folder to a new destination, then you can use the mv command.

Just like using the cp command, you will need to specify the file name and destination where you’d like to move the file:

mv [file name] [destination]

For example, let’s say you want to move an ‘index.php’ file to the stylesheets folder. In this case, the command should be:

mv index.php stylesheets

8. grep – Look for a Specific Phrase

Next, you can use the grep command to search for a specific phrase or string in a file. Do note that this command is case-sensitive.

Here’s what the syntax would look like:

grep '[search phrase]' [file name]

For example, let’s say you want to find the term ‘header’ in the info.txt file.

In this case, the command would look like this:

grep 'header' info.txt

Besides that, you can also use the -i parameter to ignore letter cases when performing the search.

9. find – Search Files and Directories

If you’re looking for a specific file or directory, then you can use the find command and search for file name, size, file type, and more.

The syntax for the find command looks like this:

find [starting directory] [parameter] [search term]

In the code above, you can specify the search process.

For example, here are some options to choose from:

• / (slash) – This lets you search the entire system
• . (dot) – You can search the working directory
• ~ (tide) – This searches the home directory

Next, the SSH command also lets you specify the parameters, like name, size, file type, and more.

• -name – Looks for file name
• -user – Searches for files assigned to a given user
• -size – The file size
• -type -d – Looks for a directory type
• -type -f – Looks for a file type

Lastly, you can enter the search term you’re looking for. Let’s say you want to find a file named ‘task’ in the directory.

The SSH command for this would be:

find / -name "task" 

Other Useful SSH Commands

Now that you know some basic SSH commands for navigation and managing the files and folders on your site, here are some additional commands you should know about.

10. zip – Compress a Folder

If you’re looking to compress large files or folders, then you can use the zip command. All you have to do is include the name of the file or folder you want to compress:

zip filename.zip foldername

You can also use different parameters with this command to specify whether you’d like to delete the original folder:

• zip -r filename.zip foldername – This compresses a folder but doesn’t delete it
• zip -m filename.zip foldername – You can use this parameter to compress a folder and then delete it, leaving you with just the zipped version
• zip -d filename.zip foldername – Use this to delete a file from the existing zip archive
• zip -u filename.zip foldername – This updates a file within an existing zip archive. It is helpful if you’ve updated the original file and don’t want to delete the zip file or create a new one.

11. unzip – Decompress a Folder

After zipping a folder, you’ll need to unzip it as well. For this, go ahead and simply enter the unzip SSH command:

unzip [filename.zip]

12. history – View Last Used Command

The history SSH command is useful for determining which command you entered previously. Be sure to enter a number to limit the displayed results.

For example, let’s say you want to see the last 10 used commands. The syntax for the history command looks like this:

history 10

13. tar – Create and Unpack Compressed Archives

tar is a popular SSH command used to unpack .tar.gz files. There are many third-party tools that use this format to compress files, and it is an alternative to zip files.

If you want to archive a folder, then you can use the command below. Simply replace ‘archivename.tar.gz’ with the file name and ‘directory’ with the path of the directory:

tar -cvzf archivename.tar.gz directory

After archiving, you can unpack the .tar.gz file using this command:

tar -xvzf archivename.tar.gz directory

14. clear – Remove All Text

You can use the clear command to remove all text from the terminal window:

clear

This command is useful if you have made an error or want to start fresh.

15. du – View File or Folder Size

If you want to know the size of a file or folder on your WordPress server, then you can use the du command:

du -h [file or folder name]

The -h parameter in the code shows the file size in human-readable format.

For example, let’s say you want to view the size of the .htaccess file.

All you have to do is enter this command:

du -h .htaccess

16. exit – Exits the Remote Site Server

After you’re done working on your WordPress site and want to exit the remote server, then you can simply type in the exit command:

exit

We recommend using this command every time you connect to your site. This way, no one else will be able to access your server using SSH after you’ve finished working.

We hope this article helped you learn important SSH commands that every WordPress user should know. You may also want to see our guide on common WordPress errors and how to fix them or how to troubleshoot WordPress.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post 16 SSH Commands that Every WordPress User Should Know first appeared on WPBeginner.

The file tells how to handle things like permalinks and security measures. Unfortunately, this file can get corrupted for various reasons, leading to issues like broken links or a white screen of death.

By closely working with WordPress users for the past 15+ years, a lesson we learned is that editing the .htaccess file can be tricky. But don’t worry, we’ll teach you how to access the file easily and make changes to resolve any issue.

In this article, we’ll walk you through how to fix the WordPress .htaccess file.

Here is a quick overview of everything we will cover in this guide. You can click the links below to jump to any section:

What Is the .htaccess File?

The .htaccess file is a hidden configuration file that plays a vital role in how your WordPress site operates. It’s essentially a set of instructions for the Apache web server, the software that is typically run by your WordPress hosting.

One of its core functions is creating user-friendly URLs for your blog posts and pages. These are the clean and descriptive addresses you see in your browser bar instead of long, cryptic strings.

You can also use a .htaccess file to set up security measures like password-protecting certain directories or blocking access attempts from suspicious IP addresses.

Besides that, some plugins use .htaccess to implement caching, which can improve your site’s loading speed.

That said, let’s look at some of the signs that’d tell your .htaccess file needs fixing.

How to Tell If Your .htaccess File Is Corrupted

The .htaccess file might become corrupted for a few reasons. It could be due to a plugin conflict, accidental edits, or even a server glitch.

Here are some signs you might notice on your WordPress site that suggest the .htaccess file is broken:

• Broken links: A broken link occurs when the user is not taken anywhere, or they see strange error messages.
• White screen of death: This is when your website displays nothing but a blank white screen.
• Plugins not working properly: Some plugins rely on specific instructions in the .htaccess file to function correctly, but due to an error, they don’t perform as they’re intended.

Now, let’s look at different ways you can access and edit the .htaccess file in WordPress.

How to Access and Fix .htaccess File in WordPress

The .htaccess file is located in the root directory of your website. There are different ways to access and edit the file.

For instance, you can use the hosting provider’s cPanel and access the file using the File Manager. You can also connect to your site using an FTP client and view different files and folders. Another way is to use a plugin to view and edit the .htaccess file content.

Let’s look at each of these methods in detail.

1. Fix .htaccess File using File Manager or FTP Client

If you’re unable to access the WordPress dashboard, then you can use a File Manager or FTP service to locate the .htaccess file.

To start, you can open cPanel of your WordPress hosting service. For example, in Bluehost, you can open the website settings.

After that, you’ll need to switch to the ‘Advanced’ tab.

From here, scroll down to the ‘cPanel’ option and click the ‘Manage’ button.

Once the cPanel opens, you can navigate to the ‘Files’ section.

Go ahead and click the ‘File Manager’ option.

Next, you will see different files and folders on your website.

The .htaccess file is located in the public_html folder. Simply open the folder from the menu on the left and scroll down to find the .htaccess file.

You can then right-click the .htaccess file and select the ‘Edit’ option to fix any issues.

Note: If you cannot find your .htaccess file, then see our guide on how to find the .htaccess file in WordPress.

Next, a popup will open, warning you to back up the original file before editing. Go ahead and click the ‘Edit’ button.

On the next screen, you will see the .htaccess file editor.

Here, you can make changes and fix the file. For example, you can check for any typos, incorrect syntax, or incompatible code that can cause errors.

Alternatively, using an FTP (file transfer protocol) client is another option for accessing the file.

You can find the file in the root directory. Simply right-click the .htaccess file and click the ‘View/Edit’ option.

If you haven’t used FTP before, then please see our guide on how to use FTP to upload files to WordPress.

Next you can edit the file in notepad software on your computer.

Once you’ve fixed the .htaccess file, you can upload it back to the root directory using the FTP service.

2. Fix the .htaccess File Using a Plugin

If you’re able to view the WordPress dashboard, then another way of accessing and editing the .htaccess file is by using a plugin like All in One SEO (AIOSEO).

It is the best SEO plugin for WordPress. It helps you optimize your site for search engines without any technical knowledge. The plugin offers various tools, including a robots.txt editor, a .htaccess editor, database tools, and more.

To start, you’ll need to install and activate the AIOSEO plugin. If you need help, then please see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon activation, you will see the welcome screen and AIOSEO setup wizard. Simply click the ‘Let’s Get Started’ button and follow the onscreen instructions.

For more details, please see our guide on how to set up All in One SEO for WordPress correctly.

Next, you can head to All in One SEO » Tools from the WordPress admin panel and switch to the ‘.htaccess Editor’ tab to edit the file’s contents.

Once you’ve made changes and fixed the file, simply click the ‘Save Changes’ button at the top.

Common Issues to Fix in WordPress .htaccess File

Now that you know where to find the .htaccess file and how to edit it, let’s look at different issues you can fix in the file.

1. Fixing 500 Internal Server Error

A 500 internal server error in WordPress is a general error message that indicates the server encountered an unexpected problem and couldn’t fulfill your request. It’s like a cryptic message from your website saying something went wrong, but it doesn’t give specific details about what.

The error message also looks different depending on the web server software (Nginx or Apache) your site uses. For example, here’s how it looks when using Ngnix and Google Chrome.

This error can be caused by a corrupted .htaccess file. You can fix the error by replacing the existing file with a new one.

Simply access your website’s root folder using an FTP client. Then, rename the current .htaccess file so it’s available as a backup and WordPress cannot recognize it. After that, create a new file in the directory and name it a ‘.htaccess’ file.

Now, open the new file and edit it.

Go ahead and enter the following code in the file:

# BEGIN WordPress
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
</IfModule>
# END WordPress

For more details, please see our complete guide on how to fix the 500 internal server error in WordPress.

2. Fixing Error Too Many Redirects Issue

The ‘Error too many redirects’ usually occurs due to a misconfigured redirection issue in WordPress. This leads to a redirection loop, and you’ll see this error in the web browser.

One of the to fix this issue is by resetting the .htaccess file in the root directory.

First, you’ll need to visit the root directory of your site using an FTP client or File Manager. Next, locate the .htaccess file and delete it. Now, try visiting your website to see if the redirect error is fixed.

Since you just removed the .htacess file, you’ll need to recreate it. WordPress automatically creates one for you. To make sure it does, simply visit the Settings » Permalinks page from the WordPress dashboard and click the ‘Save Changes’ button at the bottom.

To learn more ways to fix the issue, please see our guide on how to fix error too many redirects issue in WordPress.

3. Fixing Posts Returning 404 Error

Another issue you can fix through the .htaccess file is the posts returning 404 errors. Usually, a corrupted or missing .htaccess file can cause this error.

To resolve this issue, you’ll need to update the file from the root directory and change the file permissions. Simply locate the file using an FTP client, right-click the file, and then select the ‘File permissions’ option.

Next, you will see different settings to change for the .htaccess file.

Go ahead and make the file writeable by changing its permissions and entering ‘666’ into the ‘Numeric value’ box. Once that’s done, click on the ‘OK’ button.

For more ways to fix the issue and complete steps, you may want to see our guide on how to fix WordPress posts returning 404 error.

There are many other errors that can occur on your site, and you might need to fix the .htaccess file. See our complete list of the most common WordPress errors and how to fix them.

Bonus: Hire a WordPress Support Agency

Working with a .htaccess file can be tricky because it sometimes involves editing code, and accessing the file can be stressful for beginners.

This is where a WordPress maintenance and support agency can help you out. You can hire WordPress experts who can fix the .htaccess file and handle everything for you.

For example, we offer Premium WordPress Support Services. For a one-time fee, our experts can fix errors and other issues on your website, including problems with .htaccess.

Alternatively, if you are looking for ongoing help, then our WPBeginner Pro Maintenance Services could be a better fit.

We have over 16 years of experience, having helped 100,000+ users with WordPress and fixing their sites.

Our team of professionals is available 24/7 to ensure your site functions properly. We will check whether the .htaccess file is correctly configured or what needs to be fixed so that your visitors have a great website experience.

You will also get access to core maintenance tasks like backups, security updates, plugin troubleshooting, theme customization, and on-demand support. 

You can also get other services for your WordPress website. See our complete list of WPBeginner Pro Services.

Additional Resources for the WordPress .htaccess File

• How to Stop WordPress From Overwriting .htaccess File
• How to Limit Access by IP to Your wp-login.php file in WordPress
• Most Useful .htaccess Tricks for WordPress
• How to Redirect a Page or URL in WordPress (2 Methods)
• How to Fix Fatal Error: Maximum Execution Time Exceeded in WordPress

We hope this article helped you learn how to fix the WordPress .htaccess file. You may also want to see our guide on eCommerce maintenance tips and our expert pick of the best WordPress support agencies.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Fix the WordPress .htaccess File (Beginner’s Guide) first appeared on WPBeginner.

It sounds scary, but in our years of experience, it happens more often than you might think. Website downtime and data loss can be devastating.

This is where a WordPress disaster recovery plan comes in. It’s like an insurance policy for your website, ensuring you can quickly recover from any unexpected event.

In this guide, we will show you how to make a WordPress disaster recovery plan.

Why Do You Need a WordPress Disaster Recovery Plan?

Even though WordPress is a powerful and popular platform, unexpected events can still take down your website. A WordPress disaster recovery plan acts like a roadmap for restoring your website.

Here’s why it’s important to have one:

• Minimizes Downtime and Data Loss: Disasters can strike in many forms, from hacking attacks to accidental deletion of files. A recovery plan helps you get your WordPress site back up and running quickly, minimizing the amount of time your site is unavailable.
• Protects Your Reputation: A WordPress website outage can damage your reputation and erode user trust. A disaster recovery plan allows you to address the issue quickly and restore the user’s confidence.
• Ensures Business Continuity: If your website is important for your business, then a disaster recovery plan lowers the disruption to your operations. By getting your site back online quickly, you can limit revenue loss.

That said, let’s look at how to create a disaster recovery plan. You can click the links below to move to any step:

Step 1. Analyze Weak Areas of Your WordPress Site

Before you can protect your website, you need to know what you’re protecting it from. Start by thinking about the potential disasters that could impact your website.

For instance, server crashes, power outages, plugin conflicts, corrupted databases, and WordPress errors can temporarily make your site unavailable to users or restrict the user experience.

You can start by enabling the debug mode, checking the WordPress error logs, and then fixing each issue.

Another risk you need to consider is hackers trying to steal your data, inject malicious code, or hold your website hostage for ransom. Accidentally deleting important files, installing incompatible updates, or falling for phishing scams can also cause disasters.

You can try to find vulnerabilities and weak areas on your site that hackers can target. This involves out-of-date plugins, WordPress core files, themes, weak passwords, and more.

It is also a best practice to document everything on your site. This includes website login details, plugin and theme settings, custom code snippets, hosting account information, and emergency contact information for your hosting provider, security experts, or web developers.

You can also use a cloud storage service or a password manager to keep your documentation safe and accessible. This way, if something goes wrong, you can recover important information in an instant.

Step 2. Regularly Back Up Your WordPress Site

Once you’ve highlighted the weak areas, the next thing to do is back up all the important elements on your site. These include blog posts, landing pages, images, videos, theme files, customer information, comments, plugins, themes, CSS files, and more.

The easiest way to create WordPress backups is to use a plugin like Duplicator Pro. It is super easy to use for creating backup packages, along with migrating and cloning your site.

The WordPress backup plugin also includes more features like scheduled backups, recovery points, cloud storage integration, migration tools, and more.

You can also manually backup your site’s data using an FTP client, the File Manager in your hosting company’s cPanel or dashboard, or the phpMyAdmin panel.

For step-by-step details, please see our guide on how to back up your WordPress website.

With a fresh copy of your site ready, you can easily restore WordPress from the backup anytime a disaster occurs. This way, you can prevent data loss and get your site up and running in no time.

Step 3. Monitor WordPress Web Server Uptime

Another important tool to have in your disaster recovery plan is a server uptime monitor. Uptime is when your website is available to users on the Internet without any interruption.

These tools will monitor your site’s server and inform you whenever it’s down. If something goes wrong with your site, they will notify you immediately by email or SMS, allowing you to fix it as soon as possible.

For example, you can use UptimeRobot to monitor uptime. The best part is that it is free, but you can also sign up for its premium plans to receive alerts via SMS, voicemail, email, and other channels.

For more uptime monitoring tools, you can follow our guide on how to monitor your WordPress website server uptime.

If you experience an outage or server downtime, then you’ll immediately know. The next step would be to clear the cache and DNS cache to see if your site is restored. Or you can reach out to your web hosting provider for assistance and ensure your site is back up and running.

Step 4. Strengthen Your Website Security

A secure website is a website that’s less likely to experience disasters in the first place. In a WordPress disaster recovery plan, you can strengthen your site’s security by:

• Choosing Strong Passwords: Use unique and complex passwords for all your website accounts. If you experience a disaster, then it’s critical that you replace all the passwords with new and strong ones.
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication: You should enable two-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security for all your logins.
• Keep Everything Updated: Regularly update your WordPress core, plugins, and themes to patch security vulnerabilities. In case something goes wrong, ensure that you update your plugins, themes, and core files after recovering from a backup.
• Use WordPress Security Plugins: Install WordPress security plugins like Sucuri to scan for malware, block suspicious activity, and monitor your website’s security.
• Add a Web Application Firewall (WAF): In addition to a security plugin, you should also use a WAF on your site. It will prevent malicious traffic from reaching your site and causing a disaster.

For more security tips, please see our ultimate guide to WordPress security.

Step 5. Hire a WordPress Maintenance & Support Service

Another important part of your disaster recovery plan should be hiring WordPress experts who can fix problems quickly and restore your website.

There are many WordPress maintenance services you can choose from. They provide regular backups, monitor your site’s uptime, provide 24/7 support, optimize your site for speed, and help recover your website from any sort of disaster.

For instance, WPBeginner Pro Maintenance Services is the best support agency you can use for your website. We have over 15 years of experience in the industry and have helped more than 100,000 users with WordPress.

We will also ensure that your WordPress core, plugins, and themes are always up-to-date and that the latest updates won’t negatively affect your website’s performance.

Besides basic website maintenance, there are other services you can also get. These include website design, SEO services to boost traffic, speed optimization, emergency support, and more.

See the complete list of WPBeginner Pro Services.

Step 6. Test Your Disaster Recovery Plan

You won’t know how effective your WordPress disaster recovery plan is unless you actually test it.

For instance, you can simulate a disaster and test your plan by restoring your website from a backup to a local or staging environment. This will ensure that your backups are up to date or the scheduled backups are working correctly.

In case there is an error while restoring the backup or you feel an important element is missing in the backup files, then you can fix it during the simulation.

You should also ensure that your website is functioning correctly, all your data is intact, and everything is working as it should.

We hope this article helped you learn how to make a WordPress disaster recovery plan. You may also want to see our guide on how to contact WordPress support and eCommerce maintenance tips – how maintain your store.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Make a WordPress Disaster Recovery Plan (Expert Tips) first appeared on WPBeginner.