Title: Exclude index.php from urls
Last modified: November 10, 2019

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# Exclude index.php from urls

 *  Resolved [li9ssb](https://wordpress.org/support/users/local9ssb/)
 * (@local9ssb)
 * [6 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/exclude-index-php-from-urls/)
 * I decided to exclude index.php from urls to improve seo visibility. When I did
   that I could no longer access the sitemap after several attempts and situations.
   It is bad to include index.php in urls. I would appreciate your considerations.
   Thanks.
 * The page I need help with: _[[log in](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwordpress.org%2Fsupport%2Ftopic%2Fexclude-index-php-from-urls%2F%3Foutput_format%3Dmd&locale=en_US)
   to see the link]_

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

 *  Plugin Author [Rank Math SEO](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rankmath/)
 * (@rankmath)
 * [6 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/exclude-index-php-from-urls/#post-12123192)
 * Hello [@local9ssb](https://wordpress.org/support/users/local9ssb/)
 * Thank you for contacting the support.
 * The index.php is a default WordPress file that is used as a fallback. You shouldn’t
   be removing it. If WordPress cannot find a template file with a matching name,
   it will skip to the next file in the hierarchy. If WordPress cannot find any 
   matching template file, the theme’s index.php file will be used.
 * It’s a PHP file so it will not appear in the Sitemap unless something is broken
   on your site.
 * Can you please tell us how did you exclude the file as it should not be showing
   up in the Sitemap on the first hand?
 * Looking forward to helping you.
 *  Plugin Author [Rank Math SEO](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rankmath/)
 * (@rankmath)
 * [6 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/exclude-index-php-from-urls/#post-12154246)
 * Hello,
 * Assuming you are using the latest version of the plugin and the problem is solved,
   we are closing this topic.
 * If that is not the case, please feel free to open a new topic or reply to this
   one and we would be more than happy to assist.
 * Thank you.

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

The topic ‘Exclude index.php from urls’ is closed to new replies.

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## Tags

 * [index.php](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/index-php/)
 * [urls](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/urls/)

 * 2 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [Rank Math SEO](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rankmath/)
 * Last activity: [6 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/exclude-index-php-from-urls/#post-12154246)
 * Status: resolved