Title: Internal Server Error when changing .htaccess Last modified: August 21, 2016 --- # Internal Server Error when changing .htaccess * [stefanluk](https://wordpress.org/support/users/stefanluk/) * (@stefanluk) * [12 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/internal-server-error-when-changing-htaccess/) * The Security Plugin itself is working fine, but when I want to make manual changes to my .htaccess it goes wrong. * With the Security Plugin activated, whenever I change the .htaccess my site goes down, giving me an internal server error 500. It doesn’t matter if I upload a new .htaccess via FTP or change the .htaccess via a plugin. * With the Security Plugin disabled, I’m not able to add or change the .htaccess at all. FileZilla is giving me a 533 error: access denied (I don’t have this error with the plugin enabled). * What is the fix to this? * [https://wordpress.org/plugins/better-wp-security/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/better-wp-security/) Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total) * [Viktor Nagornyy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/viktorix/) * (@viktorix) * [12 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/internal-server-error-when-changing-htaccess/#post-4889989) * access denied error means that you might not have the permissions necessary to update the file. use filezilla and make sure your htaccess permission is 644 to be able to make changes. * not sure whats causing 500 error, might be bad rewrites/redirects you’re adding that are causing this issue. * [dintid](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dintid/) * (@dintid) * [12 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/internal-server-error-when-changing-htaccess/#post-4890037) * Every time i make a change using the Security -> Settings I get a 500 error. I have to delete the .htaccess every time. * Not much good it does for me 🙁 * Thread Starter [stefanluk](https://wordpress.org/support/users/stefanluk/) * (@stefanluk) * [12 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/internal-server-error-when-changing-htaccess/#post-4890059) * [@viktor](https://wordpress.org/support/users/viktor/) Nagornyy The htaccess permission is set to 644 and like I said, with the plugin enabled, I can make changes. However, the changes I make with the plugin enabled result in the error 500. * [@dintid](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dintid/) When I have the error 500, I have to delete the .htacces to regain access to my site. After disabling and enabling the Security plugin. The plugin creates a new .htaccess files so my site is secure. Only problem is that I cannot change the .htaccess or I get the error 500 again. * [dintid](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dintid/) * (@dintid) * [12 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/internal-server-error-when-changing-htaccess/#post-4890062) * I just tested: * 1) If I delete the .htaccess file and then Deactivate the plugin, a new .htaccess file was created. This file is 36 bytes and is empty save for # Begin and # End notes. * 2 When I delete the .htaccess while the plugin is deactivated and then activate the plugin, a new 11kb .htaccess file is created and I recieve the “Internal Error” message when trying to access the site. * This effectively Means I can’t use the plugin for anything really. * [@stefanluk](https://wordpress.org/support/users/stefanluk/) When you say “change the .htaccess file” do you mean using web-gui or manually using notepad or similar. I thought you meant manually, but am not sure? * Thread Starter [stefanluk](https://wordpress.org/support/users/stefanluk/) * (@stefanluk) * [12 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/internal-server-error-when-changing-htaccess/#post-4890071) * [@dintid](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dintid/) They both give me the Internal Server error. I can’t change it manual and I can’t change it through a plugin like SEO by Yoast. * [Viktor Nagornyy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/viktorix/) * (@viktorix) * [12 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/internal-server-error-when-changing-htaccess/#post-4890091) * what sort of change are you trying to make in htaccess? * [dintid](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dintid/) * (@dintid) * [12 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/internal-server-error-when-changing-htaccess/#post-4890095) * I’m not making any changes. I’m just enabling the plugin -> htaccess is created an I can’t use it. * [susyvt](https://wordpress.org/support/users/susyvt/) * (@susyvt) * [12 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/internal-server-error-when-changing-htaccess/#post-4890096) * I am having the EXACT same problem. arrrgh. It was when I gave ithemes security permission to update the .htaccess and wp-config file that I was no longer able to navigate to any of the lower level pages on my site. I can only see the home page and the WP admin page… beta.comdcpa.com * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [12 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/internal-server-error-when-changing-htaccess/#post-4890097) * If you require assistance then, as per the [Forum Welcome](http://codex.wordpress.org/Forum_Welcome#Where_To_Post), please post your own topic instead of tagging onto someone else’s topic. * [susyvt](https://wordpress.org/support/users/susyvt/) * (@susyvt) * [12 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/internal-server-error-when-changing-htaccess/#post-4890098) * All the sites pages are viewable if I disable the plugin. * Thread Starter [stefanluk](https://wordpress.org/support/users/stefanluk/) * (@stefanluk) * [12 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/internal-server-error-when-changing-htaccess/#post-4890157) * [@viktor](https://wordpress.org/support/users/viktor/) I need to add some lines for redirection purposes. But in the end, it doesn’t really matter. Even when I download the recent .htaccess and try uploading (and overwriting) it without changes, I still have this problem. Looks like .htaccess can’t be touched. Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total) The topic ‘Internal Server Error when changing .htaccess’ is closed to new replies. * ![](https://ps.w.org/better-wp-security/assets/icon.svg?rev=3529351) * [Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection](https://wordpress.org/plugins/better-wp-security/) * [Frequently Asked Questions](https://wordpress.org/plugins/better-wp-security/#faq) * [Support Threads](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/better-wp-security/) * [Active Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/better-wp-security/active/) * [Unresolved Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/better-wp-security/unresolved/) * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/better-wp-security/reviews/) * 11 replies * 5 participants * Last reply from: [stefanluk](https://wordpress.org/support/users/stefanluk/) * Last activity: [12 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/internal-server-error-when-changing-htaccess/#post-4890157) * Status: not resolved