Title: Parse Error: Syntax Error when index.php copied to root Last modified: August 21, 2016 --- # Parse Error: Syntax Error when index.php copied to root * Resolved [SomethingWonderful](https://wordpress.org/support/users/somethingwonderful/) * (@somethingwonderful) * [12 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/) * I’m having a nightmare. * When I copy the index.php file (and the htaccess) to the root directory I’m getting the error message below? * “”Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_ENCAPSED_AND_WHITESPACE in /home/*****/ public_html/index.php on line 17″” * I’ve created many wordpress sites and never come across this problem before. It’s happening on every new install. * No plug-ins, no custom themes, happens on the cleanest new installation. My hosting company also have no idea what could be causing the problem. * Has anyone else had this problem, or can anyone enlighten me with suggestions? * Many thanks, * SW Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 27 total) 1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/page/2/?output_format=md) [→](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/page/2/?output_format=md) * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [12 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/#post-4343020) * What is in this index.php file? * Thread Starter [SomethingWonderful](https://wordpress.org/support/users/somethingwonderful/) * (@somethingwonderful) * [12 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/#post-4343022) * It’s the standard wordpress index file that loads the wp-blog-header.php… * That’s what is so odd.. * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [12 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/#post-4343029) * Can we see it? * Thread Starter [SomethingWonderful](https://wordpress.org/support/users/somethingwonderful/) * (@somethingwonderful) * [12 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/#post-4343030) * /** * Front to the WordPress application. This file doesn’t do anything, but loads * wp-blog-header.php which does and tells WordPress to load the theme. ** [@package](https://wordpress.org/support/users/package/) WordPress */ * /** * Tells WordPress to load the WordPress theme and output it. * * [@var](https://wordpress.org/support/users/var/) bool */ ‘define(‘WP_USE_THEMES’, true); * /** Loads the WordPress Environment and Template */ require(‘./wp-blog-header. php’);’ * Thread Starter [SomethingWonderful](https://wordpress.org/support/users/somethingwonderful/) * (@somethingwonderful) * [12 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/#post-4343031) * I’m adding the wordpress directory as below… But not calling it “wordpress” obv… * ‘define(‘WP_USE_THEMES’, true); * /** Loads the WordPress Environment and Template */ require(‘./wordpress/wp- blog-header.php’); * Thread Starter [SomethingWonderful](https://wordpress.org/support/users/somethingwonderful/) * (@somethingwonderful) * [12 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/#post-4343032) * Actually apologies… * it’s the new wordpress index.php as below. * ``` That’s no different to what I have been doing? * The code I gave was pulled from a working install, so it might be worth trying it in case your copy has non-visible characters at the end of the file. * > I can’t believe we’re the only two? * Sorry but I can. I’ve used this technique many times without any problems. * Moderator [keesiemeijer](https://wordpress.org/support/users/keesiemeijer/) * (@keesiemeijer) * [12 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/#post-4343065) * What editor did you use? [http://codex.wordpress.org/Editing_Files#Using_Text_Editors](http://codex.wordpress.org/Editing_Files#Using_Text_Editors) * Thread Starter [SomethingWonderful](https://wordpress.org/support/users/somethingwonderful/) * (@somethingwonderful) * [12 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/#post-4343066) * Hi again Esmi, * Have tried copying the file directly from a working site, no luck. Have also used Installatron to install WordPress files and DB and same problem. * I’ve also used exactly the same technique on over 100 WordPress sites in the last 3 years. * I’m asking the hosting company to look into it but they are denying any issue their end. I think I’m going to have to go to a new host but that is such a nuisance. * So frustrating… * SW * Thread Starter [SomethingWonderful](https://wordpress.org/support/users/somethingwonderful/) * (@somethingwonderful) * [12 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/#post-4343069) * Hi keesiemeijer, * TextEditor on Mac, but like I say, I’ve tried copying the index file from other working sites to no avail. * I think it might have something to do with * require( dirname( __FILE__ ) . ‘/path_to_wordpress_here/wp-blog-header.php’ ); * which has just changed in the new version from * require(‘./wordpress/wp-blog-header.php’); * Hence the message * T_ENCAPSED_AND_WHITESPACE * SW * Moderator [keesiemeijer](https://wordpress.org/support/users/keesiemeijer/) * (@keesiemeijer) * [12 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/#post-4343075) * I don’t think that’s the problem. If the path was wrong you would get this error: failed to open stream: No such file or directory. * Not sure what’s going on here but I would download a fresh copy of WordPress and edit the index.php with another texteditor (just for testing): [http://codex.wordpress.org/Editing_Files#Using_Text_Editors](http://codex.wordpress.org/Editing_Files#Using_Text_Editors) Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 27 total) 1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/page/2/?output_format=md) [→](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/page/2/?output_format=md) The topic ‘Parse Error: Syntax Error when index.php copied to root’ is closed to new replies. * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/) * 27 replies * 14 participants * Last reply from: [Andrew Nevins](https://wordpress.org/support/users/anevins/) * Last activity: [11 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/page/2/#post-4343321) * Status: resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics