Title: Permalinks – .htaccess problem? Last modified: August 19, 2016 --- # Permalinks – .htaccess problem? * Resolved [nfiori](https://wordpress.org/support/users/nfiori/) * (@nfiori) * [15 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalinks-htaccess-problem/) * Although it’s not recommended, I tried to set my permalinks to %postname%. The problem is that when I try to load one of my pages, it sends me to a 404. * I read in the [WordPress Codex](http://codex.wordpress.org/Using_Permalinks) that you need to allow your database to rewrite .htaccess. I’m not exactly sure how to do this? Is this even the problem? Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 16 total) 1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalinks-htaccess-problem/page/2/?output_format=md) [→](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalinks-htaccess-problem/page/2/?output_format=md) * Moderator [t-p](https://wordpress.org/support/users/t-p/) * (@t-p) * [15 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalinks-htaccess-problem/#post-1840373) * – WordPress either creates/amends the .htaccess file for you (provided you have assigned appropriate permission). * -or WordPress provides you with the correct block of code to manually add to your .htaccess file. * Documentation: [http://codex.wordpress.org/Using_Permalinks](http://codex.wordpress.org/Using_Permalinks) * Thread Starter [nfiori](https://wordpress.org/support/users/nfiori/) * (@nfiori) * [15 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalinks-htaccess-problem/#post-1840378) * I know, I read through it already, but it doesn’t help much because I have no idea what I’m doing. I just copy/pasted a bunch of lines of code into .htaccess and it still doesn’t work. * [govpatel](https://wordpress.org/support/users/govpatel/) * (@govpatel) * [15 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalinks-htaccess-problem/#post-1840379) * > Although it’s not recommended, I tried to set my permalinks to %postname%. * You need to use `/%postname%/` * Thread Starter [nfiori](https://wordpress.org/support/users/nfiori/) * (@nfiori) * [15 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalinks-htaccess-problem/#post-1840380) * > You need to use /%postname%/ * I did. And even if I hadn’t, WordPress automatically adds the forward slash. * Thread Starter [nfiori](https://wordpress.org/support/users/nfiori/) * (@nfiori) * [15 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalinks-htaccess-problem/#post-1840413) * I also tried searching past support topics. It looks like this issue hasn’t been solved at all. That’s unnerving. * [govpatel](https://wordpress.org/support/users/govpatel/) * (@govpatel) * [15 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalinks-htaccess-problem/#post-1840426) * What permission do you have on your .htaccess file as it should be 755 if that does not work then change to 777 until you get it working and then change it back to 755 * The only other thing I can think of is check with your host if they have Mod_rewrite On. * [Emil Uzelac](https://wordpress.org/support/users/emiluzelac/) * (@emiluzelac) * [15 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalinks-htaccess-problem/#post-1840431) * Why is %postname% not recommended? I actually use only that at all times to any of the sites that I run. * Forward slash in example.com/postname/ is normal thing, nothing unusual. * This is not an issue with WordPress, you just need to talk with your hosting provider and ask them why your .htaccess is not functioning properly, that’s all 🙂 * Emil * Thread Starter [nfiori](https://wordpress.org/support/users/nfiori/) * (@nfiori) * [15 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalinks-htaccess-problem/#post-1840595) * > What permission do you have on your .htaccess file… * I’m not sure. How would I change that? * > Why is %postname% not recommended? I actually use only that at all times to > any of the sites that I run. * Yeah, I use it all the time too. It’s weird that it’s not working now. It’s not recommended because of the fact that post titles can become very long, so their URLs would be awkward and often break. In my case, I’m not running a blog. I’m using WP more as a CMS than anything, and running an eCommerce site from it, so the URLs will be confined to such terms as ‘home’ and ‘about’. * [govpatel](https://wordpress.org/support/users/govpatel/) * (@govpatel) * [15 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalinks-htaccess-problem/#post-1840596) * I have my my .htaccess permission set to 755 but it all depends on how the server is set up. * I have been using my permalinks with /%postname%/ and do not have any problem. * If your theme supports custom theme then all though your page title is long for the page you can change what you want to show in menu from custom menu. * Thread Starter [nfiori](https://wordpress.org/support/users/nfiori/) * (@nfiori) * [15 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalinks-htaccess-problem/#post-1840598) * How do I set the permissions on my .htaccess file? * Moderator [t-p](https://wordpress.org/support/users/t-p/) * (@t-p) * [15 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalinks-htaccess-problem/#post-1840601) * [http://codex.wordpress.org/Changing_File_Permissions](http://codex.wordpress.org/Changing_File_Permissions) * Thread Starter [nfiori](https://wordpress.org/support/users/nfiori/) * (@nfiori) * [15 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalinks-htaccess-problem/#post-1840605) * Ok I used the FTP method and it gives me this error * Status: Set permissions of ‘/sonelle/.htaccess’ to ‘755’ Command: SITE CHMOD 755 .htaccess Response: 500 ‘SITE CHMOD 755 .htaccess’: command not understood * Is the .htaccess file not rewritable? Could it be because I’m using a Windows server? * [govpatel](https://wordpress.org/support/users/govpatel/) * (@govpatel) * [15 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalinks-htaccess-problem/#post-1840611) * I wish we knew you were using a Window server then we would not have go in this trouble as Its known that window server has problems with permalinks. * Thread Starter [nfiori](https://wordpress.org/support/users/nfiori/) * (@nfiori) * [15 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalinks-htaccess-problem/#post-1840612) * It has problems with a lot of other things too. I recently switched over to my dad’s hosting account, where he runs a Windows server. Trying to get WordPress to install was an issue in itself. * So is this unfixable? Am I stuck with “ugly” permalinks forever? * [govpatel](https://wordpress.org/support/users/govpatel/) * (@govpatel) * [15 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalinks-htaccess-problem/#post-1840617) * If your host has linux server move it linux server as most host offer both servers. Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 16 total) 1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalinks-htaccess-problem/page/2/?output_format=md) [→](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalinks-htaccess-problem/page/2/?output_format=md) The topic ‘Permalinks – .htaccess problem?’ is closed to new replies. ## Tags * [htaccess](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/htaccess/) * [permalinks](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/permalinks/) * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/) * 16 replies * 4 participants * Last reply from: [nfiori](https://wordpress.org/support/users/nfiori/) * Last activity: [15 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalinks-htaccess-problem/page/2/#post-1840636) * Status: resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics