Enable AllowOverride

If your .htaccess rules are being ignored (redirects not working, custom error pages not loading, rewrite rules having no effect), you may have found advice online to "enable AllowOverride." On Ultra Web Hosting shared hosting, AllowOverride is already enabled. The problem is something else.

01. Why Your .htaccess Rules Might Not Work

If AllowOverride is already enabled but your rules still have no effect, check these common issues:

• Nginx reverse proxy - Our servers use an nginx reverse proxy in front of Apache. Some .htaccess rules that depend on Apache seeing the original request may need adjustment. See Nginx and .htaccess Redirect Issues.
• Syntax error in .htaccess - A single typo can cause the entire .htaccess file to be ignored (or produce a 500 error). Check cPanel > Metrics > Errors for Apache error messages.
• Wrong directory - Make sure the .htaccess file is in the correct directory. Rules in public_html/.htaccess apply to your main domain. Addon domains need their .htaccess in their own document root.
• Missing RewriteEngine On - Every set of rewrite rules needs RewriteEngine On at the top. Without it, RewriteRule directives are silently ignored.
• File is named wrong - The file must be exactly .htaccess (with the leading dot, no file extension). On Windows, you may need to save it as .htaccess. (with a trailing dot) to prevent Windows from stripping the name. See htaccess File Disappears.
• Cached redirects - Browsers cache 301 redirects aggressively. Test in incognito/private mode or clear your browser cache.

02. VPS and Dedicated Servers

If you are on a VPS or dedicated server and manage your own Apache configuration, AllowOverride may need to be set manually. Edit the Apache configuration (usually /etc/apache2/httpd.conf or the relevant virtual host file) and ensure:

<Directory /home/*/public_html>
    AllowOverride All
</Directory>

Then restart Apache: systemctl restart httpd

On shared hosting, you do not have access to Apache's main configuration, but it is already set correctly for you.

For a comprehensive guide on what you can do in .htaccess, see Complete Guide to .htaccess on Apache.

Quick Recap

1. AllowOverride All is already enabled on shared hosting - No action needed
2. If rules are not working - Check for syntax errors, wrong directory, or missing RewriteEngine On
3. Nginx reverse proxy can affect some .htaccess rules - See our nginx + htaccess guide
4. Test in incognito mode - Browsers cache 301 redirects
5. VPS users - May need to set AllowOverride in Apache config manually

Understanding .htaccess on shared hosting · Last updated March 2026 · Browse all General articles