How to Change Your Default Index Page Using FTP

How to Change Your Default Index Page Using FTP

As you already know, .htaccess is one of the most vital files of a WordPress website, it handles the web server’s redirects.

The server searches for the main index file and displays it on the browser whenever someone opens your website. The index.html file controls the default index page.

In such a situation, users might want to change the layout of the default index page, to do so, you need to replace index.html with a new file.

Sometimes, web developers use a new file to display the maintenance page creatively. In this tutorial, you’re going to learn about changing the index page using FTP, you should know, you can accomplish the same task using cPanel, too.

But, a few web hosting companies don’t offer cPanel access, or you may not have the proper privilege. I hope you already know how to connect an FTP account to the server using Filezilla.

Use Your Existing FTP Account or Create a New One

Whenever you install WordPress, many companies ask if you want to create an FTP account for the domain, depending on your choice, you can find an existing account or create a new one.

Connecting to the server using Filezilla, a free software, is easy, and I hope you can do it. Now, you need to learn the main thing.

Follow the steps showing below.

Step 1:

After connecting your FTP account to the server using Filezilla, you can see the public_html directory in the Remote Site section.

How to Change Your Default Index Page Using FTP

Just below, you can see all the content of your primary domain.

Note: If you host multiple domains, you need to open its folder. Otherwise, public_html is where all of your website’s data is available.

Step 2:

In the area consisting all the files and folders of your site, you need to search for the .htaccess file. Right-click and choose to View/Edit.

How to Change Your Default Index Page Using FTP

Step 3:

A popup appears to ask if you want to use the default text editor of your computer or you want to use any custom text editor.

How to Change Your Default Index Page Using FTP

Click on the Ok button to proceed.

Step 4:

It’s possible that you may see a big popup to authorize the certificate.

Look down and click on the Ok button from the bottom-left corner.

How to Change Your Default Index Page Using FTP

Once you do it, you can see the .htaccess file in your text editor, where you need to add such code.

DirectoryIndexnewfile.html

Here newfile.html consists the layout of your default index page, and the server will start picking this file.

NOTE: It’s important to upload the newfile.html in the public_html folder because that’s how the server find it.

If you want a backup plan, you can add multiple index files so that if the server doesn’t find the first file, it can load the second or further.

For example, if you choose brandnewfile.html as the second file, the code becomes as follow.

DirectoryIndexnewfile.htmlbrandnewfile.html

You can add as many files as you want. But remember, the server reads your code from left-to-right, it executes the file it finds the first.

Save the file, and you’re done. You have successfully changed the default index page of your WordPress website.

Keeping the nature of your website and its index page, you might need to think twice before changing it. If you’re a newbie and don’t have any idea, you should consult your web developer or the web hosting customer support.

Make sure you understand that the index page controls the layout of your website, if you break it, your site doesn’t load.

Depending on the plugins you use, it’s possible that you may find a different default index file other than index.html.

Conclusion

FTP can be helpful when you don’t have access to the cPanel. Some WordPress users prefer FTP over cPanel because it’s less complicated.

After making a connection, you directly see the data of your website, no extra options. I hope you can easily change the default index page using FTP.

Check out these top 3 WordPress hosting services:

A2 Hosting
$1.95 /mo
Starting price
Visit A2 Hosting
Rating based on expert review
  • User Friendly
    4.5
  • Support
    4.0
  • Features
    4.5
  • Reliability
    4.8
  • Pricing
    4.0
IONOS
$1.00 /mo
Starting price
Visit IONOS
Rating based on expert review
  • User Friendly
    4.5
  • Support
    4.0
  • Features
    4.5
  • Reliability
    4.5
  • Pricing
    4.3
Webdock
$0.95 /mo
Starting price
Visit Webdock
Rating based on expert review
  • User Friendly
    3.8
  • Support
    4.5
  • Features
    4.5
  • Reliability
    4.3
  • Pricing
    4.3

How to Add Google Fonts to Your WordPress Website Without a Plugin

This is a how-to guide consisting of the code editing of the WordPress website t
less than a minute
Bruno Mirchevski
Bruno Mirchevski
Hosting Expert

How to Add Custom CSS to Your WordPress Website in Different Ways

This how-to guide will have three different ways to add custom CSS to a WordPres
less than a minute
Bruno Mirchevski
Bruno Mirchevski
Hosting Expert

How to Disable PHP Execution to Improve Website's Security Using cPanel

This how-to guide will explain about restricting others from executing any malic
less than a minute
Max Ostryzhko
Max Ostryzhko
Senior Web Developer, HostAdvice CTO

How to Add Custom Code to Header and Footer Areas of a WordPress Website

The tutorial will have two methods of adding the custom code to the header and f
less than a minute
Bruno Mirchevski
Bruno Mirchevski
Hosting Expert
HostAdvice.com provides professional web hosting reviews fully independent of any other entity. Our reviews are unbiased, honest, and apply the same evaluation standards to all those reviewed. While monetary compensation is received from a few of the companies listed on this site, compensation of services and products have no influence on the direction or conclusions of our reviews. Nor does the compensation influence our rankings for certain host companies. This compensation covers account purchasing costs, testing costs and royalties paid to reviewers.
Click to go to the top of the page
Go To Top