{"id":246791,"date":"2025-11-25T10:55:57","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T10:55:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/?p=246791"},"modified":"2025-11-25T11:03:51","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T11:03:51","slug":"change-index-html-homepage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/change-index-html-homepage\/","title":{"rendered":"Change index.html File &amp; Set a Custom Homepage in WordPress"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-key-highlights\">Key highlights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Understand the purpose of the index.html file and its role as your website\u2019s default page.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Learn when to remove or change index.html, especially during site migration or redesign.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Discover how to redirect index.html to root or another page using the .htaccess file.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fix common issues like WordPress showing the wrong homepage or duplicate index URLs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Explore simple troubleshooting steps to handle blank screens or redirect errors effectively.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Ever opened your website only to see an outdated landing page or worse, a blank screen? That\u2019s your index.html file at work. It\u2019s the first file your web server loads and defines what visitors see when they type in your domain name.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But as your site evolves, whether you migrate to WordPress, redesign your homepage or fix duplicate URLs, you may need to change index.html. Or replace it with a new default page.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This guide explains exactly when and how to modify your index.html file safely. You\u2019ll learn how to access your .htaccess, redirect outdated homepages and fix WordPress display issues all using your Bluehost File Manager.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tl-dr-how-to-change-index-html-file\">TL;DR: How to change index.html file?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The index.html is the first file your web server loads as the homepage of your HTML pages.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To update your first file, open your File Manager in Bluehost and locate the index.html file inside the \/public_html\/ directory.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Edit, rename or replace it with a new file (like home.html or index.php) to refresh your homepage content.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use .htaccess code to redirect old HTML files or fix duplicate URLs such as \/index.html.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check that your CSS, header and footer elements display correctly across browsers.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Always create a backup, test redirects and protect your root directory with a strong password for added security.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-index-html-nbsp\">What is index.html?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>index.html is the default page most web servers load when a visitor accesses a directory (for example, your domain root). If multiple default pages exist, server rules determine the priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-when-to-remove-or-change-index-html\">When to remove or change index.html?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You can change or remove index.html from URL when:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Migrating from another host with a different homepage name\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Replacing a static HTML homepage with a dynamic WordPress design\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Removing index.html duplicate homepage URLs\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Redirecting old index.html to a new homepage\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s explore each of them in more detail:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-migrating-from-another-host-with-a-different-homepage-name\">1. Migrating from another host with a different homepage name<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/help\/article\/backup-restore-previous-host\">move your website from another hosting provider<\/a>, the previous server may have used a different default document. For example, home.html or default.htm. Your new Bluehost server will still look for index.html first. Updating or renaming the file ensures your site displays the correct default web page instead of showing a blank or outdated screen.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-replacing-a-static-html-homepage-with-a-dynamic-wordpress-design\">2. Replacing a static HTML homepage with a dynamic WordPress design<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Installing WordPress creates a new homepage file, typically index.php. If an older index.html file remains in the same directory, your web server will prioritize it and prevent your WordPress site from loading properly. To fix this, delete or rename the HTML file so visitors see your dynamic WordPress homepage, not an outdated static page.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-removing-index-html-duplicate-homepage-urls\">3. Removing index.html duplicate homepage URLs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Search engines often treat [domain].[com] and [domain].[com]\/index.html as two separate URLs. It can cause duplicate content issues and diluted SEO rankings. To prevent this, you can redirect index.html to root using your .htaccess file. This ensures all traffic and link equity point to your main domain (https:\/\/[yourdomain].[com]).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-redirecting-old-index-html-to-a-new-homepage\">4. Redirecting old index.html to a new homepage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your website\u2019s main page has changed (for example, from index.html to home.html), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/301-redirect-wordpress\/\">set up a 301 redirect<\/a> from the old index file to the new file. This preserves SEO value, helps users reach the updated content and prevents \u201c404 Not Found\u201d errors.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Helpful tip: <\/strong>Always create a backup of your .htaccess and index.html files before making changes. This ensures you can restore your website quickly if something goes wrong during updates or redirects.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-important-safety-notes-before-you-edit-your-htaccess-file\"><strong>Important safety notes before you edit your .htaccess file<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Editing your .htaccess file controls how your homepage loads, how redirects work and how your server handles default files. A small mistake can trigger a 500 error, so review these quick safety checks before making any changes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-htaccess-works-only-on-apache-servers\"><strong>1) .htaccess works only on Apache servers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Bluehost uses Apache on most Linux hosting plans, so these rules work here. If your site is on a different server type, .htaccess may not apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-always-create-a-backup-first\"><strong>2) Always create a backup first<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Download a copy of your .htaccess before editing. This lets you restore your site instantly if something breaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-linux-hosting-is-case-sensitive\"><strong>3) Linux hosting is case-sensitive<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>index.html, Index.html and INDEX.html are all treated as different files. Use lowercase names to avoid conflicts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-keep-only-one-default-file-per-directory\"><strong>4) Keep only one default file per directory<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Multiple index files (index.html + index.php) can confuse the server and load the wrong homepage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-use-these-safe-stable-rules\"><strong>5) Use these safe, stable rules<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>These basic examples work for most users and prevent common redirect issues:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>a. Set homepage priority<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>DirectoryIndex index.php index.html<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>b. Redirect \/index.html to your main domain<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>Redirect 301 \/index.html https:\/\/&#91;yourdomain].&#91;com]\/<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-avoid-syntax-errors\"><strong>6) Avoid syntax errors<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Place rewrite rules inside a safety check to prevent 500 errors if mod_rewrite is not active:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>&lt;IfModule mod_rewrite.c&gt;\n  RewriteEngine On\n&lt;\/IfModule&gt;<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-7-test-after-saving\"><strong>7) Test after saving<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Clear browser, WordPress and CDN cache (if any). Then visit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>https:\/\/[yourdomain].[com]\/index.html<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It should redirect correctly&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-access-and-edit-the-htaccess-file-in-bluehost-account-manager\"><strong>How to access and edit the .htaccess file in Bluehost Account Manager<\/strong>?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Important:<\/strong> Before adding or changing any .htaccess rule, download a backup of the file first. A small syntax error like a missing space or character can cause a 500 Internal Server Error and break your entire site. Keeping a backup lets you restore your site instantly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To remove or change index.html file, here is how you can access .htaccess file in Bluehost:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Log in to your\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/my-account\/login\">Bluehost Account Manager<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"555\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Bluehost-Account-manager-login-1024x555.png\" alt=\"log into your Bluehost account manager\" class=\"wp-image-258723\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Bluehost-Account-manager-login-1024x555.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Bluehost-Account-manager-login-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Bluehost-Account-manager-login-768x416.png 768w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Bluehost-Account-manager-login-480x260.png 480w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Bluehost-Account-manager-login-1000x542.png 1000w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Click the\u00a0&#8216;Hosting&#8217;\u00a0tab from the side navigation bar to the left.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"268\" height=\"529\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Access-Hosting-tab-from-left-navigation-bar.png\" alt=\"Locate Hosting from left side navigation\" class=\"wp-image-258724\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Access-Hosting-tab-from-left-navigation-bar.png 268w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Access-Hosting-tab-from-left-navigation-bar-152x300.png 152w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Access-Hosting-tab-from-left-navigation-bar-86x169.png 86w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Access-Hosting-tab-from-left-navigation-bar-137x270.png 137w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>3. On the main page, click on&nbsp;&#8216;File Manager&#8217;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"467\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/from-the-main-page-go-to-File-Manager-1024x467.png\" alt=\"Open file manager from main page\" class=\"wp-image-258725\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/from-the-main-page-go-to-File-Manager-1024x467.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/from-the-main-page-go-to-File-Manager-300x137.png 300w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/from-the-main-page-go-to-File-Manager-768x351.png 768w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/from-the-main-page-go-to-File-Manager-480x219.png 480w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/from-the-main-page-go-to-File-Manager-1000x456.png 1000w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>4. Look for the&nbsp;&#8216;Settings&#8217;&nbsp;button, located towards the upper right corner of your screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/rock-file-manager-settings-1.png\" alt=\"Open settings\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>5. From here, click the&nbsp;&#8216;Preferences&#8217;&nbsp;pop-up, then toggle the radio button for&nbsp;&#8216;Show Hidden Files (dotfiles)&#8217;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/rock-file-manager-preferences.png\" alt=\"select show hidden files (dotfiles)\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>6. Scroll to find the &#8216;public_html&#8217; from the list, and open it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"275\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/locate-public_html-folder-1024x275.png\" alt=\"Open public_html folder\" class=\"wp-image-258726\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/locate-public_html-folder-1024x275.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/locate-public_html-folder-300x80.png 300w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/locate-public_html-folder-768x206.png 768w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/locate-public_html-folder-480x129.png 480w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/locate-public_html-folder-1000x268.png 1000w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"7\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>On the next page, you&#8217;ll find .htaccess file.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"221\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/opne-.htaccess-file-1024x221.png\" alt=\"locate .htaccess file\" class=\"wp-image-258727\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/opne-.htaccess-file-1024x221.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/opne-.htaccess-file-300x65.png 300w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/opne-.htaccess-file-768x166.png 768w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/opne-.htaccess-file-480x104.png 480w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/opne-.htaccess-file-1000x216.png 1000w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>7. Right-click on the file and select&nbsp;&#8216;Edit&#8217;&nbsp;from the menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/filemanager-edit.png\" alt=\"right click on the file to Edit\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>9. There may be a dialogue box asking you about encoding. To proceed, just click on the &#8216;Edit&#8217;&nbsp;button. The editor will open in a new tab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"741\" height=\"516\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/click-edit-button-to-proceed.png\" alt=\"click Edit to proceed\" class=\"wp-image-258728\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/click-edit-button-to-proceed.png 741w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/click-edit-button-to-proceed-300x209.png 300w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/click-edit-button-to-proceed-243x169.png 243w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/click-edit-button-to-proceed-388x270.png 388w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-set-a-custom-homepage-using-directory-index-file\">How to set a custom homepage using directory index file?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You must modify the directory index file in the .htaccess file. Just insert one of the following codes to the file to accomplish this:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Making use of\u00a0<strong>Home.htm<\/strong>:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>DirectoryIndex home.htm index3.php index.htm index.html default.htm<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Making use of\u00a0<strong>Welcome.html<\/strong>:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>DirectoryIndex Welcome.html index.htm index.html default.html<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Making use of\u00a0<strong>Index.html<\/strong>:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>DirectoryIndex Index.html home.htm index.htm index.html default.htm<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>To learn more about .htacess file, refer to our article:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/help\/article\/htaccess-tutorial\">.htaccess Tutorial<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-redirect-index-html-to-root-or-another-page\">How to redirect index.html to root or another page?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve replaced your old homepage or migrated to a new platform, it\u2019s important to redirect index.html to another page or your root domain. This ensures visitors and search engines always reach the correct default page without encountering broken links or outdated content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-use-the-htaccess-file-for-redirection\">1. Use the .htaccess file for redirection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The simplest and most reliable way to redirect index.html is by editing the .htaccess file in your root directory. This file controls how your web server handles URLs and redirects.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To set a 301 permanent redirect from your old index file to the root domain, follow these steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>a. Open &#8216;File Manager&#8217; from your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/my-account\/login\">Bluehost Account Manager<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"467\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Access-File-manager-on-Bluehost-Account-Manager-1024x467.png\" alt=\"open file manager from Bluehost Account manager\" class=\"wp-image-258729\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Access-File-manager-on-Bluehost-Account-Manager-1024x467.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Access-File-manager-on-Bluehost-Account-Manager-300x137.png 300w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Access-File-manager-on-Bluehost-Account-Manager-768x351.png 768w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Access-File-manager-on-Bluehost-Account-Manager-480x219.png 480w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Access-File-manager-on-Bluehost-Account-Manager-1000x456.png 1000w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>b. Locate and right-click the .htaccess file in the \/public_html\/ folder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"667\" height=\"424\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Edit-.htaccess-file.png\" alt=\"Click edit .htaccess file\" class=\"wp-image-258730\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Edit-.htaccess-file.png 667w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Edit-.htaccess-file-300x191.png 300w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Edit-.htaccess-file-266x169.png 266w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Edit-.htaccess-file-425x270.png 425w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>c. Choose &#8216;Edit&#8217; and paste the following line of code at the top:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>Redirect 301 \/index.html https:\/\/&#91;yourdomain].&#91;com]\/<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>This tells the server to forward any request for index.html to your website\u2019s main URL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-redirect-index-html-to-another-page\">2. Redirect index.html to another page<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your homepage has moved to a different file or subfolder (for example, home.html or welcome.php), you can write the address like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>Redirect 301 \/index.html https:\/\/&#91;yourdomain].&#91;com]\/home.html<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>This redirects index.html to another page, ensuring users automatically land on your new home page or preferred default document.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not comfortable editing .htaccess? Selected Bluehost web hosting plans also allow you to create 301 redirects from Domains \u2192 Redirects inside your Account Manager. This gives you a simple, UI-based way to redirect \/index.html without modifying your .htaccess file.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-clear-cache-and-test-your-redirect\">3. Clear cache and test your redirect<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After saving your .htaccess file, clear your browser cache or perform a hard refresh (Ctrl + F5).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also verify the redirect by visiting this path:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>https:&#47;&#47;&#91;yourdomain].&#91;com]\/index.html<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>If the redirect is set correctly, it should take you to your root domain or the new file\/page you specified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> Use online tools like httpstatus.io or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redirect-checker.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Redirect Checker<\/a> to confirm that your 301 redirect is active and points to the correct URL. Always back up your .htaccess before editing to avoid configuration errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-fix-wordpress-sites-showing-index-html-instead-of-homepage\">How to fix WordPress sites showing index.html instead of homepage?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This usually happens when leftover HTML files from a previous site remain in your root directory and override your new setup. You can easily fix this issue directly from your File Manager or via FTP access. Here&#8217;s how:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-check-if-index-html-is-left-over-from-an-old-site\">1. Check if index.html is left over from an old site<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Open your File Manager and look inside the \/public_html\/ folder (your site\u2019s root directory). If you see an old index.html file in addition to your new WordPress files (like index.php, wp-config.php or the \/wp-content\/ folder), that\u2019s likely causing the conflict.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-rename-or-delete-the-index-html-file-name\">2. Rename or delete the index html file name<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To resolve the issue, rename or delete the outdated HTML file. Right-click the file \u2192 select Rename and change it to something like index-old.html. This prevents the web server from loading it as the default page while keeping a backup in case you need to restore it later.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-verify-your-wordpress-homepage-settings\">3. Verify your WordPress homepage settings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>a. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Settings \u2192 Reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"372\" height=\"247\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Go-to-Wordpress-dashboard-setting-then-reading.png\" alt=\"From wordpress dashboard, open setting then select reading\" class=\"wp-image-258731\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Go-to-Wordpress-dashboard-setting-then-reading.png 372w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Go-to-Wordpress-dashboard-setting-then-reading-300x199.png 300w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Go-to-Wordpress-dashboard-setting-then-reading-255x169.png 255w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>b. In &#8216;Your homepage displays&#8217;, make sure your homepage is correctly set to either &#8216;Your latest posts&#8217; or &#8216;A static page&#8217; (depending on your site design).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"592\" height=\"280\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/set-homepage-display-as-latest-blogs.png\" alt=\"set homepage displays as your latest posts\" class=\"wp-image-258732\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/set-homepage-display-as-latest-blogs.png 592w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/set-homepage-display-as-latest-blogs-300x142.png 300w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/set-homepage-display-as-latest-blogs-480x227.png 480w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This ensures that WordPress directs traffic to the intended default web page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-clear-cache-and-verify-on-live-site\">4. Clear cache and verify on live site<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After editing files, clear both your browser cache and any WordPress caching plugins you\u2019re using. Then, visit your domain URL. It should now display your WordPress homepage instead of the old HTML version.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tip:<\/strong> If you\u2019re using a CDN like <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cloudflare.com\/\">Cloudflare<\/a>, remember to purge its cache after making file changes. Cached versions of your WordPress index.html file can delay updates from appearing on your live webpage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-best-practices-for-managing-your-homepage-file\">Best practices for managing your homepage file<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You can manage your homepage file effectively by following these essential best practices:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Always back up your .htaccess before configuring any settings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep only one index file per directory to avoid conflicts\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use descriptive homepage names for custom designs\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Test redirects and displays across multiple browsers\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prevent directory listing for improved site security\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s explore each of them in more detail:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-always-back-up-htaccess-before-editing\">1. Always back up .htaccess before editing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you modify any setting related to the index.html file or redirect, create a backup of your .htaccess. This small text file controls vital server configurations. Keeping a copy ensures you can restore your site quickly if an edit breaks a web page or causes an unwanted redirect loop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-keep-only-one-index-file-per-directory\">2. Keep only one index file per directory<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Each directory on your web server should contain only one index file like index.html or index.php. Having multiple default pages in the same directory can confuse your server, which may load the wrong default web page or display a blank screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-use-descriptive-homepage-names-for-custom-designs\">3. Use descriptive homepage names for custom designs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you create a custom HTML file (for example, home.html or landing.html), make sure the file name follows a clear naming convention and is declared properly in your .htaccess under DirectoryIndex. This improves readability and keeps your project structure organized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-test-your-redirects-in-multiple-browsers\">4. Test your redirects in multiple browsers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After editing your .htaccess or homepage file, test it in different browsers and devices. This ensures your webpage displays correctly and that images, CSS and JavaScript files load as expected. If you notice outdated content, try <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/how-to-clear-your-wordpress-cache-and-why-you-should\/\">clearing your browser cache<\/a> or perform a hard refresh to load the most recent version of your default page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-prevent-directory-listing-for-security\">5. Prevent directory listing for security<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>If a WordPress index.html file isn\u2019t present, some web servers automatically display all the files in that folder. This exposes private data or configuration files. To prevent this, always keep a proper default document in place or disable directory browsing through .htaccess by adding:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>Options -Indexes<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>This small line of code helps secure your root directory and other files or folders from unwanted access.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-troubleshooting-common-issues-when-you-change-index-html-file\">Troubleshooting common issues when you change index.html file<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Even small errors in your index.html file or .htaccess configuration can cause your homepage to display incorrectly. Here are the most common issues users encounter, and how to fix them safely using your File Manager or WordPress dashboard.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-my-homepage-is-blank-or-not-loading\">1. \u201cMy homepage is blank or not loading\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This often happens when your web server can\u2019t find the correct default page in the root directory.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open your \/public_html\/ folder and check if your index.html file or index.php exists.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If it\u2019s missing, upload a new HTML file or create one using File Manager.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Verify that your file is named correctly. index.html must be lowercase and located in the main directory for most web servers to recognize it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-my-wordpress-site-still-shows-an-old-page\">2. \u201cMy WordPress site still shows an old page\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your WordPress index.html or an outdated file remains in the same directory as your new WordPress setup, it can override your homepage.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Rename or delete the old file (for example, index-old.html).\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In WordPress, navigate to Settings \u2192 Reading and ensure your homepage is set correctly.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clear any browser or WordPress cache to see your latest design.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-my-redirect-isn-t-working\">3. \u201cMy redirect isn\u2019t working\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your redirect index.html to root code in .htaccess doesn\u2019t seem to work:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Make sure the syntax is correct (use Redirect 301 \/index.html https:\/\/[yourdomain].[com]\/).\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Confirm that your server supports .htaccess overrides and that mod_rewrite is enabled.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you\u2019ve recently switched domains, check that your new URL is correct and begins with https:\/\/.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Finally, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/help\/article\/how-to-clear-your-browser-cache\">clear your browser cache<\/a> and CDN cache (if using services like Cloudflare).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-page-shows-directory-listing-instead-of-my-homepage\">4. \u201cPage shows directory listing instead of my homepage\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This happens when no default document (like index.html) is found in a directory. To fix it:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Upload a fresh index.html file to the folder.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Or disable directory browsing by adding this line to your .htaccess:\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>Options -Indexes<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>This prevents your server from displaying your folder contents publicly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tip:<\/strong> If you\u2019re unsure whether your .htaccess edits are applied, download the file, open it with a text editor and double-check for typos or extra spaces.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re stuck or unsure about any of these steps, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/contact\">contact Bluehost Support<\/a>. Our team is available 24\/7 to help you diagnose issues, review your configuration files and guide you through safe fixes. So, your homepage loads exactly the way you expect. Ready for expert help? Reach out to us anytime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-thoughts\">Final thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Changing or removing your index.html file may sound technical. But with the right steps, it\u2019s straightforward and essential for keeping your website organized and secure. Whether you\u2019re replacing a static page with WordPress or setting up redirects, understanding how your default page works or change index.html helps your site run smoothly and rank better on search engines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Always remember to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Back up your .htaccess and homepage file before editing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep only one index.html or index.php file per directory.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Test every redirect to confirm it points to the right URL.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>With Bluehost WordPress hosting, you can access File Manager and cPanel setting directly from Account Manager. Plus, you get lightning-fast security with built-in caching, global CDN, enterprise-grade security and expert WordPress support to keep your website online and optimized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ready to simplify site management? Get started with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/wordpress-hosting\">Bluehost WordPress hosting<\/a> today and launch a fast, secure and fully optimized website in minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-faqs\">FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1764066484451\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What is index.html?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">index.html is the default homepage file your web server loads when someone visits your domain. It sits in the root directory (public_html) and displays first unless another default page is prioritized in .htaccess.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1764066500012\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How do I edit an index in HTML?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Open your Bluehost File Manager or connect via FTP, locate index.html in public_html, right-click and select Edit. If you plan to change redirects, back up your .htaccess first before saving changes.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1764066509043\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Can I rename an index in HTML?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes. Rename the file in File Manager, then update .htaccess using a simple rule like:\u00a0<br\/><code>DirectoryIndex home.html index.php index.html\u00a0<\/code><br\/>This ensures the server loads your newly named homepage first.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1764066524545\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How do I make an index in HTML?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Create a new file named index.html using any text editor. Add your HTML code, save it, and upload it to public_html. The server will automatically load it as your homepage.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1764066538408\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How to change index.html to index.php in Apache?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Edit your .htaccess file and prioritize PHP like this:\u00a0<br\/><code>DirectoryIndex index.php index.html\u00a0<\/code><br\/>This loads index.php before any HTML fallback.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1764066557338\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How to remove index.html from URL?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">To remove index.html from URL, you can add a 301 redirect inside your .htaccess file:\u00a0<br\/><code>Redirect 301 \/index.html https:\/\/[yourdomain].[com]\/<\/code><br\/>This tells your web server to redirect index.html to root, keeping your homepage clean and preventing duplicate URLs. It also helps your HTML pages rank better by consolidating link authority under one main domain.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1764066580472\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How to open index.html?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">You can open index.html in two ways. First, double-click the file on your computer to open it in your default browser. Or, open Bluehost File Manager \u2192 public_html \u2192 select index.html \u2192 click View or Edit.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1764066598392\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Does .htaccess work on every host?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No. .htaccess works only on Apache servers. For Nginx, use the index directive and server block rules. For IIS, edit your web.config. If .htaccess instructions don\u2019t apply, your server likely isn\u2019t using Apache.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1764066611162\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What\u2019s the safest order for default pages?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Use:\u00a0<br\/><code>DirectoryIndex index.php index.html index.htm\u00a0<\/code><br\/>This loads dynamic pages first and keeps HTML fallbacks available.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1764066631032\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How do I set a different index file for a subfolder?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Place a new .htaccess file inside that folder with:\u00a0<br\/><code>DirectoryIndex landing.html index.php index.html<\/code><\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1764066649834\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How do I avoid redirect loops when removing \/index.html?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Place the redirect rule above WordPress rules, redirect only \/index.html to \/, and clear all caches. When tested, \/index.html should 301 directly to the bare domain.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1764066667535\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Will removing \/index.html help SEO?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes. It prevents duplicate homepage URLs and consolidates link equity under your canonical domain, improving crawl clarity and ranking signals.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1764066697438\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How do I do this on Nginx or IIS?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Nginx:\u00a0<br\/><code>index index.php index.html;\u00a0 location = \/index.html { return 301 \/; }\u00a0<\/code><br\/>IIS (web.config):\u00a0<br\/>Set &lt;defaultDocument> to your preferred file and add a rewrite rule to redirect \/index.html to \/.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1764066714025\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Can I do redirects on Bluehost account without editing .htaccess?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Often, yes. Many plans let you create redirects in Domains \u2192 Redirects inside your Bluehost account. If the option isn\u2019t available, edit .htaccess directly via File Manager.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fix homepage issues fast. Learn how to change index.html, set custom file as homepage and run your website smoothly. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":110,"featured_media":258733,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Change index.html File & Set a Custom Homepage in WordPress","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Learn how to change index.html, fix homepage conflicts, redirect old pages and set a custom homepage on Apache servers with Bluehost.","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3066,21],"tags":[3317,3330,3340,3343],"ppma_author":[662],"class_list":["post-246791","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-design","category-wordpress","tag-cms","tag-how-to-guides","tag-tips-tricks","tag-tutorials"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Change index.html File &amp; Set a Custom Homepage in WordPress<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to change index.html, fix homepage conflicts, redirect old pages and set a custom homepage on Apache servers with Bluehost.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/246791\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Change index.html File &amp; Set a Custom Homepage in WordPress\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn how to change index.html, fix homepage conflicts, redirect old pages and set a custom homepage on Apache servers with Bluehost.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/change-index-html-homepage\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Bluehost Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/bluehost\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-11-25T10:55:57+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-11-25T11:03:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/8_How-to-Set-a-Custom-File-as-Your-Homepage_bluehost-htaccess.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jyoti Saxena\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@bluehost\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@bluehost\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jyoti Saxena\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"17 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/change-index-html-homepage\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/change-index-html-homepage\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Jyoti Saxena\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/6d68c86eff8903098d5714c6064007d1\"},\"headline\":\"Change index.html File &amp; 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Or, open Bluehost File Manager \u2192 public_html \u2192 select index.html \u2192 click View or Edit.\u00a0\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/change-index-html-homepage\/#faq-question-1764066598392\",\"position\":8,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/change-index-html-homepage\/#faq-question-1764066598392\",\"name\":\"Does .htaccess work on every host?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No. .htaccess works only on Apache servers. For Nginx, use the index directive and server block rules. For IIS, edit your web.config. If .htaccess instructions don\u2019t apply, your server likely isn\u2019t using Apache.\u00a0\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/change-index-html-homepage\/#faq-question-1764066611162\",\"position\":9,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/change-index-html-homepage\/#faq-question-1764066611162\",\"name\":\"What\u2019s the safest order for default pages?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Use:\u00a0<br\/>DirectoryIndex index.php index.html index.htm\u00a0<br\/>This loads dynamic pages first and keeps HTML fallbacks available.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/change-index-html-homepage\/#faq-question-1764066631032\",\"position\":10,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/change-index-html-homepage\/#faq-question-1764066631032\",\"name\":\"How do I set a different index file for a subfolder?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Place a new .htaccess file inside that folder with:\u00a0<br\/>DirectoryIndex landing.html index.php index.html\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/change-index-html-homepage\/#faq-question-1764066649834\",\"position\":11,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/change-index-html-homepage\/#faq-question-1764066649834\",\"name\":\"How do I avoid redirect loops when removing \/index.html?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Place the redirect rule above WordPress rules, redirect only \/index.html to \/, and clear all caches. When tested, \/index.html should 301 directly to the bare domain.\u00a0\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/change-index-html-homepage\/#faq-question-1764066667535\",\"position\":12,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/change-index-html-homepage\/#faq-question-1764066667535\",\"name\":\"Will removing \/index.html help SEO?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes. 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If you plan to change redirects, back up your .htaccess first before saving changes.\u00a0","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/change-index-html-homepage\/#faq-question-1764066509043","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/change-index-html-homepage\/#faq-question-1764066509043","name":"Can I rename an index in HTML?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. 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When tested, \/index.html should 301 directly to the bare domain.\u00a0","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/change-index-html-homepage\/#faq-question-1764066667535","position":12,"url":"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/change-index-html-homepage\/#faq-question-1764066667535","name":"Will removing \/index.html help SEO?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. 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