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Joomla SEO

remove index.php from the URL

After installing Joomla, by default you will see /index.php/ in the URLs. This is easy to change in 2 steps.

Why do you want to remove index.php from the URL?

Search engine friendly (SEF) URLs are human-readable or clean URLs that make sense to both humans and search engines because they explain the path to the specific page they point to.

The index.php says nothing but is technically necessary without this modification.

Before:

index php in url

After:

index php uit url

Use URL rewriting

Go to "System > General settings" and set Use URL rewrite to "Yes"

URL herschrijven

Modify htaccess.txt file name

If you are using an Apache server, make sure mod_rewrite is installed and enabled on your hosting account. Go to your website with an FTP programme and locate the htaccess.txt file in the root folder of your site. Rename the file to .htaccess (dot htaccess).

Now the .index.php will be removed from your URLs.

htaccess

URL rewriting on an IIS 7 Server

If you're using an IIS 7 server, make sure the IIS URL Rewrite Module is enabled for your hosting account. Rename the file "web.config.txt" to "web.config" (i.e. without .txt) before activating the URL rewrite option.

Would you like to improve your website's SEO?

I'd be happy to help!
Jeroen Moolenschot

About Jeroen

I have been working with the Joomla! CMS since 2006. Besides building and maintaining Joomla! websites and webshops, I am also familiar with search engine optimization (SEO), Joomla hosting and developing templates and extensions. Furthermore, I am a frequent visitor and speaker at JoomlaDays and various Joomla user groups.

I am committed to the Joomla! community as a member of the Extensions Directory team and the organization of Joomla user group Breda and JoomlaDagen Netherlands. In short: Are you looking for a Joomla Specialist, you should contact me!

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