Password-protecting a folder with a .htaccess

This guide explains how to password-protect a folder by using your site's .htaccess file.

1. Get the full pathway of the directory to be protected

1. log in to your hosting using an FTP client or our FTP Manager
2. in the folder to be protected, create a file named path.php and copy the following content into it: <?php echo realpath('path.php'); ?>
3. open a web browser and display the path.ph filep (e.g.: votre-domaine.com/dossier_a_proteger/path.php)
4. the browser displays the full pathway of the file to be protected. Copy this pathway, we need it for the next step

2. Password selection and encryption

1. In the folder to be protected, create a file called password.php and adapt the following content inside it: <?php echo crypt('password of your choice'); ?>
2. open a web browser and display the password.php file (e.g.: votre-domaine.com/dossier_a_proteger/password.php)
3. the web browser displays your encrypted password. Copy this encrypted password, we will need it in step 4

3. Create .htaccess

In the folder to be protected, create a file called .htaccess and t adapt the following content inside it:

AuthName "Protected administration page"
AuthType Basict
AuthUserFile "/example/.htpasswd"
Require valid-user

Replace /example/with the full path copied in step 1 of this guide without path.php at the end. Correct example:

AuthUserFile "/home/clients/0f83c7afb710e5ae2645a1b704d8772f/web/dossier_a_proteger/.htpasswd"

4. Create the .htpasswd file

In the folder to be protected, create a file called htpasswd.txt and adapt the following content inside it:

login:mot_de_passe_crypté

• Replace login with the login you require
• Replace mot_de_passe_crypté with the encrypted password you copied in Step 2 of this guide

Once the htpasswd.txt file is saved, rename it as follows: .htpasswd

5. Test

Open a web browser and try to display one of the pages contained in the protected folder. If the guide has been followed correctly, the login and password (not encrypted) selected will give access to the protected folder.