<p>The .htaccess file was missing the period in the filename when initially installed.  </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-15T17:12:40.223Z
For the record this is normal, expected behavior. Craft intentionally ships with the htaccess file lacking a dot, and you're expected to add it yourself.
Lindsey D
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-19T17:12:59.920Z
I had to double-check, but we do mention it in the install docs: http://buildwithcraft.com/docs/installing#step-1-upload-the-files
Brad Bell
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-15T13:20:41.613Z
2015-04-15T13:20:41.613Z
Vince M.
<p>Craft newbie here.  I have been playing with craft now for a few weeks and built out a couple of pages. I am really liking it this CMS.  The one small problem that I just noticed however, is when I tried to go to the news template (for example) by going to <a href="http://example.com/news" rel="nofollow">http://example.com/news</a> I get a 404 error.  It works fine when going to <a href="http://example.com/index.php/news" rel="nofollow">http://example.com/index.php/news</a>.  </p>

<p>Am I missing something or does the index.php always need to be in the address? </p>

<p>When I read the documentations it says either way would work, so I am sure I am doing something wrong or missing something really simple.</p>

<p>I would appreciate it if someone can point me in the right direction.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-15T01:38:17.737Z
This can happen if the '.htaccess' file in your public folder is not configured properly. Can you post the contents of your .htaccess file, and describe the relationship between your public folder and the craft folder (i.e. is the 'craft' folder one level up from your 'public' folder)? Might also check this [doc article](http://buildwithcraft.com/help/remove-index.php) and [this post](http://craftcms.stackexchange.com/questions/2832/removing-index-php-from-url-breaks-site) and [this post](http://craftcms.stackexchange.com/a/8903/784) or just do a search for 'index.php' on this site in general.
Douglas McDonald
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-15T13:18:31.830Z
Hi Douglas, you were right, it was the .htaccess file.  Apparently the period was left off the filename when it was first installed.  I knew it was something simple lol. Thanks again for your help!
Vince M.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-15T16:11:53.843Z
Great! Glad you found it. If I remember correctly I think that it comes like that on purpose, so that the file doesn't instantly disappear in your finder window as an invisible file. Happy crafting.
Douglas McDonald
<url><error><404>
Get 404 Error When Going to mydomain.com/news
# Get 404 Error When Going to mydomain.com/news

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-04-15)

Craft newbie here. I have been playing with craft now for a few weeks and built out a couple of pages. I am really liking it this CMS. The one small problem that I just noticed however, is when I tried to go to the news template (for example) by going to <http://example.com/news> I get a 404 error. It works fine when going to <http://example.com/index.php/news>.

Am I missing something or does the index.php always need to be in the address?

When I read the documentations it says either way would work, so I am sure I am doing something wrong or missing something really simple.

I would appreciate it if someone can point me in the right direction.

**Tags:** url, error, 404

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This can happen if the '.htaccess' file in your public folder is not configured properly. Can you post the contents of your .htaccess file, and describe the relationship between your public folder and the craft folder (i.e. is the 'craft' folder one level up from your 'public' folder)? Might also check this [doc article](http://buildwithcraft.com/help/remove-index.php) and [this post](http://craftcms.stackexchange.com/questions/2832/removing-index-php-from-url-breaks-site) and [this post](http://craftcms.stackexchange.com/a/8903/784) or just do a search for 'index.php' on this site in general.  
> **username_0**: Hi Douglas, you were right, it was the .htaccess file.  Apparently the period was left off the filename when it was first installed.  I knew it was something simple lol. Thanks again for your help!  
> **username_1**: Great! Glad you found it. If I remember correctly I think that it comes like that on purpose, so that the file doesn't instantly disappear in your finder window as an invisible file. Happy crafting.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2015-04-15. Score: 5

The .htaccess file was missing the period in the filename when initially installed.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: For the record this is normal, expected behavior. Craft intentionally ships with the htaccess file lacking a dot, and you're expected to add it yourself.  
> **username_3**: I had to double-check, but we do mention it in the install docs: http://buildwithcraft.com/docs/installing#step-1-upload-the-files  

---

