How to remove index.php from URLs?

Question

All of my URLs on my Magento installation require index.php in them, like:

http://example.com/index.php/admin/
http://example.com/index.php/customer/account/login/

The problem is that the system by default links to URLs like

http://example.com/admin/
http://example.com/customer/account/login/

Which look prettier anyway. I assume this is a rewrite issue in .htaccess, but as tinkering with that in the past has given me 500s, I'd like to ask you guys first.

Changing the SEO settings, flushing the configuration cache, and reindexing URLs did not work as suggested here.

Answer 1

This may be old, but I may as well write what I've learned down. So anyway I did it this way.

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Before you start, make sure the Apache rewrites module is enabled and then follow the steps below.

1) Log-in to your Magento administration area then go to System > Configuration > Web.

2) Navigate to the Unsecure and Secure tabs. Make sure the Unsecured and Secure - Base Url options have your domain name within it, and do not leave the forward slash off at the end of the URL. Example: http://www.yourdomain.co.uk/

3) While still on the Web page, navigate to Search Engine Optimisation tab and select YES underneath the Use Web Server Rewrites option.

4) Navigate to the Secure tab again (if not already on it) and select Yes on the Use Secure URLs in Front-End option.

5) Now go to the root of your Magento website folder and use this code for your .htaccess:

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
</IfModule>

Save the .htaccess and replace the original file. (PLEASE MAKE SURE TO BACKUP YOUR ORIGINAL .htaccess FILE BEFORE MESSING WITH IT!!!)

6) Now go to System > Cache Management and select all fields and make sure the Actions dropdown is set on Refresh, then submit. (This will of-course refresh the Cache.)

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If this did not work please follow these extra steps.

7) Go to System > Configuration > web again. This time look for the Current Configuration Scope and select your website from the dropdown menu. (This is of course, it is set to Default Config)

8) Make sure the Unsecure and Secure fields contain the same domain as the previous Default Config file.

9) Navigate to the Search Engines Optimisation tab and select Yes underneath the Use Web Server Rewrites section.

10) Once the URLs are the same, and the rewrite is enabled save that page, then go back and make sure they are all checked as default, then save again if needed.

11) Repeat step 6.

Now your index.php problem should be fixed and all should be well!!!

I hope this helps, and good luck.