How to Find and Edit the wp-config file – WordPress
wp-config file in WordPress? The wp-config.php file is one of the most critical components of your WordPress site, containing essential information about your database and configuration settings needed to run your site smoothly.wp-config-sample.php will appear in your folder. You need to rename this template to wp-config.php to manually set up your environment. By default, the wp-config.php file is not included, so you’ll need to create it during the installation process. For a detailed guide, you can check how to install WordPress manually.
/public_html folder, making it easy to find and edit as necessary. To access the wp-config.php file, you’ll need your FTP credentials or access to your hosting provider’s cPanel.
wp-config.php file contains various settings that control the way your site functions. Below, we will go through the contents of this file. They are in a specific order for a reason, and rearranging them may create bugs or errors on your site. To avoid these issues, it’s important to understand how to find and edit the wp-config file safely. We’ll briefly explain what the wp-config.php file is and why it’s crucial to handle it carefully.Backup Reminder and Security Best Practices:
Before you embark on editing the wp-config.php file, it’s crucial to create a backup to safeguard against any unforeseen issues. This precautionary step ensures that you have a copy of the original file, allowing you to restore it quickly if any errors occur during the editing process.
To create a backup, simply make a duplicate of the wp-config.php file and store it in a secure location. This ensures that, in the event of an unintended error or misconfiguration, you can easily revert to the working version without jeopardizing the functionality of your WordPress site.
wp-config.php file is paramount to safeguarding sensitive information about your WordPress site. Implement the following security best practices:- File Permissions: Set appropriate file permissions for
wp-config.phpto restrict unauthorized access. Use the recommended permissions such as 400 or 440, allowing read-only access to the file.
- Access Restrictions: Limit access to the
wp-config.phpfile by configuring server settings or using plugins (iThemes Security, WP File Manager, Sucuri Security, etc.) that control file access. Restricting access to this critical file minimizes the risk of unauthorized modifications.
- Strong Passwords: Enhance the security of your database connections by using strong, complex passwords. Avoid easily guessable passwords and consider using a password manager to generate and store secure credentials.
Can plugins modify my wp‑config.php file?
wp-config.php file if your folder and file permissions allow write access (such as 750, 755, or 775 for folders, and 640, 644, 664, or 666 for files). To prevent plugins from making changes to the wp-config.php file, you can apply stricter permissions like 440 or 400, which also restrict other server users from reading the file.Explanation of Each Configuration Section:
- MySQL Database Settings:
This section contains crucial information about connecting your WordPress site to its database. Key elements include ‘database_name_here,’ ‘username_here,’ and ‘password_here.’ Understanding these settings is vital for establishing a secure and functional database connection
- Authentication Unique Keys and Salts:
Explore how these keys enhance site security by protecting against unauthorized access. Explain the process of generating unique keys and salts, and emphasize the importance of periodically updating them to maintain robust security.
- WordPress Database Table Prefix:
Discuss the significance of the table prefix, ‘wp_,‘ and how changing it enhances security by preventing predictable attacks. Guide on choosing a custom, complex prefix for added protection.
- Debugging Mode:
Illustrate the purpose of WP_DEBUG in identifying and resolving issues during site development. Guide users on enabling or changing it to ‘true’ for detailed error reporting, aiding in troubleshooting and debugging
MySQL Database Settings
wp-config.php files in the root folder. One is a default *sample and the other one is already configured. We will focus on the *sample now. The image on the right side shows how the database values are looking in the default wp-config-sample.php file.
To connect your site with an admin user and the database you have created in the cPanel, you would need to change the following values:
database_name_here username_here password_here
* When saving the file after changes, please note that you need to save the file as wp-config.php (you need to remove -sample from the name) to work.
For the other values, it is better to leave them as they are or contact your host if additional info is required. Next, we will check what Authentication keys are for and why they are important in the file.
Authentication Unique Keys and Salts
This part is used to secure and to protect your site from hackers. You can create your own keys or use the online password generator. Once you paste new passwords and save it, it will log out all users and force out hackers from stilling your credentials.
It is not a bad practice to change your keys from time to time. In that way, you will ensure that hackers can not compromise your information.
We strongly recommend accessing the wp-config.php file via FTP or through cPanel so you can have control if something goes wrong. If you looking to have assistance with keys, feel free to reach out to us.
WordPress Database Table prefix
WordPress table prefix ($table_prefix) is the value placed in the front of your database table name. It uses the predefined table prefix ‘wp_‘ as you can see in the image below.
Wondering if you can change the prefix name? Yes, you can change the prefix which is actually a good practice, also you will prevent easy attacks from hackers. You can choose something complex, otherwise, it can be easy to locate and alter by hackers since it is a default name.
Debugging Mode
Here is why we created an article about how to find and edit the wp-config file. WP_DEBUG, you can enable or change it to ‘true‘ to display notices during development. In case your site experience issues and you are not able to see the site or access the admin dashboard, you can change debug from ‘false‘ to ‘true‘.Â
A good option to use to locate the culprit and look for bugs on your site. It will show you the line of code on the front end of your site. The link of the code will display the path that caused the fatal error. You can see exactly if the theme or plugin causes a fatal error. Hence, you will be able to deactivate only one plugin that causing issues and not all plugins on your site. If the path leads to your active theme folder, then, you will need to deactivate/rename that folder.
Conclusion
wp-config.php file, which contains sensitive information about your site. This file can be used to create a stronger security wall, connect your multisite, and more.If you’re looking to find and edit the wp-config file in WordPress for more advanced configurations or if we missed something in this article, feel free to reach out. We’ll be happy to provide further clarification and details.
