On Domain India's Linux shared hosting (cPanel, DirectAdmin and Webuzo), mod_rewrite is already loaded on every server and .htaccess rules are allowed, so there is nothing to switch on. If you want to see it working on your own site, the quickest proof is a two-line test rule, shown below.
Where .htaccess lives, the common rules (HTTPS, www, clean URLs, WordPress and Laravel), testing, and fixing 500 errors and redirect loops are all covered in how to enable and use mod_rewrite.
mod_rewrite is loaded on Domain India's cPanel, DirectAdmin and Webuzo servers (checked 22 September 2026). To prove it on your site, create a test folder with a tiny rewrite rule and open the rewritten address: if you see the test text, rewriting works. Don't rely on phpinfo() or apache_get_modules(): phpinfo() is disabled on our cPanel servers, and apache_get_modules() doesn't exist when PHP runs through PHP-FPM or CGI, as it does on our servers.
1. The reliable check: a harmless test rule
This test proves more than "the module is installed". It proves that Apache reads your .htaccess file and applies rewrite rules in your folder.
- Create a test folder.In your file manager, inside your website folder (usually
public_html), create a folder calledrewrite-test. - Add a text file.Inside it, create
pong.txtcontaining the wordsmod_rewrite works. - Add the rule.In the same folder, create a file named
.htaccesswith the two lines shown below. - Open the test address.Visit
https://yourdomain.in/rewrite-test/pingin your browser. There is no file calledping, so the only way you can see the text is through the rule. - Delete the folderonce you have your answer.
RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^ping$ pong.txt [L]What the result means:
| You see | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The words "mod_rewrite works" | mod_rewrite is on and your .htaccess rules run | Nothing: you are ready to write rules |
| 404 Not Found | The rule was not applied | Check the file is named exactly .htaccess (not .htaccess.txt) and sits inside rewrite-test |
| 500 Internal Server Error | Apache could not read a line in the file | Check for typos or curly quotes, then read your error log |
Our cPanel servers have a caching proxy in front of Apache that can serve a stored copy of a page for up to two hours. A brand-new address like /rewrite-test/ping is not cached, so this test is reliable. If you re-test after an edit, add a query string such as ?t=2.
2. Why phpinfo() and apache_get_modules() won't tell you
Many older guides suggest a PHP page that lists Apache modules. On our shared hosting neither method works:
phpinfo()doesn't show Apache's modules here. It is switched off for some sites, and where it does run, PHP runs outside Apache (through PHP-FPM or CGI), so there is no "Loaded Modules" line to read.apache_get_modules()doesn't exist here. That function is available only when PHP runs inside Apache as a module. On our Linux shared servers PHP runs separately, through PHP-FPM or CGI, so calling it stops the script with a "Call to undefined function" error. That error says nothing about mod_rewrite.
3. Other quick signs that rewriting works
- WordPress: if your posts open at pretty addresses such as
/my-first-post/rather than/?p=123, WordPress's rewrite rules are running. If they return "Not Found", open Settings, then Permalinks, and click Save to rewrite the.htaccessblock. - Windows (Plesk) hosting runs IIS, which does not use mod_rewrite or
.htaccess. Rules there go inweb.config: see section 9 of the mod_rewrite guide.
If the test gives a 500 error and you can't find the cause, reviewing error logs in cPanel and DirectAdmin shows where Apache records the exact line it rejected.
Frequently asked questions
Is mod_rewrite enabled on Domain India hosting?
Yes. mod_rewrite is loaded on Domain India's cPanel, DirectAdmin and Webuzo shared servers and .htaccess files are allowed, so customers don't need to enable it. Windows (Plesk) hosting uses IIS and web.config instead.
How can I check if mod_rewrite is working on my site?
Create a folder called rewrite-test with a file pong.txt and an .htaccess file containing RewriteEngine On and RewriteRule ^ping$ pong.txt [L]. Open yourdomain/rewrite-test/ping: if the text from pong.txt appears, rewriting works. Delete the folder afterwards.
Can I use phpinfo() to see if mod_rewrite is loaded?
Not on Domain India's cPanel servers, where phpinfo() is disabled. Use a test rewrite rule instead: it shows whether your rules actually run.
Why does apache_get_modules() give an undefined function error?
The function exists only when PHP runs inside Apache as a module. On Domain India's Linux shared hosting PHP runs through PHP-FPM or CGI, so the function is not available. The error does not mean mod_rewrite is missing.
My test shows 404 Not Found. Is mod_rewrite off?
No, a missing module would cause a 500 error, not a 404. A 404 usually means the .htaccess file has the wrong name, such as .htaccess.txt, or is in a different folder from pong.txt.
Ready to write real rules? The mod_rewrite guide has HTTPS, www, clean-URL and WordPress examples, and the non-www to www guide covers canonical redirects in depth. If your test fails and you can't see why, open a support ticket with your domain and what the test showed.
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