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Elementor missing .htaccess file

Elementor shows an error when it cannot locate the .htaccess file. The error stops the preview from loading. The missing file prevents Apache rewrite rules from being applied. Without those rules WordPress permalinks break and Elementor preview iframe fails.

The issue usually appears after a fresh install, migration, or when permissions block access. It also occurs if the server disables AllowOverride or SELinux hides the file. The error message includes the full path to the expected .htaccess location.

Symptoms

[dashicons-warning]
Error banner in Elementor editor
You see a red notice that the .htaccess file appears to be missing.
[dashicons-admin-page]
Blank preview area
The preview pane stays empty or shows a 404 page.
[dashicons-admin-links]
Permalink 404 errors
Your site returns 404 for custom post types after the error appears.

Common Causes

File does not exist
The .htaccess file was never created or was deleted during migration.
Insufficient permissions
File permissions or ownership prevent WordPress from reading the file.
AllowOverride disabled
Apache configuration ignores .htaccess files, so Elementor reports it missing.
SELinux or AppArmor block
Security policies hide the file from the web user.
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