Written by Admin on 2025-05-06

WordPress Domain URL Not Working Goes to Download

If you're a WordPress user, there's a chance you've come across an issue where your domain URL is not functioning properly. Even worse, it's going straight to a download prompt. This can be frustrating, but don't worry. This article will give you some tips and tricks on how to fix this issue.

Why Is This Happening?

This problem usually arises when there is a problem with WordPress' permalink structure. Essentially, the server doesn't recognize the URL as something that should be displayed and tries to download it instead.

How to Fix It

Check Your Permalink Settings

The first thing to do is to check your permalink settings. Go to "Settings" > "Permalinks" in your WordPress dashboard and make sure that your preferred permalink structure is selected. Once you've done this, click "Save Changes" and see if your website is working properly.

Update Your .htaccess File

If the above solution doesn't work, you might need to update your .htaccess file. This file controls how your website is accessed and can sometimes become corrupted. To fix this, you'll need to connect to your server using FTP and look for the .htaccess file. Once you've found it, rename it to something else and create a new file with the following code:

```

BEGIN WordPress

RewriteEngine On RewriteBase / RewriteRule ^index.php$ - [L] RewriteCond %{REQUESTFILENAME} !-f RewriteCond %{REQUESTFILENAME} !-d RewriteRule . /index.php [L]

END WordPress

```

Save this file and try accessing your website again.

Check Your Plugins

It's also possible that a plugin is causing the issue. Try deactivating all your plugins and seeing if your website is working properly. If it is, reactivate each plugin one at a time until you identify the one causing the issue.

Contact Your Hosting Provider

If none of the above solutions work, you might need to contact your hosting provider. There could be a server configuration issue that is not allowing your website to function properly.

Conclusion

Having your WordPress domain URL go straight to a download prompt can be frustrating. However, with some patience and a few tips and tricks, you should be able to fix the issue and get your website back up and running.