You can achieve browser redirection to your WordPress root domain upon arrival using several methods. The most common and recommended approaches involve configuring your .htaccess file or using WordPress plugins. Here’s a breakdown of the methods:

1. Using the .htaccess File (Recommended for Most Cases):

The .htaccess file is a powerful configuration file for Apache web servers (which many WordPress sites use). You can add rewrite rules to it to handle redirections.

• Accessing Your .htaccess File:
  1. Connect via FTP/SFTP: Use an FTP client (like FileZilla, Cyberduck) or SFTP to connect to your web server. You’ll need your hosting credentials.
  2. Locate the .htaccess File: The .htaccess file is usually located in the root directory of your WordPress installation (the same directory where you find wp-config.php, wp-content, wp-admin, and wp-includes).
  3. Enable Hidden Files: Your FTP client might hide files that start with a dot (.). Make sure your client is configured to show hidden files.
• Editing the .htaccess File:
  1. Backup: Crucially, before making any changes, download a backup of your existing .htaccess file. If something goes wrong, you can easily restore it.
  2. Edit: Open the .htaccess file with a plain text editor (like Notepad++, Sublime Text, VS Code). Avoid using word processors like Microsoft Word.
  3. Add Redirection Rules: Depending on your specific scenario, you’ll add different rewrite rules. Here are a few common cases:
     • Redirecting www to non-www (or vice versa):
       • Redirecting www to non-www:<IfModule mod_rewrite.c> RewriteEngine On RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www\.(.+)$ [NC] RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%1/$1 [R=301,L] </IfModule>Explanation:
         • <IfModule mod_rewrite.c>: Checks if the mod_rewrite module is enabled on your server.
         • RewriteEngine On: Enables the rewrite engine.
         • RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www\.(.+)$ [NC]: Checks if the hostname starts with www. (case-insensitive). The (.+) captures the rest of the domain.
         • RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%1/$1 [R=301,L]: Redirects any request (^(.*)$) to the non-www version (https://%1/$1). %1 refers to the captured part of the hostname (without www.), and $1 refers to the rest of the requested URI. R=301 is a permanent redirect (recommended for SEO), and L means this is the last rule to be processed.
       • Redirecting non-www to www:<IfModule mod_rewrite.c> RewriteEngine On RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} !^www\. [NC] RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://www.%{HTTP_HOST}/$1 [R=301,L] </IfModule>Explanation:
         • RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} !^www\. [NC]: Checks if the hostname does not start with www. (case-insensitive).
         • RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://www.%{HTTP_HOST}/$1 [R=301,L]: Redirects any request to the www version, using %{HTTP_HOST} to get the current hostname.
     • Redirecting HTTP to HTTPS: (If you have an SSL certificate installed) <IfModule mod_rewrite.c> RewriteEngine On RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301] </IfModule>Explanation:
       • RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off: Checks if the connection is not using HTTPS.
       • RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]: Redirects the request to the HTTPS version of the same URL.
  4. Save and Upload: Save the changes to your .htaccess file and upload it back to your server, overwriting the original file.
  5. Test: Thoroughly test your website in different browsers to ensure the redirection works as expected. Clear your browser cache before testing.

2. Using WordPress Plugins:

Several WordPress plugins can handle redirections without you needing to directly edit the .htaccess file. This can be a more user-friendly option, especially if you’re not comfortable with code.

• Common Redirection Plugins:
  • Redirection: A popular and powerful plugin for managing all types of redirects.
  • Simple 301 Redirects: A straightforward plugin specifically for creating 301 redirects.
  • Yoast SEO: Offers a redirection manager as part of its premium features.
• How to Use a Redirection Plugin (General Steps):
  1. Install and Activate: Install your chosen redirection plugin from the WordPress plugin repository and activate it.
  2. Access the Plugin Settings: Look for the plugin’s settings page in your WordPress admin dashboard (usually under “Tools” or a dedicated menu item).
  3. Create a New Redirect: Follow the plugin’s instructions to create a new redirect. You’ll typically need to specify:
     • Source URL: The URL you want to redirect from. This would often be your domain without the specific path (e.g., yourdomain.com). However, be careful with this, as it might unintentionally redirect other valid URLs. It’s usually better to be more specific if you’re trying to enforce www or non-www.
     • Target URL: The URL you want to redirect to. This would be your root domain with the desired www or non-www prefix and the correct protocol (HTTP or HTTPS).
     • Redirection Type: Choose the appropriate redirect type (usually “301 Moved Permanently”).
  4. Save the Redirect: Save your settings.
  5. Test: Test your website in different browsers to ensure the redirection works correctly. Clear your browser cache.

Which Method Should You Choose?

• .htaccess: Generally the most efficient and direct method, as the server handles the redirection before WordPress is even loaded. It’s recommended if you’re comfortable editing server configuration files.
• WordPress Plugins: Easier to use for those less familiar with code. However, they rely on WordPress being loaded to perform the redirection, which can add a slight overhead. For simple www to non-www or HTTP to HTTPS redirects, .htaccess is often preferred. Plugins are very useful for managing more complex redirection scenarios.

Important Considerations:

• HTTPS: Ensure your redirection rules correctly handle HTTPS if your site uses it.
• Trailing Slashes: Be mindful of trailing slashes in your URLs and ensure your redirection rules handle them consistently (either redirecting to URLs with or without trailing slashes).
• Caching: Clear your browser cache and any WordPress caching plugins you might be using after making changes to redirection rules.
• SEO: Using a 301 (permanent) redirect is crucial for SEO, as it tells search engines that the URL has permanently moved and helps transfer link equity.

Choose the method that you are most comfortable with and that best suits your needs. Remember to always back up your .htaccess file before editing it.