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# Setting the PHP magic quotes directive in an .htaccess file

> Discover how to manage the magic quotes directive in .htaccess with server tips and ready-to-use code snippets.

This article describes how to enable and disable the magic quotes dirctive in an *.htaccess* file.

<Warning>
  **Important**

  The information in this article only applies to certain types of hosting accounts. To determine whether or not the information below applies to your account, please see [this article](/docs/changing-php-settings-and-versions).

  📘 Note

  This article assumes that you have already set up a custom *.htaccess* file. If you have not already set up a custom *.htaccess* file, please read [this article](/docs/custom-htaccess-files-for-php-settings) first.

  🚧 Important

  This article only applies to PHP 5.3 and earlier versions. The magic quotes directive was removed in PHP 5.4.
</Warning>

## Using the magic quotes directive

<Warning>
  **️ Warning**

  Make sure you are aware of the security implications of enabling and disabling the magic quotes directive. For more information, please visit [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic\_quotes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_quotes).
</Warning>

When the magic quotes directive is enabled, PHP automatically escapes data from HTTP GET and POST requests and cookie data. For example, if a user types **"hello"** (with the quotation marks) in an HTML form, PHP automatically escapes the quotation marks and stores the value as **"hello"**.

To enable or disable the magic quotes feature, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your account [using SSH](/docs/using-ssh-secure-shell).
2. Use a text editor to modify the *.htaccess* file as follows:
   * To enable the magic quotes feature, add the following line:
     ```text theme={null}
     php_flag magic_quotes_gpc On
     ```
   * To disable the magic quotes feature, add the following line:
     ```text theme={null}
     php_flag magic_quotes_gpc Off
     ```
3. Save the changes to the *.htaccess* file and exit the text editor.
4. To verify that the new setting is active, create a PHP test file that contains the following code in the same directory where the *.htaccess* file is located:
   ```text theme={null}
   <?php phpinfo(); ?>
   ```
5. Load the test file in your web browser, and then search for the name of the directive. The **Local Value** column should display the new setting that you specified in the *.htaccess* file.

## More information

* To view a complete list of PHP directives, please visit [http://www.php.net/manual/en/ini.list.php](http://www.php.net/manual/en/ini.list.php).
* For more information about the magic quotes directive, please visit [http://www.php.net/manual/en/info.configuration.php#ini.magic-quotes-gpc](http://www.php.net/manual/en/info.configuration.php#ini.magic-quotes-gpc).

## Related articles

* [Custom .htaccess files for PHP settings](/docs/custom-htaccess-files-for-php-settings)
* [Using PHP directives in custom .htaccess files](/docs/using-php-directives-in-custom-htaccess-files)