Title: Parse Error: Syntax Error when index.php copied to root Last modified: August 21, 2016 --- # Parse Error: Syntax Error when index.php copied to root * Resolved [SomethingWonderful](https://wordpress.org/support/users/somethingwonderful/) * (@somethingwonderful) * [12 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/) * I’m having a nightmare. * When I copy the index.php file (and the htaccess) to the root directory I’m getting the error message below? * “”Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_ENCAPSED_AND_WHITESPACE in /home/*****/ public_html/index.php on line 17″” * I’ve created many wordpress sites and never come across this problem before. It’s happening on every new install. * No plug-ins, no custom themes, happens on the cleanest new installation. My hosting company also have no idea what could be causing the problem. * Has anyone else had this problem, or can anyone enlighten me with suggestions? * Many thanks, * SW Viewing 12 replies - 16 through 27 (of 27 total) [←](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/?output_format=md) [1](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/?output_format=md) 2 * [precisioncomputing](https://wordpress.org/support/users/precisioncomputing/) * (@precisioncomputing) * [12 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/page/2/#post-4343293) * Hello, Through trial and error I changed line 17 of my index.php to be the following and I got the result that I was looking for. * require(‘. wp/wp-blog-header.php’); * * ‘wp’ is the directory I have the WordPress installation in * I can not believe that WordPress has not made this an easy scripted change. I think that this is going to be a very common request. * Please make this just a little easier to make everyones life stress free. * I am keen to know if this helps anyone else. * [kingofwingshair](https://wordpress.org/support/users/kingofwingshair/) * (@kingofwingshair) * [12 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/page/2/#post-4343298) * I am having the same issue with the parse error. * What did your index.php file look like when you got it to work? * I’ll try copying and pasting it into mine. Thanks! * [naomispirit](https://wordpress.org/support/users/naomispirit/) * (@naomispirit) * [12 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/page/2/#post-4343299) * Hi, I’ve got the same issue but that same change didn’t work for me. Anyone else resolve this in any other way? Cheers Naomi * [nicocluster](https://wordpress.org/support/users/nicocluster/) * (@nicocluster) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/page/2/#post-4343301) * I RESOLVED it in this way: in the index.php in the root i changed this: * require( dirname( __FILE__ ) . ‘/wp-blog-header.php’ ); * into this: * require( dirname( __FILE__ ) . ‘/wpfolder/wp-blog-header.php’ ); * using text editor on mac BUT WITHOUT WRITING! i copied-pasted the letters that i needed from other words from the same file. * It worked for me! So i think this was a font error! * Thread Starter [SomethingWonderful](https://wordpress.org/support/users/somethingwonderful/) * (@somethingwonderful) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/page/2/#post-4343302) * I RESOLVED this issue by using the file editor within cPanel and Extend on my two hosting accounts. * Whenever I tried to edit the code in text editor on my iMac or within Dreamweaver I would get the errors mentioned above. It was driving me mad..!!!! * As nicocluster says I think it’s an issue with text editor for mac. * [renewmarketingltd](https://wordpress.org/support/users/renewmarketingltd/) * (@renewmarketingltd) * [12 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/page/2/#post-4343308) * **I just did the same as above, it was driving me nuts too.** Change it in the file editor on your cPanel and it works first time. I’m also using a Mac which seems to be part of the problem from what others have said above. * [cptsplading](https://wordpress.org/support/users/cptsplading/) * (@cptsplading) * [12 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/page/2/#post-4343311) * I ran into the same issue. After a lot of trial and error, I ran across this thread and discovered the problem is the way that Text Editor on the Mac handles single quotes. If you look carefully, it’s a slightly different symbol. * I was able to get things to work by copying the single quote at the end of the ` require( dirname( __FILE__ ) . '/wpfolder/wp-blog-header.php' );` line and then pasting that single quote at the beginning of the path. Everything worked then. * [sannahkhan](https://wordpress.org/support/users/sannahkhan/) * (@sannahkhan) * [11 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/page/2/#post-4343317) * Oh my god. I find this completely ridiculous. I was struggling with this as well, and finally came across this thread. My solution was like those above – just to use the cpanel editor to achieve the same results, rather than TextEdit on my Mac. * So frustrating! * [Jaywill77](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jaywill77/) * (@jaywill77) * [11 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/page/2/#post-4343318) * It’s crazy!!!! Been on this for more than an hour pulling my hair out (especially knowing the code was supposed to be correct!). Editing from CPanel did the trick eventually! Thanks a lot y’all! Apple is sliding more and more. I guess I need to find a basic text editor to replace the one I have. Don’t wanna lose time every time I go into editing. * [jamielucas](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jamielucas/) * (@jamielucas) * [11 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/page/2/#post-4343319) * I just wanted to say THANKS A MILLION!!! I’m such a newbie to wordpress, and this saved me from pulling my own hair out!!! I was using textedit as well, and then luckily found this thread on google. Again, THANKS A TON!!! * [sunnydeora](https://wordpress.org/support/users/sunnydeora/) * (@sunnydeora) * [11 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/page/2/#post-4343320) * I am still facing this problem please advise me how to handel this . i tried require( dirname( __FILE__ ) . ‘/wpfolder/wp-blog-header.php’ ); same copy and paste on my index.php file. still showing me error . * [Andrew Nevins](https://wordpress.org/support/users/anevins/) * (@anevins) * WCLDN 2018 Contributor | Volunteer support * [11 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/page/2/#post-4343321) * > I RESOLVED this issue by using the file editor within cPanel and Extend on > my two hosting accounts. > Whenever I tried to edit the code in text editor on my iMac or within Dreamweaver > I would get the errors mentioned above. It was driving me mad..!!!! * [https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting#postform](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting#postform) Viewing 12 replies - 16 through 27 (of 27 total) [←](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/?output_format=md) [1](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/?output_format=md) 2 The topic ‘Parse Error: Syntax Error when index.php copied to root’ is closed to new replies. * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/) * 27 replies * 14 participants * Last reply from: [Andrew Nevins](https://wordpress.org/support/users/anevins/) * Last activity: [11 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-when-indexphp-copied-to-root/page/2/#post-4343321) * Status: resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics