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allisterv80066289
Participating Frequently
December 21, 2016
Answered

How do I hide my website from search engines and the general public?

  • December 21, 2016
  • 2 replies
  • 734 views

I am currently in the process of re-designing my company website and I now have a functional website ready for upload to the internet. However, the website I have created requires prior approval from senior personnel before I can upload it and replace the current website. I am looking to 'secretly' publish the website online - so that the directors and senior personnel can access the entire website from any computer (using specific URLs that I provide) - but so that the general public cannot access the website, or view it in any search engines.

Can anyone recommend the best way to do this? I was thinking of simply 'hiding' the website from search engines (so that the public cannot search for it and access it), but I can't find a way to do so!

Many thanks in advance for any help!

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Jon Fritz

I upload my works in progress to a password protected folder on my own site first. The client gets the log in, approves and the site is then uploaded to their domain.

The link ends up along the lines of www.mysite.com/client_name

They can log on from anywhere in the world, but need a password and username from me to get any further into the site.

Due to the password protection on the folder, search engine crawlers can't do anything with it and there's no risk of accidentally leaving noindex nofollow robots meta tags in the live site.

2 replies

ftgben
ftgben
Inspiring
April 10, 2017

How do you make a password protected folder for a log in?

I want to be able to redesign a website and have it live while being reviewed. At the same time being sure it is not being indexed until ready.

Is this done in muse?

Ben

Nancy OShea
Community Expert
Nancy OSheaCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 11, 2017

Muse is incapable of producing server-side programming which is required to password protect folders/pages.

The simplest way to password protect a folder on your server is through your web hosting plan's C-Panel or Plesk panel.  If unsure, contact your hosting provider and ask them.  In some cases, they can do it for you.

Nancy

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
Jon Fritz
Community Expert
Jon FritzCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
December 21, 2016

I upload my works in progress to a password protected folder on my own site first. The client gets the log in, approves and the site is then uploaded to their domain.

The link ends up along the lines of www.mysite.com/client_name

They can log on from anywhere in the world, but need a password and username from me to get any further into the site.

Due to the password protection on the folder, search engine crawlers can't do anything with it and there's no risk of accidentally leaving noindex nofollow robots meta tags in the live site.

A
allisterv80066289Author
Participating Frequently
December 21, 2016

Good idea Jon, thank you. With the password protection, does the user have to input the password for each individual webpage they access, or is it just the once to gain access to the website as a whole?

Jon Fritz
Community Expert
Jon FritzCommunity Expert
Community Expert
December 21, 2016

I just protect the folder itself through the hosting company's admin area (usually cpanel).

They only need to enter the password once per visit.

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