The default homepage for a website on a Windows host is not taking effect

Possible causes

• The homepage priority settings are incorrect in the host management console.

• The default homepage is configured incorrectly in the web.config file.

Solution

1. Log on to the Web Hosting console.

2. Find your Web Hosting instance and click manage in the actions column.

3. In the navigation pane on the left, choose basic environment settings > default homepage settings.

4. In the homepage priority settings section, check whether the default homepage has the highest priority.

   • If the priority is correct, proceed to the next step.

   • If the priority is incorrect, click the icon to move the default homepage to the top of the list, and then proceed to the next step.

5. Modify the web.config file.

   1. Use an FTP tool to connect to your Web Hosting instance.

      For more information, see Manage website files with FileZilla.

   2. Download the web.config file to your local host.

      In this example, the web.config file is stored in the site root directory (/). In the site root directory (/), find the web.config file, and then double-click it or drag it to your local host.

      Important

      The location of the web.config file may vary depending on the developer's practices. If you cannot find the web.config file in the site root directory (/), contact your website developer to locate the file.

   3. On your local host, open the web.config file with a text editor, such as EditPlus.

   4. Search for the keyword add value, and check whether the file name specified in the value attribute is correct.

      Based on whether the parameter after the keyword add value is correct, perform one of the following actions:

      • If the parameter after add value is correct, proceed to Step 6.

      • If the parameter for add value is incorrect, continue to the next step.

   5. Add the <clear /> element before the incorrect line.

      <configuration>
          &lt;system.webServer&gt;
              <defaultDocument>
                  <files>
                      <clear />
                      <add value="index.asp" />
                  </files>
              </defaultDocument>
          &lt;/system.webServer&gt;
      </configuration>

   6. Save and close the file.

   7. Use your FTP tool to upload the modified web.config file back to the Web Hosting instance.

      On your local host, select the saved web.config file, and then double-click it or drag it to the site root directory (/) of your Web Hosting instance.

6. Visit your website again to verify that the default homepage loads correctly.

   If the issue persists, submit a ticket for assistance.