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How do I stop people from getting directory listings
when I dont have an index page?

If a URL which maps to a directory is requested, and the there is no DirectoryIndex (e.g., index.html) in that directory, then the server by default will return a formatted listing of the contents of that directory.

To turn these directory listings off, simply add to (or create) an .htaccess file in the directory you want to protect and insert:
Options -Indexes

If you are just trying to change what the default index page will be called, see this other FAQ.

User-Contributed Notes

29-Mar-2004 10:38

All you do is create a file named: .htaccess

Inside that file you put 1 line:

    Options -Indexes


You upload the file to your home directory with your FTP program and
then no more directory listings will get shown.

info -at- dryfoo.com
07-Sep-2007 16:00

You could always just create a "dummy" index.html file with no content:

<html><head>
<title>No Access Allowed</title> </head><body>
No Access Allowed
</body></html>

anonymous -at- example.com
01-Jul-2008 13:56

Just adding a .htaccess file may not always work.  The apache
configuration settings have to be such that AllowOverride is set to
include the 'Indexes' option.  Normally, the default configuration is to
"AllowOverride All" which should allow the .htaccess file to change
directory listing options.  If the .htaccess file does not work for you,
you can either modify your apache configuration to allow it, or ask your
admin to change it for you.

The index.html file is a good and easy way to get around this.  If your
system supports php and index.php files, you can make a simple php
index.php as:

<?php
  header("Location: http://www.example.com";);
  exit;
?>

  This will always redirect someone who is trying to get a listing of
the directory contents.  This is my preferred method.

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