How do I integrate Prerender on shared hosting?

TL;DR

On shared hosting, integrate Prerender at your CDN if you use one — it's the most reliable approach and requires no server-level access. If you don't have a CDN, you can integrate at the web server level using Apache or Nginx, though some configuration steps may require your hosting provider's help.

ℹ️ Not sure which integration is right for your setup? Nexus, your AI integration assistant, is built into your Prerender dashboard — describe your tech stack and it will recommend the right path and walk you through setup.

Step 1 — Choose your integration point

Integrate Prerender as close to the AI crawler or search engine bot as possible. The closer to the edge of your network, the fewer routing issues you'll encounter.

CDN (recommended): If your site uses a CDN, integrate Prerender there. CDN-level integration intercepts crawler requests before they reach your server—the most reliable option on shared hosting.

Web server: If you don't use a CDN, integrate at the web server level using Apache or Nginx. Continue with the steps below.

Step 2 — Integrate with Apache

See the Apache integration guide for the full configuration file.

You can edit your .htaccess file from your control panel's file manager or via FTP/SFTP. Depending on your hosting provider, you may also be able to enable the required Apache modules directly from your control panel.

⚠️ Apache integration requires the SSLProxyEngine on directive in your domain's Virtual Host configuration file. On shared hosting, this file is typically managed by your hosting provider and is not accessible to you. If it isn't already configured, contact your hosting provider's support team before continuing.

Enable Apache modules in cPanel

Search for Select PHP Version or MultiPHP INI Editor in cPanel.
Find the section for Apache modules or handlers.
Check the boxes next to the modules you need to enable.
Save your changes.

Enable Apache modules in Plesk

Go to Tools & Settings → Apache Web Server.
Find the Modules section.
Check the boxes next to the modules you need to enable.
Click Apply to save your changes.

Enable Apache modules in DirectAdmin

Go to Server Manager or Admin Tools.
Find Apache Configuration or Apache Modules.
Select the modules to enable.
Save your changes and restart Apache if prompted.

ℹ️ If your .htaccess file is inaccessible, the required modules are not available, or SSLProxyEngine on is not set in your Virtual Host config, contact your hosting provider's support team—they can apply these changes on your behalf.

Step 3 — Integrate with Nginx

See the Nginx integration guide for the full configuration.

Nginx integration requires editing your server's configuration files directly. On shared hosting, this access is often restricted. If you can't access the Nginx config files, contact your hosting provider and ask them to apply the changes from the integration guide.

Step 4 — Verify your integration

Once your Apache or Nginx configuration is in place, confirm that Prerender is correctly intercepting crawler requests.

If you see a "Prerender integration not detected" message, follow the steps in What should I do if I receive a 'Prerender integration not detected' error? to resolve it.

✅ Your integration is working when Prerender shows cached pages appearing in your dashboard within 2–5 minutes of your first crawler request.

💬 Still need help?
If you're having trouble integrating Prerender on shared hosting, our support team can help. When you reach out, include any error messages you're seeing, the troubleshooting steps you've already taken, and screenshots if applicable.
→ Contact us at support@prerender.io