# Why do I see ?i=1 at the end of a URL
**URL:** https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/why-do-i-see-i-1-at-the-end-of-a-url/49356
**Category:** Websites and PHP
**Created:** [March 26, 2020, 11:00pm UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/why-do-i-see-i-1-at-the-end-of-a-url/49356 "2020-03-26T23:00:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Admin](https://forum.infinityfree.com/u/Admin)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2020, 11:00pm UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/why-do-i-see-i-1-at-the-end-of-a-url/49356/1 "2020-03-26T23:00:00Z")
Don’t worry, this is normal! When you visit your website, you might notice `?i=1` added to the end of your URL. Here’s what’s happening and why.
## What is the ?i=1 suffix?
The `?i=1` is a security check that protects your website from bots and malicious traffic. Our system needs to verify you’re using a real web browser before letting you access your site.
## Why does it appear?
When you first visit your website, our security system:
- Sends a small test to your browser
- Checks if your browser can store a cookie
- Adds the number to track how many verification attempts have been made
The page reloads with `?i=1` while this verification happens. If the first attempt doesn’t work, you might see `?i=2` or `?i=3` as the system tries again.
## What should I do?
In most cases, you don’t need to do anything. Once the security check completes successfully, you won’t see the `?i=1` parameter on subsequent page visits.
If the parameter keeps appearing or you see higher numbers like `?i=3`, make sure cookies are enabled in your browser. After a few failed attempts, you’ll be redirected to a page with instructions on enabling cookies.
## Can I remove it?
This security feature is built into our free hosting to keep your site safe and cannot be disabled. The URL parameter is temporary and won’t affect your website’s functionality.
Note that [premium hosting](https://www.infinityfree.com/premium/) uses different security methods that don’t require this URL parameter.
## Common questions
**Will this hurt my SEO?** No, search engines understand that temporary parameters like this are part of security systems.
**Do all my visitors see this?** Most visitors will only see it briefly during their first visit, if at all.
**Having other issues?** This security check occasionally causes compatibility issues with certain tools and applications. If you’re experiencing problems beyond just seeing the URL parameter, read our comprehensive guide to the browser security system.
> [@Browser Security System - Features and Limitations](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/browser-security-system-features-and-limitations/49353):
>
> InfinityFree uses a security system on all free hosting accounts to ensure your website is accessed by real web browsers, not bots or automated scripts. While this protects your site from malicious traffic, it can affect certain types of access. How the security system works The system checks that visitors can execute JavaScript and accept cookies: features that all modern web browsers support. This verification happens automatically and most website visitors will never notice it. You may occa…
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### Author:  [@AlvinHowse102](https://forum.infinityfree.com/u/AlvinHowse102)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2024, 3:58pm UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/why-do-i-see-i-1-at-the-end-of-a-url/49356/3 "2024-11-22T15:58:41Z")
Going to my website passing ?i=3 to it does the _Cookies are not enabled_ page! 😂
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### Author:  [@super\_user\_123](https://forum.infinityfree.com/u/super_user_123)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2025, 1:44pm UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/why-do-i-see-i-1-at-the-end-of-a-url/49356/4 "2025-01-12T13:44:20Z")
This is horrible. So stupid. Old fashioned.
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### Author:  [@dan3008](https://forum.infinityfree.com/u/dan3008)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2025, 3:46pm UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/why-do-i-see-i-1-at-the-end-of-a-url/49356/5 "2025-01-12T15:46:37Z")
Its not particularly old fassioned. But its used as a simple, low resource and effective system to secure our websites. Yes there are better aproaches, but they cost more, and are more resource intensive. Hence they are only on the premium hosting.
I’ve seen multiple free hosting platforms do the same
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### Author:  [@yanageorge](https://forum.infinityfree.com/u/yanageorge)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2025, 3:00pm UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/why-do-i-see-i-1-at-the-end-of-a-url/49356/6 "2025-01-25T15:00:59Z")
this is dumb and horrible
why you force us to do so claiming its for our security nobody asked for it
at least make automatic redirect from [www.xyz.com](http://www.xyz.com) to www.xyz. com/?i=1
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### Author:  [@dan3008](https://forum.infinityfree.com/u/dan3008)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2025, 3:18pm UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/why-do-i-see-i-1-at-the-end-of-a-url/49356/7 "2025-01-25T15:18:10Z")
> [@yanageorge](#):
>
> this is dumb and horrible
Its part of the free hosting, that you agreed to when sigining up. It could be a lot worse, trust me. I had a site with another free hosting provider, and you could only access the site through their landing page AND they injected adds.
By comparison this is actually really amazing.
If you really don’t like premium is still an option
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### Author:  [@Admin](https://forum.infinityfree.com/u/Admin)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2025, 3:44pm UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/why-do-i-see-i-1-at-the-end-of-a-url/49356/8 "2025-01-25T15:44:08Z")
> [@yanageorge](#):
>
> why you force us to do so claiming its for our security nobody asked for it
Because nobody cares about security until it (or the lack of it) affects them negatively.
Nobody likes protection against hacking that blocks suspicious requests, until it’s their website that gets hacked and we are blamed for not protecting it.
Nobody likes anti-DDoS measures that blocks some legitimate traffic, until the server gets attacked, all websites slow down or even go down, and we are blamed for not keeping the websites up.
We as a hosting provider have the responsibility to provide a fast, reliable and secure hosting environment. And it’s our responsibility to determine which measures we need to take to achieve that. And it’s up to us to determine what features or usability we can sacrifice to achieve that.
Please also consider that we provide completely free hosting, and the margins for free hosting are razor thin. So we can’t just add more servers to handle attack traffic, because servers costs a lot of money, but we get no money from you.
With that in mind, if you are willing to pay money to not be subject to such restrictions, please consider premium hosting. Which costs money and doesn’t have this security system.
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### Author:  [@twineee.rf.gd](https://forum.infinityfree.com/u/twineee.rf.gd)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2025, 11:54pm UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/why-do-i-see-i-1-at-the-end-of-a-url/49356/11 "2025-03-29T23:54:21Z")
what if I want a parameter named “i”? also, is there just a way to hide it
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### Author:  [@Greenreader9](https://forum.infinityfree.com/u/Greenreader9)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2025, 11:59pm UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/why-do-i-see-i-1-at-the-end-of-a-url/49356/12 "2025-03-29T23:59:55Z")
No, as the article states you cannot remove the system. And just use another letter, `j` or `q` are solid choices in the random letter category in my opinion.
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### Author:  [@dan3008](https://forum.infinityfree.com/u/dan3008)
#### Post date: [March 30, 2025, 9:32am UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/why-do-i-see-i-1-at-the-end-of-a-url/49356/13 "2025-03-30T09:32:56Z")
q? As a programmer I don’t think I’ve ever used q as a variable in my code lol.
I, j, x, y, z but never q lol
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### Author:  [@twineee.rf.gd](https://forum.infinityfree.com/u/twineee.rf.gd)
#### Post date: [March 30, 2025, 5:06pm UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/why-do-i-see-i-1-at-the-end-of-a-url/49356/14 "2025-03-30T17:06:41Z")
`q` stands for query, so on most websites with a search function, they will use `q`.
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### Author:  [@dan3008](https://forum.infinityfree.com/u/dan3008)
#### Post date: [March 30, 2025, 6:40pm UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/why-do-i-see-i-1-at-the-end-of-a-url/49356/15 "2025-03-30T18:40:37Z")
That makes sense. Just not one I’ve ever personally used haha. My own site uses a for search and query or query… Not sure why lol
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### Author:  [@Greenreader9](https://forum.infinityfree.com/u/Greenreader9)
#### Post date: [March 30, 2025, 10:15pm UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/why-do-i-see-i-1-at-the-end-of-a-url/49356/17 "2025-03-30T22:15:45Z")
3 posts were split to a new topic: [InfinityFree Badge Discussion](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/infinityfree-badge-discussion/108150)
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### Author:  [@FreeAdsPress](https://forum.infinityfree.com/u/FreeAdsPress)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2026, 11:21pm UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/why-do-i-see-i-1-at-the-end-of-a-url/49356/18 "2026-01-03T23:21:30Z")
I have no problem with security check for websites hosted on here.. but can it be set to hidden in url instead?
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### Author:  [@Jri-Creator](https://forum.infinityfree.com/u/Jri-Creator)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2026, 11:49pm UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/why-do-i-see-i-1-at-the-end-of-a-url/49356/19 "2026-01-03T23:49:17Z")
> [@FreeAdsPress](#):
>
> but can it be set to hidden in url instead?
There isn’t a reliable way of hiding `?i=1`. But there is [premium hosting](https://www.infinityfree.com/premium/) as an option.
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### Author:  [@YT\_Xaos](https://forum.infinityfree.com/u/YT_Xaos)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2026, 1:18pm UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/why-do-i-see-i-1-at-the-end-of-a-url/49356/20 "2026-01-06T13:18:55Z")
I’m not sure if this still works, I haven’t fully tested it for a while. However, I used this in my website and it worked well:
```auto
history.replaceState({}, "", location.href.replace(/[?|&]i=[1-3]/, ""));
```
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### Author:  [@dan3008](https://forum.infinityfree.com/u/dan3008)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2026, 2:10pm UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/why-do-i-see-i-1-at-the-end-of-a-url/49356/21 "2026-01-06T14:10:45Z")
> [@YT\_Xaos](#):
>
> `history.replaceState({}, "", location.href.replace(/[?|&]i=[1-3]/, ""));`
Intresting… I’m sure that didn’t work when I tried it, but seems to working now
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### Author:  [@Greenreader9](https://forum.infinityfree.com/u/Greenreader9)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2026, 2:35pm UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/why-do-i-see-i-1-at-the-end-of-a-url/49356/22 "2026-01-06T14:35:43Z")
If I remember correctly, that works fine until the system actually triggers, then it just gets stuck and (I think) uses up a bunch of hits. Someone would have to confirm this thought.
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### Author:  [@Jri-Creator](https://forum.infinityfree.com/u/Jri-Creator)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2026, 1:27am UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/why-do-i-see-i-1-at-the-end-of-a-url/49356/23 "2026-01-07T01:27:00Z")
> [@Greenreader9](#):
>
> Someone would have to confirm this thought.
I set up a test page, so far it works. It’s a JS command telling the browser to drop the `i=[1-3]`.
I even made sure to clear my cookies so that the system has to issue a new one, the `i=1` briefly appeared then went away.
I’ll keep my browser tab open to see if there is this odd Hits thing you’re talking about.
---
### Author:  [@dan3008](https://forum.infinityfree.com/u/dan3008)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2026, 9:28am UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/why-do-i-see-i-1-at-the-end-of-a-url/49356/24 "2026-01-07T09:28:03Z")
Intrestingly, my site has reverted to normal and my htaccess file replaced with the default one…
I guess the system doesn’t like it afterall
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