Wordpress - remove "index.php" from permalinks

Go to your WP-ADMIN-->Settings-->Permalink and use the permalink structure change there, if it generate any .htaccess file copy the content and update your .htaccess file.

Or Check if your hosting mod_rewrite is enable by creating a file phpinfo.php with content,

<?php phpinfo();?>

Upload this file and browse via Browser. So you know which modules are enabled. You need mod_rewrite enable to remove index.php from URL.

More details Check this link

Had exactly same issue. But in my case mod_rewrite was not installed at all for apache. I just installed it with

sudo a2enmod rewrite

and then changed my Permalink Settings. Worked like a charm.

Hope it helps.