Nginx Password Protect a website

To password protect a website, you need to install htpasswd utility. On Ubuntu/Debian, you can install it with the command

apt install apache2-utils -y

Now create a password file with the command

htpasswd -c /etc/nginx/.htpasswd  USER_NAME_HERE

It will ask for a password.

Edit the configuration file for your website and add the following in the server entry for the website.

auth_basic "Members Only";
auth_basic_user_file /etc/nginx/.htpasswd;

Restart Nginx.

systemctl restart nginx

Now on visiting the website, you will be asked to enter your username and password.