Open PHP Selector
Open Select PHP Version in cPanel.
Go to Software → Select PHP Version. CloudLinux PHP Selector shows the current PHP version and the PHP features available to your hosting account.
How to Log in to cPanelPHP Version
Choose the PHP version you want to use.
Select the required PHP version from the version selector and apply it. The versions available depend on the versions currently provided on the Hostmate server.
A newer PHP version can improve performance and security, but older applications, plugins or custom code may not be compatible.
PHP Extensions
Enable or disable PHP extensions.
Open the Extensions section to see the modules available for the selected PHP version. Enable the extensions your application requires and leave the normal defaults in place unless you have a reason to change them.
Extensions provide extra PHP functions for things such as databases, image handling, XML, ZIP files, encryption and internationalisation.
Disabling an extension that a website depends on can cause errors or stop part of the site from working.
PHP Options
Change supported php.ini-style settings.
Switch to the Options or PHP Options section. CloudLinux exposes selected PHP settings that can be adjusted for your account.
- memory_limit — maximum memory available to a PHP process.
- upload_max_filesize — maximum size of an individual uploaded file.
- post_max_size — maximum size of POST data, including uploads.
- max_execution_time — maximum time a PHP script may run.
- max_input_time — maximum time PHP may spend processing request data.
- max_input_vars — maximum number of input variables PHP accepts.
- display_errors — controls whether PHP errors are displayed in the browser.
- allow_url_fopen — controls whether supported PHP file functions may access remote URLs.
The exact options and allowed values depend on the selected PHP version and the Hostmate server configuration.
OPcache
Adjust OPcache options if they are available.
OPcache improves PHP performance by keeping compiled PHP code in memory. Depending on the account and PHP version, Hostmate may expose OPcache settings in PHP Options.
- opcache.memory_consumption — memory available to OPcache.
- opcache.max_accelerated_files — maximum number of PHP scripts stored in the cache.
- opcache.interned_strings_buffer — memory reserved for interned strings.
Higher PHP or OPcache limits use more server resources. Increase them only when the site has a demonstrated need.
Save + Test
CloudLinux saves PHP Selector changes automatically.
Changes made in PHP Selector are normally saved automatically. After changing PHP version, extensions or options, reload and test the website.
Check important pages, forms, WordPress administration, plugins and any application functions that depend on PHP.
Troubleshooting
If the website breaks after a PHP change.
Return to Select PHP Version and restore the previous PHP version or undo the extension or option you just changed.
If several settings were changed at once, restoring the defaults can help identify whether a PHP Selector change caused the problem.
WordPress
Keep WordPress and its plugins compatible with PHP.
Before moving a WordPress site to a newer PHP version, update WordPress core, plugins and themes and check that important third-party plugins support the new version.
If a site produces a critical error immediately after changing PHP, switch back to the previous working PHP version while you identify the incompatible code.
Need Help?
Not sure which PHP settings to use?
If an application requires a particular PHP version, extension or configuration value and you are unsure what to select, open a Hostmate support ticket and include the domain and the requirement you are trying to meet.
Open a Support TicketHostmate's PHP Selector is provided through CloudLinux. CloudLinux PHP Selector allows customers to select PHP versions, manage extensions and change supported PHP options from cPanel. View the official CloudLinux PHP Selector documentation.