{"id":180,"date":"2026-05-30T23:14:52","date_gmt":"2026-05-31T06:14:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hostandtech.com\/kb\/cpanel\/how-to-change-php-version-cpanel\/"},"modified":"2026-05-30T23:14:52","modified_gmt":"2026-05-31T06:14:52","slug":"how-to-change-php-version-cpanel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hostandtech.com\/kb\/cpanel\/how-to-change-php-version-cpanel\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Change PHP Version in cPanel (PHP Selector Guide)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Overview<\/h2>\n

Your hosting account runs PHP to execute server-side code for your website. The cPanel PHP version<\/strong> your site uses directly affects whether your CMS, plugins, themes, and custom scripts work correctly. PHP 7.4, for example, handles certain functions differently than PHP 8.1 or 8.2, and running the wrong version is one of the fastest ways to break a site after an update.<\/p>\n

Most users land here after updating WordPress or a plugin and suddenly seeing a white screen, a 500 error, or a message like “Your server is running PHP version X but this plugin requires at least PHP Y.” Switching versions in cPanel takes about two minutes once you know where to look.<\/p>\n

Depending on your hosting setup, you’ll use one of two tools: PHP Selector<\/strong> (available on CloudLinux-based shared hosting, which is what most Shared Hosting<\/a> plans use) or MultiPHP Manager<\/strong> (available on WHM-managed servers). This article covers both.<\/p>\n

Prerequisites<\/h2>\n
    \n
  • Active cPanel account with login access<\/li>\n
  • Your hosting account must be on a plan that supports multiple PHP versions \u2014 most shared hosting plans do, but check with support if you’re unsure<\/li>\n
  • Know which PHP version your application requires (check your CMS documentation or plugin requirements)<\/li>\n
  • If you’re on a VPS or dedicated server, WHM access may be needed to enable MultiPHP for individual accounts<\/li>\n
  • A backup of your site before switching versions \u2014 especially if you’re moving from PHP 7.x to 8.x<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Method 1: Using PHP Selector (CloudLinux Shared Hosting)<\/h2>\n

    PHP Selector is the tool you’ll see on most shared hosting environments. It lets you set a PHP version per account, and in some configurations, per directory using an .htaccess<\/code> rule or a php.ini<\/code> override.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. \n Log in to cPanel.<\/strong> Your login URL is typically yourdomain.com\/cpanel<\/code> or the URL your host provided in your welcome email.\n <\/li>\n
    2. \n Find the Software section.<\/strong> Scroll down to the section labelled Software<\/em> and click Select PHP Version<\/strong>. If you don’t see this, your host may not have CloudLinux installed \u2014 skip to Method 2.\n <\/li>\n
    3. \n Choose your PHP version.<\/strong> A dropdown at the top of the page shows your current version. Click it and select the version you need. As of 2026, PHP 8.1 and 8.2 are the most widely supported stable releases. PHP 8.3 is available on most updated environments.<\/p>\n

      \ud83d\udcdd Note:<\/strong> PHP 7.4 reached end-of-life in November 2022. It may still appear in the selector, but it no longer receives security patches. Don’t use it for anything public-facing unless you have a specific, temporary reason.\n <\/li>\n

    4. \n Click Set as current.<\/strong> This applies the change account-wide.\n <\/li>\n
    5. \n Review PHP extensions.<\/strong> After switching versions, PHP Selector shows a list of available extensions for that version. Extensions enabled on PHP 7.4 may not auto-enable on 8.1. Scroll through and re-enable anything your application needs \u2014 common ones include mysqli<\/code>, curl<\/code>, mbstring<\/code>, gd<\/code>, and zip<\/code>.<\/p>\n

      \u26a0 Warning:<\/strong> This is the step most people skip. If your site works but images stop loading or contact forms break after a PHP switch, missing extensions are almost always the cause.\n <\/li>\n

    6. \n Save your extension changes<\/strong> by clicking Save<\/strong> at the bottom of the extensions list.\n <\/li>\n
    7. \n Test your site.<\/strong> Open your site in a browser and click through a few pages. Check your admin panel if applicable.\n <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Method 2: Using MultiPHP Manager (WHM \/ VPS \/ Dedicated)<\/h2>\n

      MultiPHP Manager is available in WHM and gives server admins more granular control. If you manage a VPS or dedicated server at Host & Tech, this is where you’ll handle PHP versioning at the account level.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. \n Log in to WHM<\/strong> at yourdomain.com:2087<\/code> or via the server management panel.\n <\/li>\n
      2. \n Search for MultiPHP Manager<\/strong> in the WHM search bar. Click it when it appears.\n <\/li>\n
      3. \n Find the account or domain<\/strong> you want to change. You can filter by domain name in the search field.\n <\/li>\n
      4. \n Select the PHP version<\/strong> from the dropdown next to the account and click Apply<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

        \ud83d\udcdd Note:<\/strong> Changes here override any PHP version set at the cPanel level for that account. If a user is confused about why their PHP Selector change isn’t sticking, this is usually why \u2014 an admin-level MultiPHP setting is taking precedence.\n <\/li>\n

      5. \n Install additional PHP versions<\/strong> if the one you need isn’t listed. Go to WHM > MultiPHP Installer<\/em>, select the version, and install it. This takes a few minutes.\n <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Method 3: Set PHP Version Per Directory Using .htaccess<\/h2>\n

        Sometimes you need a different PHP version for one subdirectory \u2014 say, a legacy app in \/old-app\/<\/code> while the rest of the site runs PHP 8.2. You can do this with an .htaccess<\/code> directive, but only if your server supports it (CloudLinux + PHP Selector environments typically do).<\/p>\n

        Add this to the .htaccess<\/code> file inside the specific directory:<\/p>\n