How to Manage PHP Versions

Published January 31, 2025

This article is focused on teaching you how to manage PHP versions for your website(s) using cPanel and DirectAdmin. Also included is details on how to use CloudLinux OS extended life PHP versions. Evolve Web Hosting provides you with these PHP versions on our cPanel NVMe web hosting plans and DirectAdmin NVMe web hosting plans. We hope you find this article of value when using it to manage the PHP version of your own website.

Actively Supported PHP Versions

List of actively supported PHP versions - https://www.php.net/supported-versions.php

CloudLinux OS Extended PHP Version Support

Extended PHP support provided by CloudLinuxOS are available on Evolve Web Hosting cPanel Web Hosting plans and DirectAdmin Web Hosting Plans

These security patched versions of PHP range from PHP 7.1 - PHP 8.4 and are included with our web hosting plans.

cPanel MultiPHP Manager

Every cPanel account includes MultiPHP Manager located in the Software section of the control panel. Locate it and click on the icon.

cPanel CloudLinux OS PHP Selector

If your server uses CloudLinux OS (you may need to ask your web hosting provider), older PHP versions are available. These PHP versions have been patched to fix security vulnerabilities making them safe for you to use even after they have been deemed as unsupported by the PHP organization.

To get started, login to your cPanel User account.

Locate Select PHP Version Option

After logging in to your cPanel control panel, navigate to Software -> Select PHP Version or use the cPanel search bar and start to type in Select PHP Version so that the link appears to click on it.

Choose PHP Version

Once you're on the Select PHP Version page, choose the PHP version that you want to use. NOTE: Choosing a version that says (native) next to it is NOT the CloudLinux PHP version. That is the PHP version actively supported by the PHP Foundation.

PHP Options Tab

The cPanel CloudLinux PHP Options Tab allows you to configure many different variables including max_execution_time, max_input_time, memory_limit, post_max_sizeand upload_max_filesize. These are a few of the common variables that are often updated to find tune the software that you use such as contact forms and ecommerce websites.

PHP Extensions Tab

The most common PHP Extensions are enabled by default. If you have software that requires additional PHP Extensions to be enabled, you can do so here or submit a ticket to have Web Hosting Technical Support take care of this for you.

DirectAdmin PHP Version Management

In your DirectAdmin control panel, there are 3 different places where you can change the PHP version. Those locations are listed below.

Account Manager -> PHP Settings

Domain Settings -> Modify Domain

Subdomain Management

DirectAdmin CloudLinux OS PHP Selector

If your server uses CloudLinux OS (you may need to ask your web hosting provider), older PHP versions are available. These PHP versions have been patched to fix security vulnerabilities making them safe for you to use even after they have been deemed as unsupported by the PHP organization.

To get started, login to your DirectAdmin User account.

Locate Select PHP Version Option

After logging in to your DirectAdmin control panel, navigate to Extra Features -> Select PHP Version or use the DirectAdmin search bar and start to type in Select PHP Version so that the link appears to click on it.

Choose PHP Version

Once you're on the Select PHP Version page, choose the PHP version that you want to use. NOTE: Choosing a version that says (native) next to it is NOT the CloudLinux PHP version. That is the PHP version actively supported by the PHP Foundation.

DirectAdmin CloudLinux OS PHP Selector

PHP Options Tab

The DirectAdmin CloudLinux PHP Options Tab allows you to configure many different variables including max_execution_time, max_input_time, memory_limit, post_max_sizeand upload_max_filesize. These are a few of the common variables that are often updated to find tune the software that you use such as contact forms and ecommerce websites.

PHP Extensions Tab

The most common PHP Extensions are enabled by default. If you have software that requires additional PHP Extensions to be enabled, you can do so here or submit a ticket to have Web Hosting Technical Support take care of this for you.

DirectAdmin CloudLinux OS PHP Selector