How to manage PHP in the control panel

Open your website in the hosting control panel, then choose Advanced → Developer tools → PHP. These controls affect the selected website. Record its current version and take a manual backup before making a compatibility change.

Change the PHP version

1. Check which PHP versions your application, plugins, themes, and encoded scripts support. Test the intended change on staging when available.
2. Open the version selector under Change the PHP version for your website.
3. Select the version you intend to use and review any confirmation or error shown.
4. Reload the settings to confirm the selected value. Test the public website, administrator area, forms, and other functions that use PHP.
5. If the application fails, check the PHP error log. Return to the recorded version while resolving compatibility problems, if that version is still available.

The available versions and LATEST or LTS badges come from the panel. A version appearing in the list is not proof of upstream security support. Check the PHP project’s supported versions and ask support what maintenance applies to a panel-specific LTS option.

Enable or disable PHP extensions

The PHP extensions grid separates Built-in extensions, shown as enabled and unavailable for editing, from Configurable extensions, which have editable checkboxes. Available extensions depend on the selected PHP version.

Change an extension only when your application’s requirements call for it. Review the result and any error shown, reload the page to check the selected state, and test the feature that needs the extension. Do not assume a restart is required unless the panel or support instructs you to perform one.

The PHP redis extension and the Redis service are separate parts of an object-cache setup. Seeing the extension enabled does not by itself confirm that your application is using Redis.

View the PHP error log

The php-error.log section follows the extensions. It shows its last refresh time and has a refresh button. If there are no entries, the panel shows No PHP errors logged since restart.

Refresh the log after reproducing a PHP problem and compare the timestamps with the failed request. An empty PHP log does not rule out a DNS, proxy, web-server, or application problem elsewhere.

When contacting support, include the website, PHP version, time, and relevant error text. Remove passwords, tokens, and unrelated personal information from logs or screenshots.

Review php.ini settings

Select php.ini editor in Developer tools. The table shows each Directive and its Settings. Some values carry an Inherited label. These are the values shown for that website, not universal limits for every plan.

Use Add directive or a row’s menu when you need an application-specific setting. Record the original value and use the type and units expected by PHP. Follow the save or confirmation controls shown, then reload and test the application.

Changing PHP limits is separate from increasing a hosting plan’s available resources. If you are unsure which directive applies, check the application’s error and ask support before changing several settings at once.

Restart PHP

Restart is at the top right of the PHP section. Use it when troubleshooting calls for restarting the website’s PHP service. It can interrupt in-flight requests, so choose an appropriate time and check the website afterward.

A restart does not fix incompatible application code. Record useful log messages before restarting, especially when investigating a recurring failure.

IonCube loader

Select IonCube loader in Developer tools if an application requires IonCube-encoded scripts. Check compatibility with the application vendor before enabling it.

The current panel warns that IonCube cannot be enabled for PHP 8.0. Review the warning shown for your selected version. Do not move an application to an unsupported PHP version solely to make this toggle available.