How to change the PHP version for a website or cPanel account
As your website and business grow, you may find that you need to change the version of PHP being used for your site.
As time passes and Digital Storefronts/Content management systems evolve, they can require more advanced versions of PHP to function correctly. This can also apply to some plugins that you may need to install.
In these cases, you are able to use the MultiPHP Manager within your cPanel account to change the version of PHP your site is using.
BEFORE PROCEEDING FURTHER: If your site is functioning without any problems and you have not been advised to upgrade your version of PHP, DO NOT change the version of PHP that your site is using. Higher versions of PHP are not always better if they are not required. Functions can be changed or deprecated and this can cause major issues with the functioning of your website. Only change your site’s version of PHP if it has been recommended to you by someone you trust of if it is a requirement of new software that you are installing. If you are unsure about this, please feel free to submit a support ticket to our support team and we will be happy to assist you.
1. To change your PHP version, you will first need to login to your cPanel. You can do this by going to www.yourdomain.com.au:2083 and then typing in the cPanel username and password, or you can login through the Host Geek client portal, click the large green “Active Hosting” button, then the orange “cPanel logo beneath the cPanel account you wish to access.
2. Once logged in to your cPanel, locate the “Software” section, and click the “MultiPHP Manager” icon.
3. On the following page, you will see the “System PHP Version”. This is the default PHP version used for all of our servers. It is currently set to PHP 5.6 as this has the broadest range of compatibility with most webapps.
Beneath this, you can see that you are able to select the PHP version per domain name you have setup within the cPanel. Many cPanels will only have one domain name listed here because they only contain one website, but if you have multiple sites hosted within your cPanel, you will see them here.
4. To change the PHP version of a site within your cPanel, click the checkbox to the left of the domain name, select a new PHP version from the drop-down box to the upper right, then click the “Apply” button.
It’s as simple as that! You have just changed your PHP version.
If at any point you are unsure of how to proceed or whether or not you need to change your PHP version, please contact support and we will be happy to assist you.
