How to change PHP version on shared-hosting with cPanel

This tutorial shows you how to easily change your PHP version on your Ecenica web hosting or WordPress hosting plan.

You can choose which version of PHP you want to run on your Ecenica web hosting plan. This is useful if the PHP app you are running on your website requires an older version of PHP, or simply if you wish to develop using the latest PHP builds.

Changing PHP versions takes seconds to complete.

Steps to change PHP version

1. Log in to Ecenica Dashboard
2. Open your Ecenica hosting service.
3. Click Select PHP Version.
4. Take a note of your current selected PHP version just in case you need to roll-back later.
5. Click the PHP version drop down list and select the PHP version you want your account to run. You can choose to run PHP versions 8.5, 8.4, 8.3, 8.2, 8.1, 8.0, 7.4, 7.3, 7.2, 7.1, 7.0 and 5.6.
6. After selecting a PHP version press Apply.
7. Your service will switch to use the version of PHP you have selected.

FAQ

What is PHP?
PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a widely used server-side scripting language for web development. It allows developers to create dynamic web pages by embedding PHP code within HTML.

Why change PHP versions?
Upgrading or downgrading PHP versions can impact your website’s performance, security, and compatibility. Here are the reasons:

1. Increased Security: Newer PHP versions come with security patches.
2. New Features: Major updates introduce new functionality.
3. Compatibility: Downgrading may resolve issues with older plugins or themes.

What is the latest PHP version on Ecenica Shared Hosting?
To find the latest PHP version supported by Ecenica:

1. Log in to cPanel.
2. Click Select PHP Version.
3. The PHP versions will be listed in the dropdown menu, with the most recent version shown at the bottom.
4. Press Apply.

Will changing PHP versions impact my WordPress site?
Some themes may not work well with certain PHP releases. We recommend checking with your theme developer before changing the PHP version.

What if I encounter website issues after changing PHP versions?
If your site stops working after a PHP version change, it could be due to incompatible code. Review your site’s code and update any deprecated functions or features.

How do I roll back to a previous PHP version?

1. Log in to cPanel.
2. Click Select PHP Version.
3. Choose the previous PHP version you were using.
4. Press Apply.
5. Your website will now use the previous PHP version, including its previous settings.

How do I change PHP versions in Ecenica VPS?
First, ensure your Ecenica VPS has our cPanel and CloudLinux add-ons. If you have these two paid options and can’t find the PHP version option in your Ecenica VPS, please reach out to Ecenica Support.

Will restoring my website from a Ecenica Backup restore the PHP version?
Restoring a website from backup typically doesn’t affect the PHP version. However, using the full account restore option will revert your PHP version to the version at the time the backup was taken.

How long does it take for the change to take effect?
PHP version changes are usually instant, but some caching mechanisms may cause delays. If your website isn’t working as expected after the change, try clearing any website cache. You may also need to check your PHP error log for issues. If unsure, you can always roll back to the previous PHP version.

Why when I select a different PHP version and click the Reset to defaults button does the selector show a different PHP version as (current)?
This is a cosmetic bug in PHP Selector. Your current version of PHP does not change. If you refresh the Select PHP version page your current version of PHP will be shown again.