There are two common ways depending on your hosting setup:
- Method 1: MultiPHP Manager (cPanel default)
- Method 2: PHP Selector (CloudLinux servers)
Method 1: Using MultiPHP Manager (cPanel)
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Steps:
- Login to cPanel
- Example:
https://yourdomain.com/cpanel
- Example:
- Go to “MultiPHP Manager”
- Found under the Software section
- Select your domain
- Tick the checkbox next to the domain you want to change
- Choose PHP Version
- On the right side, select the desired version (e.g., PHP 8.1, 8.2)
- Click Apply
✅ Done! Your domain is now using the selected PHP version.
Important Notes:
- Changes apply per domain
- Subdomains can have different PHP versions
- Recommended versions: PHP 8.1 or 8.2 or more (better performance & security)
Method 2: Using PHP Selector (CloudLinux)
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Steps:
- Login to cPanel
- Click on “Select PHP Version”
- You’ll see current version at the top
- Choose a PHP version
- Select from dropdown (e.g., 7.4, 8.1, 8.2)
- Click Set as current
- (Optional) Enable/disable PHP extensions below
Extra Features:
- Enable extensions like:
mysqlipdoimagick
- Customize PHP settings (memory_limit, upload size, etc.)
⚠️ Common Issues & Fixes
❌ Website breaks after switching PHP
Solution:
- Switch back to previous version
- Update your website (especially WordPress plugins/themes)
❌ PHP version not changing
Possible causes:
.htaccessoverride- Manual PHP handler set
- Domain not assigned properly
❌ Missing PHP extensions
Use PHP Selector to enable required modules
Summary
| Tool | Best For | Control Level |
|---|---|---|
| MultiPHP Manager | Simple switching | Basic |
| PHP Selector | Advanced control | High |
