Knowledgebase

Managing PHP Settings in cPanel (Firstserv Guide)

PHP is a widely used programming language that powers many modern websites and applications, including:

• WordPress
• Joomla
• Drupal

This guide explains how to manage your PHP settings in cPanel, including:

• Changing PHP versions
• Enabling or disabling extensions
• Adjusting PHP options
• Managing available functions

Important Before You Begin

• ✅ PHP settings apply to your entire cPanel account
• ✅ All domains (primary, addon, subdomains) share the same PHP configuration
• ⚠️ If you host multiple websites, test them all after making changes

👉 You can always revert to a previous PHP version if needed

Accessing PHP Settings

1. Log in to cPanel
2. Navigate to:

   Software → Select PHP Version
   

Changing Your PHP Version

Step-by-Step

1. Open Select PHP Version
2. Click the current version (marked as “current”)
3. Choose a new version from the dropdown
4. Click Set as Current

Best Practice

• ✅ Use the latest supported PHP version for:
  • Better performance
  • Improved security

👉 Firstserv also provides older versions with security patches where required for compatibility.

Managing PHP Extensions (Modules)

What is a PHP Extension?

Extensions add additional functionality to PHP.

Example:

• Imagick → Image processing functions
• SOAP / DOM → Used by platforms like Magento

⚠️ Missing required extensions can cause your site to break

Enable / Disable Extensions

• Tick ✅ to enable
• Untick ❌ to disable

✅ Changes are applied instantly

Important Notes

• ✅ Only enable extensions your application requires
• ⚠️ Too many enabled extensions can reduce performance
• ⚠️ Some extensions may conflict depending on PHP version

Special Case

• IonCube Loader must be enabled for certain applications (e.g. WHMCS)

Changing PHP Options

Configure Common Settings

Switch to the Options tab to adjust values such as:

• memory_limit
• max_execution_time
• upload_max_filesize
• date.timezone

How to Edit

• Click the value to change it
• Select from dropdown or enter a custom value

✅ Changes are saved automatically

Tip

• Default values are suitable for most websites
• Only change settings if you have a specific requirement

Managing PHP Functions

Disabled Functions

For security, some PHP functions are disabled by default (e.g. exec, shell_exec, system).

How to Enable a Function

1. Locate:

   disabled_functions
   

2. Remove the function from the comma-separated list
3. Save the change

⚠️ Security Warning

• Only enable functions if absolutely necessary
• Incorrect changes can expose your site to security risks

👉 Most websites do NOT require changes to this setting

php.ini Files

• ⚠️ Custom php.ini files placed in your website folders are ignored for security reasons
• ✅ Use cPanel PHP Selector instead to manage settings

Checking Your Current PHP Configuration

To view your live PHP settings:

Step 1: Create a PHP Info File

Create a file called:

phpinfo.php

Add this content:

Step 2: Upload to Your Site

• Place the file in:

  /public_html/
  

Step 3: Access It in a Browser

Visit:

https://yourdomain.com/phpinfo.php

✅ You’ll see full PHP configuration details

⚠️ Important

• Delete this file after use
• It contains sensitive server information

Summary

• Manage PHP via cPanel → Select PHP Version
• Choose a compatible PHP version for your site
• Enable only required extensions
• Adjust options carefully
• Avoid modifying disabled functions unless necessary

Need Help?

If you’re unsure which PHP settings your website requires, the Firstserv support team is always happy to help you configure everything safely.