{"id":11371,"date":"2025-04-28T14:49:32","date_gmt":"2025-04-28T09:04:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/?p=11371"},"modified":"2025-05-23T14:15:22","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T08:30:22","slug":"changing-php-version-via-php-selector-in-cpanel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/changing-php-version-via-php-selector-in-cpanel\/","title":{"rendered":"Step-by-Step Guide to Changing PHP Version via PHP Selector in cPanel"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Upgrading your PHP version isn&#8217;t just a technical update \u2014 it&#8217;s a key move for your website\u2019s performance, security, and compatibility.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you\u2019re chasing faster load times, better plugin support, or tighter security, updating your PHP version through <a href=\"https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/add-an-addon-domain-in-cpanel-2025-edition\/\">cPanel<\/a>\u2019s PHP Selector is one of the easiest ways to give your website a boost.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11381 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/php-version.webp\" alt=\"cPanel\" width=\"1024\" height=\"505\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/php-version.webp 1024w, https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/php-version-300x148.webp 300w, https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/php-version-768x379.webp 768w, https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/php-version-380x187.webp 380w, https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/php-version-550x271.webp 550w, https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/php-version-800x395.webp 800w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/505;\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this step-by-step guide, we&#8217;ll walk you through how to change your PHP version safely and effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why Changing PHP Version Matters<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before diving into the how-to, let&#8217;s understand why this matters:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Speed Boost<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Newer PHP versions are significantly faster than older ones.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Security Updates<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Old PHP versions may expose your website to vulnerabilities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Better Compatibility<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: New plugins, CMSs like <a href=\"https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/wordpress-hosting-in-nepal\/\">WordPress<\/a>, and web applications demand the latest PHP versions for full functionality.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Updating PHP ensures your website is running at its best, both for you and your visitors.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step-by-Step: How to Change PHP Version Using PHP Selector<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Step 1: Log in to your cPanel<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Open your browser and go to your hosting account\u2019s cPanel login page.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Example: `yourdomain.com\/cpanel` or `yourdomain.com:2083`<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enter your cPanel username and password.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re not sure how to find your cPanel login, check your hosting provider\u2019s welcome email or dashboard.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step 2: Locate the PHP Selector<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-11384 alignleft lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/PHP-selector-300x162.webp\" alt=\"php-selector\" width=\"300\" height=\"162\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/PHP-selector-300x162.webp 300w, https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/PHP-selector-768x414.webp 768w, https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/PHP-selector-380x205.webp 380w, https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/PHP-selector-550x297.webp 550w, https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/PHP-selector-800x432.webp 800w, https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/PHP-selector.webp 860w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/162;\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once inside cPanel, use the search bar at the top.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Type &#8220;Select PHP Version&#8221;.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Click on the Select PHP Version icon under the Software section.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This tool lets you control which PHP version your website uses without needing to edit server files manually.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step 3: Choose Your Preferred PHP Version<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inside the PHP Selector, you\u2019ll see the current PHP version your site is using.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Click the drop-down menu to view all available PHP versions (like 7.4, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, etc.).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Select the version you want to switch to.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Pro Tip: It\u2019s generally recommended to use the latest stable PHP version unless your CMS or plugins specifically require an older one.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Step 4: Apply the Changes<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After selecting your desired PHP version, click the Apply button.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wait a few seconds for the changes to be processed.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Congratulations \u2014 your website is now using the new PHP version!<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Additional Steps You Might Need (Important)<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check for MultiPHP Manager or .htaccess Settings<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you don\u2019t see changes taking effect:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Go back to cPanel and check if your PHP version is being forced by MultiPHP Manager or overridden by a .<\/span><b>htaccess<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> file.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If so, you\u2019ll need to update the PHP version using those tools too.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hivelocity.net\/kb\/how-to-change-php-versions-for-a-website-using-multiphp-manager-in-cpanel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn how to change PHP version via MultiPHP Manager<\/a>]<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/stackoverflow.com\/questions\/12561203\/how-to-change-php-version-in-htaccess-in-server\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[Learn how to update PHP version via .htaccess]<\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Verify the PHP Version Change<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To be 100% sure your site is running the new PHP version:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Create a new file called `info.php`.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Add the following code inside:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<em>&#8220;`php<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0&lt;?php phpinfo(); ?&gt;<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0&#8220;`<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Upload it to your website\u2019s `public_html` or the directory where your site is installed.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Open your browser and visit `yourdomain.com\/info.php`.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll see a page showing all PHP settings \u2014 check the PHP Version at the top!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember to delete the `info.php` file afterward for security reasons.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Things to Keep in Mind Before and After Changing PHP Version<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><b>Plugin &amp; Theme Compatibility<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some WordPress plugins, Joomla extensions, or older CMS setups might not work perfectly on newer PHP versions.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Always back up<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0your website before switching.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Code Deprecation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Old custom scripts or outdated themes might use deprecated functions.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Test thoroughly after the change.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Stay Updated<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Running an outdated PHP version exposes your site to hacks. Always aim to stay on a <b>supported <\/b>and <b>secure<\/b> version.<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FAQs:<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3>1. Why should I update my PHP version?<\/h3>\n<p>Updating your PHP version boosts your website&#8217;s speed, enhances security, and ensures better compatibility with modern plugins, CMS platforms like WordPress, and web applications.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Where can I find the PHP Selector in cPanel?<\/h3>\n<p>After logging into cPanel, use the search bar and type &#8220;Select PHP Version.&#8221; You&#8217;ll find it under the Software section \u2014 it lets you easily choose your preferred PHP version.<\/p>\n<h3>3. What PHP version should I choose?<\/h3>\n<p>It&#8217;s generally best to select the latest stable PHP version (such as PHP 8.2 or above) for maximum performance and security \u2014 unless your site\u2019s plugins or CMS require an older version.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Will changing the PHP version break my website?<\/h3>\n<p>If your plugins, themes, or custom code are outdated, switching to a newer PHP version might cause issues. Always back up your site first and test thoroughly after updating.<\/p>\n<h3>5. How can I verify that my PHP version has changed?<\/h3>\n<p>Create a simple info.php file with the &lt;?php phpinfo(); ?&gt; code, upload it to your website\u2019s directory, and visit it via your browser. This will display your current PHP settings.<\/p>\n<h3>6. What if changing PHP in PHP Selector doesn\u2019t work?<\/h3>\n<p>Your site may be controlled by MultiPHP Manager or overridden by a .htaccess file. In that case, you\u2019ll need to update the PHP version using those tools as well.<\/p>\n<h3>7. Is it safe to leave the info.php file on my server?<\/h3>\n<p>No, it\u2019s not safe. After verifying your PHP version, immediately delete the info.php file to prevent exposing sensitive server information to hackers.<\/p>\n<h3>8. Can I revert to an older PHP version if something breaks?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes. Simply go back to PHP Selector, choose the previous working version from the dropdown menu, and click Apply.<\/p>\n<h3>9. Do I need to restart my website after changing PHP versions?<\/h3>\n<p>No manual restart is needed. Changes take effect automatically after you apply the new PHP version through the PHP Selector.<\/p>\n<h3>10. How often should I update my PHP version?<\/h3>\n<p>Check for PHP updates at least once or twice a year. Always aim to run a supported and actively maintained version to protect your website from vulnerabilities.<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conclusion<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Changing your PHP version using cPanel\u2019s PHP Selector is one of the quickest ways to future-proof your website. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You not only gain speed and security, but you also set your site up for success in the long run.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you\u2019re a beginner managing your first site or a developer optimizing client websites, knowing how to adjust your PHP environment gives you a serious advantage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep learning, keep upgrading \u2014 your website deserves it!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Upgrading your PHP version isn&#8217;t just a technical update \u2014 it&#8217;s a key move for your website\u2019s performance, security, and&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":11917,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[369,205,112],"tags":[117],"class_list":["post-11371","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cms","category-control-panel","category-wordpress-hosting","tag-cpanel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11371","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11371"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11371\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11918,"href":"https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11371\/revisions\/11918"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11917"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11371"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11371"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nestnepal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11371"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}