PHP Configuration and Versions
Switch PHP versions, edit php.ini settings, and troubleshoot PHP issues in cPanel.
Your GoZen Host shared hosting account can run multiple PHP versions. This guide covers switching versions, adjusting settings, and fixing common PHP issues.
Checking Your Current PHP Version
Two quick ways:
- cPanel → Software → MultiPHP Manager - shows the version assigned to each domain
- Create a phpinfo file:
<?php phpinfo(); ?>
Upload this as info.php to public_html/, visit yourdomain.com/info.php, and check the version at the top.
Delete info.php after checking. It exposes your full server configuration to anyone who finds it.
Changing PHP Version
- Go to Software → MultiPHP Manager
- Find your domain in the list
- Select the PHP version from the dropdown
- Click Apply
| Version | Status | Use When |
|---|---|---|
| PHP 7.4 | End of life | Legacy apps that can’t upgrade (update them) |
| PHP 8.0 | End of life | Older WordPress/plugins that haven’t updated |
| PHP 8.1 | Security fixes only | Apps that need 8.x but not the latest |
| PHP 8.2 | Active | Most production sites |
| PHP 8.3 | Active (recommended) | New projects and updated apps |
Editing PHP Settings (php.ini)
Go to Software → MultiPHP INI Editor to adjust settings per domain.
Common Settings
| Setting | Default | Common Change | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
upload_max_filesize | 2M | 64M or 128M | Upload larger files in WordPress or other apps |
post_max_size | 8M | 128M | Must be ≥ upload_max_filesize |
max_execution_time | 30 | 120 or 300 | Prevent timeouts on slow imports or backups |
memory_limit | 128M | 256M or 512M | More memory for complex pages/plugins |
max_input_vars | 1000 | 3000 or 5000 | WordPress sites with many fields (WooCommerce, page builders) |
Using the INI Editor
- Go to Software → MultiPHP INI Editor
- Select Basic Mode or Editor Mode
- Pick your domain from the dropdown
- Adjust the settings
- Click Apply
Basic Mode gives you dropdowns and sliders for common settings. Editor Mode lets you edit the raw php.ini - use this if the setting you need isn’t in Basic Mode.
Via .htaccess
You can also set PHP values in your .htaccess file:
php_value upload_max_filesize 128M
php_value post_max_size 128M
php_value max_execution_time 300
php_value memory_limit 256M
This method works per directory, so you can have different settings for different parts of your site.
PHP Extensions
Go to Software → MultiPHP Manager → click your PHP version → Extensions to enable or disable PHP modules.
Common extensions that applications need:
| Extension | Required By |
|---|---|
mysqli / pdo_mysql | WordPress, Laravel, any MySQL-based app |
gd / imagick | Image processing (thumbnails, uploads) |
curl | API calls, payment gateways |
mbstring | Multi-byte string handling (non-English content) |
zip | Plugin/theme uploads in WordPress |
intl | Internationalization (Laravel, Symfony) |
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| “Your PHP version does not meet requirements” | Switch to a newer version in MultiPHP Manager |
| White screen / blank page | Enable error display: add ini_set('display_errors', 1); to your script or check error logs |
| File upload fails silently | Increase upload_max_filesize and post_max_size |
| Script times out | Increase max_execution_time |
| “Allowed memory size exhausted” | Increase memory_limit |
| Extension missing error | Enable it in MultiPHP Manager → Extensions |
What to Do Next
- Installing WordPress - WordPress runs on PHP and benefits from these optimizations
- Managing Files with cPanel - edit
.htaccessand PHP files
Last updated 05 Apr 2026, 00:00 +0200.