Skip to content
0333 090 4540
Snappyhost

Choose the PHP version and extensions

Match the site runtime to application requirements and enable only the PHP extensions it needs.

Where Websites → your website → Advanced → Developer tools

Enhance developer tools with PHP version and extensions

What this is for

  • Review the active PHP version.
  • Enable application dependencies.
  • Plan version changes with a rollback path.

Before you start

  • Check the application, WordPress theme and plugins support the target PHP version.
  • Take a backup and test the change on staging when the website is important.

Take care

A PHP version change can take the application offline. Test compatibility and preserve a known-good version before switching.

Steps

  1. 1

    Check the application, theme and plugin requirements before changing PHP, then create a current backup.

  2. 2

    Open Websites, select the website, open Advanced and choose Developer tools.

  3. 3

    In PHP, open the version list and select a supported release. An LTS label identifies a long-term-support option in this panel.

  4. 4

    Wait for the change to apply. Use Restart only when Enhance requests it or the running website has not picked up the new runtime.

  5. 5

    Built-in extensions are already available and cannot be unticked. Under Configurable extensions, tick only modules the application specifically requires.

  6. 6

    Test the public site, administration area, forms, uploads, scheduled jobs and integrations.

  7. 7

    Read php-error.log at the bottom of the PHP section for new fatal or compatibility errors. Return to the previous PHP version promptly if the site breaks.

Check it worked

  • Developer tools shows the selected PHP version and extensions after saving.
  • Public pages, admin pages, forms and scheduled tasks run without new PHP fatal errors.

What the controls do

Control What it means
PHP version The interpreter release used for web requests and related tools.
LTS Marks a PHP release offered with longer-term support by the platform.
Built-in extensions Core modules supplied automatically; the grey checked boxes are informational rather than editable.
Configurable extensions Optional modules you may turn on when an application requires them.
Restart Restarts the website's PHP runtime and may cause a brief interruption.
php-error.log Shows recent PHP errors to help confirm whether a version or extension change caused a problem.