How do I change the PHP version?

You can change the PHP version on Kolan IT hosting packages through cPanel using two different tools: MultiPHP Manager for per-domain version assignment, or PHP Selector for managing the version together with extensions and PHP INI settings. MultiPHP Manager is sufficient for most users; if you need to enable special extensions (ionCube, Imagick) or raise values like memory_limit and upload_max_filesize, use PHP Selector.

1. Changing the Version with MultiPHP Manager

MultiPHP Manager lets you assign a separate PHP version for each domain and subdomain on your account.

1. Log in to cPanel.
2. On the main screen, in the Software section, click MultiPHP Manager.
3. In the list, check the box next to the domain whose version you want to change.
4. From the PHP Version menu at the top right, select the version you want (e.g. ea-php83).
5. Click the Apply button. The change becomes active within seconds.

2. Detailed Management with PHP Selector

All Kolan IT hosting packages run on CloudLinux infrastructure, so each account has its own isolated PHP environment. PHP Selector lets you manage version, extensions and INI directives from a single screen.

1. On the cPanel main screen, in the Software section, click Select PHP Version.
2. From the PHP version menu at the top of the page, select the version you want and click Apply.
3. In the Extensions tab, check the extensions you need (e.g. imagick, ioncube_loader, opcache, redis). Your selections are saved automatically.
4. In the Options tab, you can edit PHP INI settings such as memory_limit, upload_max_filesize, post_max_size and max_execution_time.

3. Which PHP Version Should I Choose?

The right version depends on your application's requirements. General recommendation:

• WordPress 6.x, WooCommerce, Joomla 5, Drupal 10: PHP 8.3 (current, fast, long-term supported).
• Older themes/plugins not yet tested on 8.3: PHP 8.2 is a safe fallback.
• Legacy projects: PHP 8.1. Older versions no longer receive security updates; we recommend updating the project if possible.

4. Pinning the Version via .htaccess (Advanced)

When you change the version from MultiPHP Manager or PHP Selector, cPanel adds a block like the following to the .htaccess file in your site's root directory:

# php -- BEGIN cPanel-generated handler, do not edit
<IfModule mime_module>
  AddHandler application/x-httpd-ea-php83 .php .php8 .phtml
</IfModule>
# php -- END cPanel-generated handler, do not edit

This block pins the PHP version directly through .htaccess. If the version change is not reflecting in your application, first check whether these lines have been updated. If they're broken accidentally, you can delete them; the cPanel tools will re-add them automatically the next time they run.

If your site doesn't load or returns unexpected errors after the version change, you can open a support ticket and share your error logs; our team will guide you on the appropriate PHP version and the extensions you need to enable.