Doc Summary
Introduction #
Most websites primarily use PHP to run, this includes WordPress sites. Therefore you’ll learn more about PHP and it’s settings in this doc to better understand how to fully customize the way your website runs.
What PHP Is #
PHP is a server-side programming language used to power dynamic websites and web applications. It is one of the most common technologies behind websites that need more than just static files. For example, many content management systems, plugins, themes, forms, and account-related functions rely on PHP to process requests and generate content dynamically.
Unlike a static website, which simply serves fixed files such as HTML and images, a PHP-based website can respond to user input, load content from a database, process forms, manage logins, and run application logic in the background. This is why PHP is commonly used by platforms such as WordPress and many other website systems.
Because PHP plays such an important role in how a website functions, the selected PHP version can directly affect compatibility, performance, security, and overall stability.
Why PHP Versions Matter #
Different PHP versions exist, and each version comes with its own features, improvements, behaviour changes, and support lifecycle. Choosing the correct version is important because it affects how your website and its components run within the hosting environment.
PHP versions can influence:
- website compatibility
- performance
- security
- plugin and theme behaviour
If a website uses an outdated, unsupported, or incompatible PHP version, this can lead to errors, broken functionality, or increased security risk.
PHP Version Lifecycles #
PHP versions are released in major and minor versions and are supported for a limited period of time. During that lifecycle, they receive updates and security fixes. Once a version reaches end of life, it no longer receives security updates and is no longer considered a safe long-term choice for normal website use.
For that reason, using supported PHP versions is strongly recommended.
PHP Versions at ProRedLine #
ProRedLine provides multiple supported PHP versions for Web Hosting. These are intended to give customers flexibility while still maintaining a secure and supported environment. End-of-life PHP versions are not made available, as unsupported versions no longer receive security fixes and are not suitable for a modern hosting platform.
This helps ensure that websites can run on versions that are still maintained while remaining compatible with common content management systems and web applications.
Choosing the Right PHP Version #
The right PHP version depends on the website or application you are using. In most cases, this should be based on the official requirements of your CMS, plugins, themes, or custom software.
When choosing a PHP version, it is important to consider:
- the website or CMS requirements
- plugin and theme compatibility
- official software documentation
In general, newer supported PHP versions provide better performance and security, but they should still be compatible with the software running on the website.
Changing PHP Versions #
In cPanel, PHP versions can be changed through MultiPHP Manager. Depending on the setup, the selected version can apply per domain or, in some cases, per directory.
Changing the PHP version can affect how a website behaves, so it is best to verify software compatibility before making changes.
MultiPHP Manager #
MultiPHP Manager is the cPanel tool used to control which PHP version is assigned to a website, domain, or in some cases a specific directory. This makes it possible to match the PHP environment to the requirements of the software running on the site.
On ProRedLine Web Hosting and Site Hosting, MultiPHP Manager is available as part of the hosting environment and is used when a website needs a different PHP version for compatibility, performance, or security reasons.
What MultiPHP Manager Does #
MultiPHP Manager allows PHP versions to be assigned per domain, which means different websites within the same hosting account can use different PHP versions if needed. This is especially useful when one site requires a newer version while another depends on older but still supported software.
The tool changes which PHP version is used by the selected website or path, but it does not modify the website code itself. If a website is not compatible with the selected version, the code or software may still need to be updated separately.
Why It Is Important #
Different websites, CMS platforms, plugins, and themes do not always support the same PHP versions. MultiPHP Manager helps make sure the assigned version matches the technical requirements of the site.
This is important for:
- meeting CMS or application requirements
- maintaining plugin and theme compatibility
- avoiding unsupported or outdated PHP versions
If the wrong PHP version is selected, parts of the website may stop working correctly or the site may fail to load at all.
Where to Find MultiPHP Manager #
To access MultiPHP Manager in cPanel:
- log in to cPanel
- go to the Software section
- click MultiPHP Manager
There you will see the available domains in the account and the PHP version currently assigned to each one.
Domain and Directory Level Changes #
MultiPHP Manager is mainly used to assign PHP versions at domain level. In some cases, PHP settings can also be overridden for specific directories. This can be useful in more advanced situations, but directory-level overrides should be used carefully, since they can make the hosting setup harder to manage and troubleshoot.
In most normal hosting setups, keeping the PHP version consistent per domain is the clearest and safest approach.
MultiPHP INI Editor #
The MultiPHP INI Editor in cPanel is used to adjust PHP configuration settings for a website. While the PHP version determines which PHP release the site runs on, the MultiPHP INI Editor controls how that PHP environment behaves for the selected domain.
This makes it possible to change certain PHP limits and runtime settings when a website, plugin, theme, or script needs different values than the default configuration.
What the MultiPHP INI Editor Does #
The MultiPHP INI Editor is used to change PHP settings such as memory usage, file upload limits, execution time, and similar runtime values. These settings affect how PHP scripts are allowed to operate within the hosting environment.
Typical settings that can be adjusted include:
memory_limitupload_max_filesizepost_max_sizemax_execution_timemax_input_vars
These values can influence whether a website can process larger uploads, handle heavier scripts, or complete certain tasks without timing out.
When You Might Need It #
The MultiPHP INI Editor is usually only needed when there is a clear technical reason to change a PHP setting. This can happen, for example, when a website needs to upload larger files, when a plugin or theme requires more memory, when a script runs into execution time limits, or when PHP-related limit errors are shown.
For most normal website use, the default settings are often sufficient. Changes should only be made when they are actually needed and when you understand what the setting affects.
Where to Find It #
To access the MultiPHP INI Editor in cPanel:
- log in to cPanel
- go to the Software section
- click MultiPHP INI Editor
From there, you can select the domain you want to manage and adjust the available PHP settings for that domain.
Basic and Advanced Mode #
The editor may provide both a Basic Mode and an Advanced Mode.
Basic Mode is intended for the most commonly adjusted settings and is usually the safer option for normal use.
Advanced Mode allows more direct editing of PHP configuration and should only be used when you know exactly what needs to be changed.
Because Advanced Mode gives more direct control over configuration values, incorrect changes can lead to PHP errors or website issues.
How Changes Apply #
Changes made in the MultiPHP INI Editor usually apply immediately to the selected domain. Depending on the hosting setup, more specific overrides may also be possible in certain cases, but these should be used carefully.
In general, the MultiPHP INI Editor should be seen as the tool for adjusting PHP behaviour, while the PHP version itself is managed separately.
Common PHP Limits Explained #
PHP limits define how much memory, time, and input a PHP script is allowed to use. These limits exist to help keep the hosting environment stable and to prevent individual scripts from using excessive resources.
For customers, these settings are most relevant when troubleshooting website errors, failed uploads, timeouts, or unexpected behaviour in plugins, themes, or other PHP-based applications.
Why PHP Limits Matter #
PHP limits are part of the runtime rules that apply when a website executes PHP code. They help:
- prevent scripts from using excessive server resources
- reduce the risk of instability caused by broken or heavy processes
- set safe boundaries for how PHP tasks are handled
If a website or plugin needs more resources than the current limits allow, the result may be errors, incomplete actions, or failed requests.
memory_limit #
The memory_limit setting controls the maximum amount of memory a single PHP script is allowed to use.
If this limit is too low, websites may run into problems such as incomplete page loads, failed background processes, or memory-related error messages. More complex websites, larger plugins, or heavier administrative tasks may require more memory than simpler websites.
upload_max_filesize #
The upload_max_filesize setting controls the maximum size of a single file that can be uploaded through PHP.
This commonly affects things such as media uploads, theme uploads, plugin uploads, or other file-based actions inside a website. If a file is larger than the allowed limit, the upload will not complete successfully.
post_max_size #
The post_max_size setting controls the maximum total size of data that can be sent in a POST request.
This is especially important for file uploads and larger form submissions. It should always be at least as large as upload_max_filesize, because PHP needs enough room to process the full request. If this value is too low, uploads or submissions may fail even if the file itself appears to be within the allowed size.
max_execution_time #
The max_execution_time setting defines how long a PHP script is allowed to run before it is stopped automatically.
If a task takes longer than this limit allows, the script may be terminated before completion. This can affect tasks such as imports, updates, backups, synchronisation processes, or other operations that take more time than a normal page load.
max_input_vars #
The max_input_vars setting controls how many input variables PHP accepts in a single request.
This is most noticeable in larger or more complex forms, where many fields need to be submitted at once. If the value is too low, parts of the submitted data may be missing or ignored, which can cause confusing behaviour in website settings pages or CMS interfaces.
Recognising PHP Limit Issues #
Problems caused by PHP limits do not always appear in the same way, but common signs include:
- white screens
- incomplete page loads
- failed uploads
- timeout errors
- forms or settings not saving correctly
In some cases, the website may also show a direct PHP error message. In others, the issue may only become visible in error logs or through failed behaviour in the application.
PHP limits should only be changed when there is a clear reason to do so. Increasing values unnecessarily is not always the right solution, since the real issue may also be related to the website code, plugin behaviour, or application design.
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