Changing PHP version in DirectAdmin
Switch PHP versions per domain and adjust PHP settings in DirectAdmin. Covers MultiPHP or PHP selector, common ini settings,
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DirectAdmin supports multiple PHP versions per domain through a PHP selector interface. The available versions depend on what is installed on your specific server. Not every version from PHP 5.6 to 8.3 is guaranteed to be available.
Switch PHP version
The exact path depends on your DirectAdmin version and hosting configuration:
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Find the PHP selector
Look under Advanced Features → PHP, Domain Setup → Manage Domain, or Extra Features → PHP Selector. The location varies slightly by DirectAdmin theme and server setup.
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Select your domain
Choose the domain you want to change the PHP version for from the dropdown.
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Choose the PHP version
Select the desired PHP version from the list and save.
The change takes effect immediately for new PHP processes. Reload your website to confirm.
If the PHP selector is not visible in your DirectAdmin, the feature may not be enabled on your plan, or PHP version switching may require contacting support. Open a ticket if you need a specific PHP version that is not available.
Adjust PHP settings
Common PHP settings can be overridden per domain via a .htaccess file or a php.ini / php.ini.d file placed in your document root, depending on how PHP is configured on your server.
Common settings to adjust via .htaccess (Apache/mod_php or suPHP):
php_value upload_max_filesize 64M
php_value post_max_size 64M
php_value memory_limit 256M
php_value max_execution_time 120If PHP runs as FastCGI or PHP-FPM, .htaccess PHP directives may be ignored. In that case, place a php.ini file in public_html/:
upload_max_filesize = 64M
post_max_size = 64M
memory_limit = 256M
max_execution_time = 120If you are unsure which method applies to your server, contact UnderHost support-they can confirm the PHP execution mode and the correct method for overriding settings.
Verify the active PHP version
Create a temporary file called phpinfo.php in public_html/ with this content:
<?php phpinfo(); ?>Open it in a browser: https://yourdomain.com/phpinfo.php. The first line shows the active PHP version. Delete the file immediately after checking.
Recommended PHP for WordPress
| WordPress version | Recommended PHP |
|---|---|
| WordPress 6.x (current) | PHP 8.1 or PHP 8.2 |
| Older WordPress (5.x) | PHP 7.4 minimum; 8.0+ preferred |
| WooCommerce | PHP 8.1 or 8.2 for best performance |
Avoid PHP 7.2 and below-these are end-of-life and receive no security patches. If a plugin or theme requires PHP 5.6 or 7.0, the plugin is outdated and should be replaced.
Related: DirectAdmin overview | DirectAdmin error logs | cPanel PHP | WordPress 500 error
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