How to Change Your PHP Version and Settings

Published 8 June 2026 · By Host Havoc Technical Support Team

Host Havoc web hosting lets you choose your PHP version and customize PHP settings directly from cPanel, without needing SSH access. This is useful when a CMS or plugin requires a specific PHP version or when you need to increase memory limits.

Changing the PHP version

  1. Log in to cPanel.
  2. Under the Software section, click PHP Selector.
  3. The current PHP version is shown at the top. Use the version dropdown to select the version you need.
  4. Click Apply or Save to confirm the change.

Adjusting PHP settings

  1. In the PHP Selector, click Options.
  2. A list of PHP directives appears, including memory_limit, max_execution_time, upload_max_filesize, and others.
  3. Modify the values as needed and click Save.

Note: Changes apply to all PHP scripts running under your cPanel account. If you are running multiple sites on the account, be aware that a setting change affects all of them.

Tip: If you installed WordPress or another CMS through Softaculous, check the application's documentation for its minimum supported PHP version before downgrading.

Troubleshooting

PHP Selector not visible: The PHP Selector may appear under the Software section with a slightly different label depending on your cPanel theme. If you cannot find it, search for "PHP" in the cPanel search bar.

Site broken after version change: Switch back to the previous version in PHP Selector and check your application's error log for details.