Apache: How to change your PHP version

Here at Site5, we offer multiple versions of PHP. Below we have outlined the current versions available and how to use them.

Currently, the default version of PHP is 5.5.x. If you want to use PHP 5.3.x, 5.4.x, or 5.5.x explicitly, just add one of the following commands to your .htaccess file.

PHP 5.5 (Default)

AddHandler application/x-httpd-php55 .php

PHP 5.6

AddHandler application/x-httpd-php56 .php

PHP 7.0

AddHandler application/x-httpd-php70 .php

Note: Below is the direct PHP 5.5, 5.6, and 7.0 binary paths.

/usr/local/php55/bin/php

/usr/local/php56/bin/php

/usr/local/php70/bin/php

Also, please be aware that if you have CRON jobs that execute php scripts, you will need to update your CRON jobs so that they run the correct version of PHP that you wish to use. You can do this by prefixing your CRON jobs with the binary paths above.

For example, instead of using:
“php /home/username/public_html/script.php”

you would use:
“/usr/local/php70/bin/php /home/username/public_html/script.php” (please note the space between /php and/home)

That example would use PHP version 7.0. If you don’t make this change, your CRON jobs will use the default version of PHP.

Step by Step Instructions

Below we will outline the steps needed to create and modify a htaccess file with the lines needed to set the PHP version. We will use the File Manager for both SiteAdmin and cPanel.

SiteAdmin

Here is how to access the File Manager and get to the correct folder from within SiteAdmin

1) Open the File Manager by clicking the File Manager link found in the Website Tools section of the left menu, then click the normal File Manager option.

2) Click the home folder on the left file-tree.

Please move to the File Manager section of this article (see below).

cPanel

Here is how to access the File Manager and get to the correct folder from within cPanel

1) Click the File Manager button located in the Files section of cPanel.

2) Select the Home Directory and the Show Hidden Files option, then click Go.

Please move to the File Manager section of this article (see below).

File Manager

1) Click the New File button at the top-left hand side of the screen.

2) Enter “.htaccess” as the file name, and leave the location blank.

3) Right click the new htaccess file we just created.

4) Click the Code Edit option from the right click menu.

5) Add the AddHandler for the version of PHP you wish to use (located above). Then click the Save Changes button.

That’s it! Your whole account will now be using the version of PHP you specified in the htaccess file. If you wish to set the PHP version on a folder by folder basis, simply move/create/edit (if you already have one) the htaccess file in the folder you wish to change.