Choose the PHP version for the intended website in DirectAdmin. This changes the website's runtime; it is not a browser setting. Check your application's requirements before switching.
Before changing the version
- Back up the website and its database, if it has one, and record the currently selected PHP version.
- Check the PHP support of your CMS, themes, plugins and any encoded software. A compatible ionCube Loader and required extensions may also be needed.
- Test an upgrade on a staging copy where possible. Plan a low-traffic period for a live change.
Select the correct domain and PHP version
- Open your active hosting service in the ArkHost Client Area and select Login to DirectAdmin.
- Open Account Manager → Domain Setup, or Domain Management in layouts using that name, and select the intended domain.
- Find the PHP Version Selector on the domain settings page. Use the panel's search if its position differs; do not assume it is next to a particular button.
- Choose a PHP version compatible with the application and save/apply the setting using the control displayed.
The current hosting configuration provides PHP 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4, with 8.4 as the default. PHP 8.1 remains available for legacy compatibility but is no longer supported by upstream PHP. Prefer a supported version that your application supports; a newer version alone does not guarantee compatibility. The versions shown in your own panel are the authority for your service.
For a subdomain with an override, check Subdomain Management → Document Root Override → PHP Version Selector where available. Do not assume changing the parent domain also changes an overridden subdomain. See DirectAdmin's multiple-PHP documentation and PHP's supported branches.
Verify the website runtime and behavior
Check the PHP version reported by your application's system-information or health screen, then test the homepage, sign-in and affected features. A terminal PHP version or a scheduled task's runtime is not proof of the version serving web requests. Cron jobs may use a separate PHP binary and need to be checked separately.
Do not leave a public phpinfo page online to check the version: it can disclose server and environment details. If the application cannot report its runtime, ask support to confirm it for the domain.
If the site fails or the change does not apply
- Record the failing URL, exact error and time, and check the relevant application or hosting error log.
- Revert only the intended domain to its previous working version where available. Preserve your website files and database; do not reinstall the application as a first response.
- Check the selected domain, subdomain override and application requirements. Refresh application/CDN content only if stale output is involved; clearing browser cache does not change the server's PHP runtime.
- If the selector is missing or the expected version is unavailable, contact ArkHost with the domain and required version. Do not install or modify server-wide PHP yourself on shared hosting.
Send support the domain, old and requested versions, application details and exact error, without passwords or other secrets.
