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• Overview
• Update the PHP Version or Generate a New php.ini File
• Add PHP handlers
• CGI Type
• Standard PHP (Default)
• PHP Single php.ini
• PHP FastCGI

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Overview

The version of PHP helps keep your site secured, running efficiently, and compatible with any plugins. This article explains how to generate a new php.ini file if you are into changing the PHP version or made an error with your current php.ini file. Upgrading your PHP will automatically create the new php.ini file.   

Update the PHP Version or Generate a New php.ini File.

Account Manager

1. Log in to your Bluehost control panel.
2. Click the Hosting tab from the side navigation.
   
3. Under Quick Links, click on cPanel.
   
4. Under the Software category, select MultiPHP Manager.
   
5. Choose the domain you want to set up or update from the list.
   
6. Select the PHP Version you want to use at the top right-hand side.
   
7. Click the Apply button to finish the update.
   

Bluerock

1. Log in to your Bluehost control panel.
2. Click the Advanced tab from the side navigation menu to the left.
   
3. Under the Software section, click on the MultiPHP Manager icon.
   
4. Select the domain that you want to set up or update from the list.
   
5. Select the version of PHP you would like to use at the top right-hand side.
   
6. Click the Apply button to finish the update.
   

Add PHP handlers

You can customize the version of PHP that runs PHP files by directly editing the .htaccess file. Once the .htaccess file has been created or located:

1. Right-click on the .htaccess file and select code edit.
2. You may get a popup asking about encoding. If so, click the edit button.
3. At the top of the file, insert the PHP handler for the version you would like to use. If there is a handler in the file already, it should be removed or replaced with the new handler.

• PHP 5.4

  php – BEGIN cPanel-generated handler, do not edit
  Set the “ea-php54” package as the default “PHP” programming language.
  <IfModule mime_module>
  AddHandler application/x-httpd-ea-php54___lsphp .php .php5 .phtml
  </IfModule>
  php – END cPanel-generated handler, do not edit
  

• PHP 5.5

  php – BEGIN cPanel-generated handler, do not edit
  Set the “ea-php55” package as the default “PHP” programming language.
  <IfModule mime_module>
  AddHandler application/x-httpd-ea-php55___lsphp .php .php5 .phtml
  </IfModule>
  php – END cPanel-generated handler, do not edit
  

• PHP 5.6

  php – BEGIN cPanel-generated handler, do not edit
  Set the “ea-php56” package as the default “PHP” programming language.
  <IfModule mime_module>
  AddHandler application/x-httpd-ea-php56___lsphp .php .php5 .phtml
  </IfModule>
  php – END cPanel-generated handler, do not edit

• PHP 7.0

  php – BEGIN cPanel-generated handler, do not edit
  Set the “ea-php70” package as the default “PHP” programming language.
  <IfModule mime_module>
  AddHandler application/x-httpd-ea-php70___lsphp .php .php7 .phtml
  </IfModule>
  php – END cPanel-generated handler, do not edit
  

• PHP 7.1

  php – BEGIN cPanel-generated handler, do not edit
  Set the “ea-php71” package as the default “PHP” programming language.
  <IfModule mime_module>
  AddHandler application/x-httpd-ea-php71___lsphp .php .php7 .phtml
  </IfModule>
  php – END cPanel-generated handler, do not edit
  

• PHP 7.2

  php – BEGIN cPanel-generated handler, do not edit
  Set the “ea-php72” package as the default “PHP” programming language.
  <IfModule mime_module>
  AddHandler application/x-httpd-ea-php72___lsphp .php .php7 .phtml
  </IfModule>
  php – END cPanel-generated handler, do not edit
  

• PHP 7.3

  php – BEGIN cPanel-generated handler, do not edit
  Set the “ea-php73” package as the default “PHP” programming language.
  <IfModule mime_module>
  AddHandler application/x-httpd-ea-php73___lsphp .php .php7 .phtml
  </IfModule>
  php – END cPanel-generated handler, do not edit
  

• PHP 7.4

  php – BEGIN cPanel-generated handler, do not edit
  Set the “ea-php74” package as the default “PHP” programming language.
  <IfModule mime_module>
  AddHandler application/x-httpd-ea-php74___lsphp .php .php7 .phtml
  </IfModule>
  php – END cPanel-generated handler, do not edit
  

• PHP 8.0

  php – BEGIN cPanel-generated handler, do not edit
  Set the “ea-php80” package as the default “PHP” programming language.
  <IfModule mime_module>
  AddHandler application/x-httpd-ea-php80___lsphp .php .php8 .phtml
  </IfModule>
  php – END cPanel-generated handler, do not edit
  

• PHP 8.1

  php – BEGIN cPanel-generated handler, do not edit
  Set the “ea-php81” package as the default “PHP” programming language.
  <IfModule mime_module>
  AddHandler application/x-httpd-ea-php81___lsphp .php .php8 .phtml
  </IfModule>
  php – END cPanel-generated handler, do not edit
  

• PHP 8.2

  php – BEGIN cPanel-generated handler, do not edit
  Set the “ea-php82” package as the default “PHP” programming language.
  <IfModule mime_module>
  AddHandler application/x-httpd-ea-php82___lsphp .php .php8 .phtml
  </IfModule>
  php – END cPanel-generated handler, do not edit
  

4. Once you have added one of those codes, click Save. The account will then use the PHP version you selected.

CGI Type

Below are options to consider when selecting the PHP type.

Standard PHP (Default)

By default, all accounts use standard PHP. A PHP script will use the server's master php.ini configuration file with standard PHP selected if the script's directory does not contain a php.ini file. Each hosting account initially has a copy of the php.ini file in the public_html directory. You may make any changes to this file, and the modification will take precedence over the master file. With standard PHP selected in the cPanel, you will need to copy the modified php.ini file into all subdirectories containing PHP files to use the custom PHP settings.

PHP Single php.ini

To avoid copying the same php.ini file to each and every directory containing PHP files, you may select PHP Single php.ini. This option changes the PHP handler defined in ~/public_html/.htaccess to indicate that all subfolders use the same php.ini found in public_html/.

PHP FastCGI

Using the PHP FastCGI option makes all your PHP applications run through mod_fcgid instead of mod_suphp. FastCGI uses only one php.ini file located in the public_html directory. Please refer to PHP FastCGI for detailed information about PHP FastCGI, including benefits and potential problems.