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How to enable or disable PHP extensions

Maxim Tsitsejev
Updated

Applies to: All plans.

Before you start: You will need access to cPanel for the hosting account you want to change. Log in from your client area (open the service, then Log in to cPanel), or go straight to https://yourdomain/cpanel. If you are not sure which PHP version your site uses, check that first — extensions are enabled per PHP version.

PHP extensions add functionality your applications may need (for example imagick, gd, intl, mbstring, bcmath, soap or zip). On our CloudLinux servers you turn them on or off per PHP version in the tool labelled Select PHP Version (the PHP Selector). You can also adjust common PHP settings — such as memory_limit, upload_max_filesize and max_execution_time — from the same screen or in the MultiPHP INI Editor.

Enable or disable an extension

  1. In cPanel, open the section labelled Software and click Select PHP Version (sometimes shown as PHP Selector).
  2. Check the Current PHP version shown at the top. Extensions are tied to this version, so make sure it matches the version your site actually runs. To change it, see How to change your PHP version.
  3. Click the Extensions tab (it may be the default view).
  4. Find the extension you need in the list and tick its box to enable it, or untick it to disable it.
  5. Your change is saved automatically — there is no separate "Save" button on this screen.

Result: The extension is active for that PHP version. Reload your website and the new functionality (or its absence) takes effect.

Adjust PHP settings (memory, upload size, etc.)

You can raise common limits within the bounds of your plan's CloudLinux resources.

  1. Still in Select PHP Version, click the Options (or PHP Options) tab. You will see settings such as memory_limit, upload_max_filesize, post_max_size and max_execution_time.
  2. Click the value next to a setting and choose a new one from the dropdown.
  3. The change is saved automatically.

Alternatively, edit a setting per domain in cPanel -> Software -> MultiPHP INI Editor. Pick the domain (or use the editor mode to add a directive like memory_limit = 256M), then save.

Result: The new PHP setting applies to the selected site. If you increased the upload or memory limit for WordPress, your large media or imports should now work — see How to increase the WordPress memory or upload limit.

Troubleshooting this task

  • The extension is not in the list. Some extensions only exist for certain PHP versions. Switch to a different supported PHP version and check again, or contact us.
  • Changes do not take effect. Confirm you edited the same PHP version your domain is set to in MultiPHP Manager. If you run an opcode cache, a reload may be needed.
  • A setting will not go as high as you want. PHP limits live inside your plan's CloudLinux memory and resource caps — see Understanding CloudLinux resource limits (LVE). If you keep hitting the ceiling, the fix is usually to upgrade your plan.
  • Your site shows a 500 error after a change. Revert the last extension or setting you altered. A bad combination can break PHP — see My website is down or showing a 500 error.

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