How to Change PHP Versions and Enable Extensions (Select PHP Version)

June 07, 2026 Web Hosting and Control Panels (cPanel)

Certain specialized WordPress plugins, themes, and custom web applications require specific PHP extensions (also known as modules or libraries) to run properly. For example, image processing plugins often require imagick or gd, while encoded scripts might need ioncube_loader.

At CeylonServers, you can manage both your PHP version and toggle these extensions on or off instantly using the Select PHP Version tool.

Step 1: Open the "Select PHP Version" Tool

Log in to your cPanel dashboard directly.
Navigate to the Software section or type "Select PHP Version" in the top search bar.
Click on the Select PHP Version icon.

Step 2: How to Change the PHP Version

On the main "My PHP Version" screen, look for the Current PHP Version status.
Click the dropdown menu next to it and select your desired version (e.g., 8.1, 8.2, or 8.3).
Click the "Set as current" link right next to the dropdown. Your site will immediately switch to the selected PHP version.

Step 3: How to Enable or Disable PHP Extensions

Once you have selected your active PHP version, you can configure its extensions from the same page:

Click on the "Extensions" tab at the top (if you are not already on it). You will see an alphabetical grid list of all available PHP modules.
To Enable an Extension: Find the module you need (for example, check the box for imagick, zip, gmp, or ioncube_loader).
To Disable an Extension: Simply uncheck the box next to the extension you want to turn off.

Auto-Save: There is no "Save" button for extensions. The cPanel system automatically saves your settings, and you will see a green success popup at the top right corner every time you toggle a checkbox.

Important Tips for Domain Users:

Extensions are Version-Specific: If you change your PHP version from 8.1 to 8.2, you may need to double-check the Extensions tab again to ensure your required custom modules are turned on for the new version.
Avoid Conflicts: Do not enable unnecessary modules blindly, as activating too many conflicting extensions can sometimes slow down script processing execution times.

Looking for php.ini settings? If you need to change directives like memory_limit or upload_max_filesize, click on the "Options" tab right next to the Extensions tab on this same dashboard.

Need Assistance? If a specific script requires an advanced PHP extension that is not visible in this list (such as Swoole or custom database drivers), please click "Open Ticket" from the top menu, and our technical systems team will gladly review it for you!