How to Upgrade PHP using EasyApache 4

You can easily upgrade or update your server’s version of PHP using the EasyApache 4 tool in WHM (Web Host Manager). In this tutorial we will show walk you through the update/upgrade steps. If you came here from our article on how to pass PCI compliance scans, outdated versions of PHP are a common thing that can cause your website to fail a PCI scan. So understanding how to update PHP on your own using EasyApache in WHM is great knowledge to have in order to help keep your website PCI compliant.

Upgrading PHP with EasyApache

  1. Log into WHM as the “root” user.
  2. In the search box type ‘easy’ then click the EasyApache 4 option.
    Search for EasyApache 4
  3. Click the Customize button next to Currently Installed Packages.
    Customize your Installed PHP Packages
  4. Click the PHP Versions link.
    Click into PHP VersionsYou will then see your installed packages listed. If a PHP version is updatable it will have an Update switch already turned on.
    Update Outdated PHP Packages

  5. To install additional PHP versions, click the slider next to the options. In this example, I am installing PHP 7.1, but the current minimum recommended version is PHP 8.0.
    Click the Slider to Install Additional PHP Versions
  6. Click the Review button once you have chosen which packages to update/install.
    Review and Confirm the PHP Packages to InstallYou will then see a message stating “Preparing selected packages for review …” This may take several minutes to complete.
    Preparing selected packages for review
  7. The Review page will list all the changes you are about to make. Scroll to the bottom, and click the Provision button to proceed.
    Click the Provision button to ProceedThe provision process will then begin. This may take several minutes to complete.
    The Provision Process may take several minutes to complete
  8. You are finished when you see a message stating “The provision process is complete.” Click the Done button to return to the main EasyApache 4 page.
    The provision process is complete

Congratulations, now you know how to update and upgrade the PHP version on your server!

JB
John-Paul Briones Content Writer II

John-Paul is an Electronics Engineer that spent most of his career in IT. He has been a Technical Writer for InMotion since 2013.

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14 thoughts on “How to Upgrade PHP using EasyApache 4

  1. Hi, I upgrade my server php to 7.2
    the problem is that my JOOMLA websites stop working,
    I ve got this error:

    “Database Error: The PHP `ext/mysql` extension is removed in PHP 7, cannot use the `mysql` driver. Also, this system does not support MySQLi or PDO MySQL. Cannot instantiate database driver.”

    then I go back to old php 5.6

    How can I solve it?, Please

    1. Sorry for the issues with your Joomla sites not working. There should be no issues with PHP7+ using MySQL. You may need to update MySQL, but I know it works as I’m using PHP 7.2 and I have several WordPress sites that use MySQL. Try upgrading your MySQL and speak with your host’s technical support if you continue to have problems. If you’re an InMotion customer, then you can find the contact information at the bottom of the page.

  2. I have installed php7.3 and when i tried to change the version in cpanel it came up with an error message “Error: (XID ba7jft) The “ea-php73-php-fpm” service is not installed”. please advise.

    1. Check and see if you have the PHP Configuration button under the “Software” section in cPanel. There you will be able to see and switch between PHP versions.

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