How to Set the PHP Version per Domain, Using cPanel?

Open cPanel, go to Software, then MultiPHP Manager. Tick the domain, choose the PHP version from the list, and click Apply. To undo, return to MultiPHP Manager, set the domain back to the previous version or to Inherit, then Apply.

Before you start

• You can log in to cPanel for the account that owns the domain.
• Know which PHP versions your site supports. Switching to an incompatible version can cause 500 errors.

Step 1: Open MultiPHP Manager in cPanel

In cPanel, find Software, then open MultiPHP Manager. This page lists your domains, their current PHP versions and whether they are marked Inherited, which means they follow the system default instead of a specific version.

Step 2: Set the PHP version for the domain

1. Tick the domain you want to change.
2. Pick the required PHP Version from the drop-down.
3. Click Apply.

Notes: Inherited means the domain will use the system default unless a .htaccess above its document root specifies another handler. PHP‑FPM can only be enabled when a specific version is selected. You cannot use FPM with Inherit.

Step 3: Undo or revert the change

If the site errors or you need to go back: reopen MultiPHP Manager, tick the domain, select the previous version or Inherit, and click Apply. The change takes effect immediately.

If it does not work

• The version you need is not listed. If you do not see a version, it is not installed or not allowed on the server. As of mid‑2026, EasyApache 4 supports PHP 7.4 and PHP 8.1 to 8.5. Older branches like 8.0 and most 7.x are end‑of‑life and may be unavailable on newer operating systems. Open a support ticket and tell us which domain and version you require. We will confirm availability and options.
• Site shows 500 errors or “script not found” after changing. Revert using Step 3. Then check for conflicting handlers: MultiPHP Manager writes a cPanel‑managed PHP handler block into the document root .htaccess. Do not edit that block. If a subdirectory has its own legacy AddHandler/SetHandler lines to another ea‑phpXX, it can force the wrong PHP and trigger “script not found or unable to stat: /usr/local/cpanel/cgi-sys/ea-phpXX”. Remove or align the subdirectory’s handlers so they match the domain’s version.
• Inheritance or FPM behaviour surprises you. Domains that share the same document root must share PHP‑FPM settings, and alias (parked) domains share the target domain’s vhost. Enabling or disabling FPM for one applies to all that share that document root. Refresh the page to see the updated state. Remember FPM cannot be used with Inherit.

What next

If you are unsure which PHP branch or extensions your application needs, open a support ticket and we will check the account and advise. If you manage PHP at server level on your own VPS, see our VPS guides. Planning a new server in the UK data centre in London? See Linux VPS.