Understanding PHP Versions and Settings

Updated 25 February 2026 10 views Hosting & Servers

PHP Versions on SillyHost

PHP is the programming language that powers most websites and CMS platforms including WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal. Using the correct PHP version is important for both performance and security.

Available PHP Versions

SillyHost supports multiple PHP versions on our hosting platform:

  • PHP 7.4 – Legacy support. End of life but still available for older applications.
  • PHP 8.0 – Introduced JIT compilation and named arguments.
  • PHP 8.1 – Added enums, fibers, and intersection types.
  • PHP 8.2 – Added readonly classes and improved type system.
  • PHP 8.3 – Latest stable version with typed class constants and improved randomiser.

How to Change Your PHP Version

  1. Log in to DirectAdmin.
  2. Navigate to Advanced Features > Select PHP Version or Domain Setup > PHP Version.
  3. Select the desired PHP version from the dropdown menu.
  4. Click Apply or Save.
  5. The change takes effect immediately.

Adjusting PHP Settings

You can customise PHP settings for your hosting account. Common settings to adjust include:

  • upload_max_filesize – Maximum size of uploaded files (default: 64M).
  • post_max_size – Maximum size of POST data (should be larger than upload_max_filesize).
  • memory_limit – Maximum memory a PHP script can use (default: 256M).
  • max_execution_time – Maximum time a script can run in seconds (default: 30).
  • max_input_vars – Maximum number of input variables accepted (default: 1000).

Changing PHP Settings

You can modify these settings through DirectAdmin's PHP version selector, or by adding a custom php.ini or .user.ini file in your website's root directory.

Recommendation

Always use the latest stable PHP version that your application supports. Newer versions offer better performance, security patches, and modern features. Test compatibility on a staging site before upgrading.

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