How to Change Default PHP Version on Ubuntu

    By 3 Mins Read

    On your system, if you have installed multiple versions of PHP like PHP 8.2, PHP 7.4 and PHP 5.6. Currently, PHP 7.4 is the default version set for Apache and the command line interface (CLI). Maybe you have any other PHP versions installed on your system. Only one PHP version can be set as default at any time.

    This tutorial will help you to change the default PHP version for CLI and Apache webserver. This can be achieved with a few sets of commands.

  • You may like: How To Install PHP (8.1, 7.4) on Ubuntu 22.04

    • Switch to PHP 8.2

    Before switching to PHP 8.2, you have to deactivate the previously activated Apache module. The following commands will deactivate the already activated Apache module and then activate PHP 8.2 Apache module. Then the next commands will set PHP 8.2 as the default version for the command line interface (CLI).

    • Apache:
      sudo a2dismod php* 
sudo a2enmod php8.2 
sudo systemctl restart apache2
    • Command line interface:
      sudo update-alternatives --set php /usr/bin/php8.2 
sudo update-alternatives --set phar /usr/bin/phar8.2 
sudo update-alternatives --set phar.phar /usr/bin/phar.phar8.2 
sudo update-alternatives --set phpize /usr/bin/phpize8.2 
sudo update-alternatives --set php-config /usr/bin/php-config8.2

    Note: The phpize8.2 and php-config8.2 command is available in php8.2-dev package. This is more useful for compiling PHP modules using pecl.

    If you want a different version (eg: PHP 8.1 or PHP 8.0) to be configured as default, just replace 8.2 with the required version.

    Switch to PHP 7.4

    Similarly, if you need to configure PHP 7.4 as the default version in your system. The following set of commands will change the default PHP to 7.4 for the Apache web server and command line interface.

    • Apache:
      sudo a2dismod php* 
sudo a2enmod php7.4 
sudo systemctl restart apache2
    • Command line interface:
      sudo update-alternatives --set php /usr/bin/php7.4 
sudo update-alternatives --set phar /usr/bin/phar7.4 
sudo update-alternatives --set phar.phar /usr/bin/phar.phar7.4 
sudo update-alternatives --set phpize /usr/bin/phpize7.4 
sudo update-alternatives --set php-config /usr/bin/php-config7.4

    Note – The phpize7.4 and php-config7.4 command is available in php7.4-dev package. This is more useful for compiling PHP modules using pecl.

    Switch to PHP 5.6

    PHP 5.6 is an outdated version. So if you have an application that required PHP 5.6, consider them to upgrade to last PHP version. The following set of commands will change the default PHP to 5.6 for the Apache web server and command line interface.

    • Apache:
      sudo a2dismod php* 
sudo a2enmod php5.6 
sudo systemctl restart apache2
    • Command line interface:
      sudo update-alternatives --set php /usr/bin/php5.6 
sudo update-alternatives --set phar /usr/bin/phar5.6 
sudo update-alternatives --set phar.phar /usr/bin/phar.phar5.6  
sudo update-alternatives --set phpize /usr/bin/phpize5.6 
sudo update-alternatives --set php-config /usr/bin/php-config5.6

    Note: The phpize5.6 and php-config5.6 command is available in php5.6-dev package. This is more useful for compiling PHP modules using pecl.

    Conclusion

    This tutorial helps you to change the default PHP versions on an Ubuntu system. This helps you to change the default PHP version for the Apache web server and the command line interface.

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    37 Comments

    1. Lauren Rodriguez on

      I have read your blog on the differences between PHP 5 and PHP 7. It was very interesting and helpful but I can add some extra points in your article. Here some extra points:
      1.PHP 7.0 added scalar type declarations for strings, integers, floating-point numbers, and booleans.
      2.PHP 7.0 added support for return type declarations.
      3.PHP 7.1 added support for nullable parameter types and return types.
      4.void is a valid return type as of PHP 7.1.
      These are some extra points to add to your article. Readers if you are confused about your web and App development , you can get a free consultation at Alakmalak technologies.Visit our site for more information.

      Reply
    2. Vikas J. on

      I have Switched from 8.1 => 7.4.
      After following the above steps Switched successfully and I can see a Switched version of PHP in the terminal and info.php.

      But My phpmyadmin is not working after doing this.

      Reply
      • Rahul on

        All the latest versions of phpMyAdmin support PHP 7.4. Might be that PHP 7.4 have some missing extensions. Please check the Apache error log files to find out the actual error.

        Reply
        • Vikas J. on

          Error is returning like this as below.

          Error: [Mon Jan 30 17:11:16.156924 2023] [php7:error] [pid 26344] [client 127.0.0.1:55872] PHP Parse error: syntax error, unexpected ‘static’ (T_STATIC) in /usr/share/php/Symfony/Component/DependencyInjection/ContainerBuilder.php on line 272

          Reply
      • paul on

        Would you expect the output of my test info.php to show PHP 5.6?
        #php -i | grep “Loaded Configuration File”
        Loaded Configuration File => /etc/php/5.6/cli/php.ini

        But the info.php still shows
        Configuration File (php.ini) Path /etc/php/7.4/fpm
        Loaded Configuration File /etc/php/7.4/fpm/php.ini

        Reply
    7. Danial on

      I made a bash function for this process. i hope it be useful:

      #disable current php and enable php with passed version
      function switch_php {
      sudo a2dismod php$(php -v | grep -o -E ‘[0-9.]+’ -m 1 | cut -c 1-3 | head -n 1);
      sudo a2enmod php$1;
      sudo service apache2 restart;
      sudo update-alternatives –set php /usr/bin/php$1;
      sudo update-alternatives –set phar /usr/bin/phar$1;
      sudo update-alternatives –set phar.phar /usr/bin/phar.phar$1;
      sudo update-alternatives –set phpize /usr/bin/phpize$1;
      sudo update-alternatives –set php-config /usr/bin/php-config$1;
      }

      //sample:
      $ switch_php 7.1
      or
      $ switch_php 5.6

      Reply
    9. Jesus on

      Thanks for the tutorial, I was struggling trying to use PHP 7.3 in Ubuntu 20 and this helped me to configure things as needed.

      BTW, do you know of any way besides pecl install –force to build an extension for different PHP version?

      Reply
    12. daniel on

      How can I check which modules have each php versions without having to switch them and run “php -m” ?
      Thank you

      Reply
    13. AZAHAR UDDIN AHMED on

      I’m using Centos 7 and I want to switch default version from ” PHP 5.4.16 (cli) ” to ” PHP 7.0.27 ” in shall so for that what would be the command?

      Reply
    15. Shiv on

      Great post Rahul,

      Even I was on the same issue few months back. Similar article I found on a tech blog which saved my day.

      Great explanation and detailing. Keep up the good work.

      Reply
    23. valentin on

      Ne fonctionne pas du tout sur un ubuntu 16.04
      Pour se la raconter dans la signature y a du monde, mais pour filer des informations pertinentes la y a plus personne

      Reply
    25. Eduardo on

      Also Consider:

      From PHP 5.6 => PHP 7.1

      update-alternatives –set phar /usr/bin/phar7.1 && update-alternatives –set phar.phar /usr/bin/phar.phar7.1 && systemctl restart apache2

      From PHP 7.1 => PHP 5.6

      update-alternatives –set phar /usr/bin/phar5.6 && update-alternatives –set phar.phar /usr/bin/phar.phar5.6 && systemctl restart apache2

      Reply
    26. RunCloud on

      Great post you have here, Rahul. Did you know that if you manage your server with RunCloud, you can just change the PHP version just a click. We developed RunCloud which will configure your server to the best configuration so you can focus only on things that matters. Check out http://runcloud.io to get your 15 days free trial.

      Reply

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