Knowledgebase

PHP configuration (directives) like PHP memory limit, maximum upload size, post max size, and others can be set or changed using a [.htaccess] file. WordPress and other content management systems create a [.htaccess] file by default to store various configurations.

Note:

• We recommend you use the [.htaccess] file to modify the PHP configuration.
  
  Configurations in the [.htaccess] file will be carried over when we upgrade or migrate servers.
  
  
• Due to a technical limitation in CloudLinux, configurations set in the "Select PHP Version" interface might not be carried over when we upgrade or migrate servers.
  
  

Modify PHP Configuration

Using the PHP Selector:

1. Go to cPanel > Select PHP Version > Options.
   
   On DirectAdmin: DirectAdmin > Select PHP Version > Options.
   
   
2. Type in the values as needed.
   
   
3. Done!
   
   

Using the [.htaccess] File:

1. Go to cPanel > File Manager > [public_html] (or to the directory where your website files are).
   
   If you do not see the [.htaccess] file, enable "Show Hidden Files (dotfiles)" in "Settings" (on the top right of the window).
   
   
   
2. Select the [.htaccess] file and click Edit.
   
   Or, right-click on the file and click Edit.
   
   
   
3. Add the following directives to the [.htaccess] file, one in each line. Add only the ones you need:
   
   
   
   • Memory Limit
     
     php_value memory_limit 512M
     
     Replace 512 with the limit you want in megabyte. Larger values do not necessarily provide better performance. Consider assigning a value that is required for your website.
     
     
     
   • Maximum Upload File Size and/or Post Max Size
     
     php_value upload_max_filesize 62M
php_value post_max_size 63M
     
     For file uploads to work correctly, the post_max_size directive should be slightly larger than the upload_max_filesize. For example, to set a file upload limit of 62 MB, you could set the upload_max_filesize directive to 62M and the post_max_size directive to 63M.
     
     
     
   • Maximum Execution Time and/or Maximum Input Time
     
     php_value max_execution_time 180
php_value max_input_time 180
     
     Replace 180 with the value you want in seconds.
     
     
     
   • Maximum Input Variables
     
     php_value max_input_vars 1000
     
     Replace 1000 with the value you want.
     
     
     
   • Time Zone
     
     php_value date.timezone 'Region/Zone'
     
     Replace Region/Zone with your time zone to change the time zone that PHP uses for your scripts.
     
     List of supported time zones in PHP:
     http://www.php.net/manual/en/timezones.php
http://www.php.net/manual/en/datetime.configuration.php#ini.date.timezone
     
     
     
   • Display PHP Error
     
     php_flag display_errors On
     
     Do not enable this directive unless you are debugging or troubleshooting, as it can expose vulnerable information about your website.
     
     
     
4. Save the changes to the [.htaccess] file and exit the editor.
   
   
5. Done!
   
   

Verify

To verify that the new setting is active:

1. Create a PHP test file that contains the following code in the same directory where the [.htaccess] file is located:
   
   <?php phpinfo(); ?>
   
   
2. Load the test file in your web browser and search for the directive's name. The Local Value column should display the new setting that you specified in the [.htaccess] file.
   
   

More Information

• Complete list of PHP directives
  https://www.php.net/manual/en/ini.list.php.
  
  
• memory_limit
  https://www.php.net/manual/en/ini.core.php#ini.memory-limit.
  
  upload_max_filesize
https://www.php.net/manual/en/ini.core.php#ini.upload-max-filesize.
  
  post_max_size
https://www.php.net/manual/en/ini.core.php#ini.post-max-size.
  
  display_errors
http://www.php.net/manual/en/errorfunc.configuration.php#ini.display-errors.
  
  max_execution_time
  http://www.php.net/manual/en/info.configuration.php#ini.max-execution-time.
  
  date.timezone
  http://www.php.net/manual/en/datetime.configuration.php#ini.date.timezone.