How to Update PHP version 7.4 in Hostgator

WordPress notified me that I should update to the latest PHP version 7.4 on Hostgator so that my website will run faster and be more secure. Most of the instructions on the web and within Hostgator support are outdated. So, I figured things out on my own and did this…

This is the message from WordPress telling me to update my PHP today.

This is the slightly outdated instruction from Hostgator knowledge base… it should be updated now as you read this.

At first, it failed when I updated the PHP… I got the “Missing MySQL Extension” error.

Then I installed back the old PHP version and did an extra step.

Yes, I previously used the PHP Selector to change the PHP version, so there is a handler in the .htaccess file that needs to be removed.

1. Log in to my Hostgator account.
2. Go to CPanel — Files — File Manager.
3. Open and edit for the “.htaccess” file.
4. Delete the statement shown above and save.

Next, go back to Hostgator Control Panel and select MultiPHP Manager under Software.

Inside MultiPHP Manager, Select all domains, select latest PHP, and hit Apply.

Done! My website is running on PHP 7.4 now.

Is it faster? I don’t think so. Still had to wait 3 seconds to load a page.

Next, I made the site load dramatically faster by doing this… https://adrianvideoimage.com/wordpress-website-loads-faster-after-deactivating-jetpack-features/

~ Adrian’s Journal