How to change PHP version in XAMPP

When developing a PHP website, we often need to switch PHP versions to test different functions or solve problems. XAMPP is an integrated toolkit used extensively in development environments, making going from initial setup to development and testing quick and easy. In this article, I will show you how to change PHP version in XAMPP.

Steps

Here are the simple steps to change PHP version in XAMPP:

Step 1: Download the required PHP version

The first step is Download the version of PHP you want to change. These PHP versions can be downloaded from the [php.net](https://www.php.net/releases/index.php) official website. Select the version you want to use and download it.

Step 2: Close XAMPP’s Apache and MySQL services

After downloading, close XAMPP’s Apache and MySQL services. You can do this by clicking the "Stop" button on the XAMPP control panel.

Step 3: Rename the existing PHP folder

Open the XAMPP installation directory and you will see a folder named "php". Before changing the PHP version, you need to make a backup of this folder to avoid data loss. Rename the folder (eg: php_old) and move it to a backup location.

Step 4: Unzip the downloaded PHP version

Extract the downloaded PHP version into the "php" folder in the XAMPP installation directory. It is important to name the unzipped folder "php" and not something else.

Step 5: Change the PHP path

Open the "xampp-control" folder in the XAMPP installation directory, find the "php-switch.bat" file, right-click the file and select " edit". Open the file in a text editor and copy the following code into it:

@echo off

rem set path variable to new php folder
set PATH=%cd%\..\php

rem restart apache
call apache_stop.bat
call apache_start.bat

rem display php version
php -v
pause

The above code sets the new PHP folder path as an environment variable and restarts the Apache service to take effect.

Step 6: Save changes and run the .bat file

When you have finished editing the "php-switch.bat" file, save and exit the file. Next, double-click the file and run the .bat file. This will change the PHP version in XAMPP and restart the Apache service.

Step 7: Verify that the changes have been applied

Finally, you can verify that the new PHP version is by opening the website and hovering over the "Powered by" message at the bottom of the page Applied. You will see the PHP version used, and if it is the version you wanted, the change was successful.

Conclusion

Such simple steps can change the PHP version in XAMPP. Using this approach, you can easily switch between different versions of PHP for testing, troubleshooting, or development. Remember, XAMPP is known for its easy setup and fast development, so using it with any version of PHP of your choice will make development much easier and more enjoyable.

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