How to Enable or Disable PHP Extensions in cPanel

PHP extensions add extra functionality to PHP - things like image processing with GD, database connectivity, and encryption support. dotCanada's cPanel gives you the ability to enable or disable PHP extensions for your account through the Select PHP Version tool.

Managing PHP Extensions

1. Log in to cPanel at yourdomain.com/cpanel.
2. Go to the Software section and click Select PHP Version (also called MultiPHP Manager).
3. Click the PHP Extensions link or navigate to the extensions tab.
4. You'll see a list of available extensions with checkboxes.
5. Check the box to enable an extension, or uncheck it to disable it.
6. Click Save to apply your changes.

Commonly Needed Extensions

• gd - image creation and manipulation (required by many WordPress themes)
• curl - allows PHP to make HTTP requests
• mbstring - multibyte string support for international characters
• zip - reading and writing ZIP archives
• intl - internationalization functions
• imagick - advanced image processing
• opcache - improves PHP performance through bytecode caching

Things to Know

Most common extensions are enabled by default on dotCanada's servers. If a plugin or application tells you a specific extension is missing, this is where you enable it. Extensions are tied to the selected PHP version, so if you change PHP versions, double-check your extensions are still enabled.

If you can't find an extension you need, please contact our support team and we'll check whether it's available on your dotCanada server.