How to Upgrade PHP Version in WAMPServer

Edited 1 day ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

WAMPServerPHPUpgradeWindowsSoftware UpdateServerConfigurationDevelopmentLocalhostApache

Web development is an evolving field, with new versions of software tools being released regularly. PHP, a highly popular scripting language for web development, is constantly updated to improve performance, security, and features. WAMPServer, which stands for Windows, Apache, MySQL, and PHP, is a Windows-based web development environment used to build web applications with these technologies. When the PHP version running on WAMPServer needs to be upgraded, it is important to handle the transition process smoothly to ensure that your web applications continue to function correctly.

This guide will walk you through structured steps to upgrade PHP in WAMPServer. Upgrading is not difficult but requires careful execution to prevent any potential problems with existing projects or applications.

Prerequisites for upgrading PHP in WAMPServer

Before you begin the upgrade process, make sure you have the following:

• A working installation of WAMPServer with PHP already running.
• Internet connection to download the new PHP version.
• Administrative privileges on the Windows machine running WAMPServer.
• A backup of your existing PHP directory and configuration files.

Step-by-Step Guide to Upgrading PHP in WAMPServer

Step 1: Identify the current PHP version

First of all, you need to check the current PHP version installed in your WAMP Server. Follow these instructions:

1. Open the WAMPServer dashboard by clicking on the WAMPServer icon in the system tray.
2. Select "PHP" from the dropdown menu.
3. Note the PHP version being used. It is usually listed as "PHP 7.4.12". Keep this in mind as the current version before the upgrade.

Step 2: Download the latest PHP version

Visit the official PHP website to download the latest version. Here are the steps:

1. Visit the PHP for Windows download page.
2. Find the latest thread safe version for your architecture (x86 or x64 depending on your system). Normally, WAMPServer uses the thread safe version.
3. Download the appropriate ZIP file.

Step 3: Extract the PHP files

Once you have the ZIP file, follow these instructions to extract and prepare the files:

1. Create a new folder in the WAMPServer PHP directory, usually located at C:\wamp\bin\php, and name it according to the new PHP version (for example, "php8.1.6").
2. Extract the contents of the downloaded PHP ZIP file to the newly created directory.

Step 4: Update the WAMPServer configuration

Now you need to configure WAMPServer to use the new PHP version:

1. Go to the WAMPServer installation directory, which is usually C:\wamp.
2. Locate the wampmanager.conf file and open it.
3. Find the section called [php] and add or update the directory path for the new PHP version so it matches the folder you just created.
4. In addition, you will need to update the php.ini file. Copy php.ini from your previous version of PHP (usually found in C:\wamp\bin\php\php7.xx\) to your new PHP directory and overwrite it. This ensures that your previous configurations carry over.

Step 5: Verify PHP Configuration and Extensions

After updating the configuration files, it is important to check the PHP extensions and settings:

1. Open the php.ini file in your new PHP directory.
2. Double check that the extensions needed for your applications are enabled. Common extensions are mbstring, openssl and curl. This is done by looking for lines like ;extension=php_curl.dll and removing the semicolon (;) at the beginning to uncomment them.
3. You can also compare your php.ini to that of your older version to make sure any custom configurations have been retained.

Step 6: Update the PATH environment variable

The PATH environment variable must be updated so that WAMPServer uses the correct PHP executable. Here's how:

1. Open System Properties in Windows (you can search for "environment variables" in the Start menu).
2. Click on "Environment Variables".
3. In the "System Variables" section, find Path variable and select it.
4. Click "Edit..." to modify it.
5. Find the current PHP path (for example, C:\wamp\bin\php\php7.xx) and update it to your new PHP path (for example, C:\wamp\bin\php\php8.1.6).
6. Click "OK" to save and exit all dialogs.

Step 7: Restart WAMPServer

After making all the necessary changes, restart WAMPServer to apply them:

1. Click on the WAMPServer icon in the system tray.
2. Click "Turn off all services."
3. Once all services are stopped, click on "Start All Services".

WAMPServer will now restart with the newly configured PHP version.

Step 8: Confirm upgrade success

To make sure the upgrade was successful, do the following:

1. Return to the WAMPServer dashboard by clicking the WAMPServer icon in the system tray.
2. Select "PHP" from the drop-down menu.
3. Confirm that the newer PHP version (e.g., PHP 8.1.6) is listed and checkmarked, indicating that this is the active version.
4. Create a simple phpinfo.php file in your web root directory (usually C:\wamp\www) with the following contents: <?php phpinfo(); ?>.
5. Open a web browser and go to http://localhost/phpinfo.php.
6. Verify that the PHP version displayed in the browser matches the version you just installed, which will confirm that the upgrade was successful.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Extension not found

If you encounter errors related to missing extensions, double-check that these extensions are enabled in the new php.ini file and that you copied your previous configuration correctly.

Services fail to start

If the services fail to start after the upgrade, the cause may be a typo or incorrect configuration in wampmanager.conf or php.ini. Check the file again and make sure all specified paths are correct.

Showing the wrong PHP version

If the PHP version displayed is still the old version, make sure the PATH environment variable points to the correct directory of your new PHP version.

Conclusion

Upgrading the PHP version in WAMPServer is a straightforward process, provided each step is followed carefully. By maintaining good documentation of your configuration settings and keeping backups of important files, you can make the transition without disrupting your development environment.

Remember that keeping up to date on the latest PHP releases and security updates is beneficial to maintaining an efficient and secure development workflow. You now have the step-by-step knowledge to seamlessly manage PHP upgrades in a WAMPServer environment.

  Share This Article

If you find anything wrong with the article content, you can request an update