Managing PHP Settings (MultiPHP INI Editor) : Exact Hosting Customer Support

PHP is the programming language that runs WordPress and most other web applications. Beyond choosing a PHP version, you can adjust individual PHP settings — like upload size and memory — using the MultiPHP INI Editor in cPanel. This article shows you how.

What PHP settings control

PHP settings (often called PHP directives) determine how your applications behave: how large a file they can upload, how much memory a script may use, and how long a script may run. The defaults suit most sites, but some applications ask you to raise a specific value — for example, to allow a larger media upload or import.

This article covers changing those settings. To change the PHP version your site runs on, see the PHP version article. [SME CONFIRM: that customers self-select PHP version via MultiPHP Manager on shared plans, and that MultiPHP INI Editor is exposed.]

Before you begin

cPanel access.
The setting and value you need, usually from your application's documentation or an on-screen message (for example, "increase upload_max_filesize").

Step 1: Open the MultiPHP INI Editor

Sign in to cPanel.
In the Software section, select MultiPHP INI Editor. [SME CONFIRM: section and tool name in the current cPanel theme.]

Step 2: Choose what to edit

The editor has two modes:

Basic Mode — toggle and set the most common directives with simple controls. Best for most users.
Editor Mode — edit the configuration text directly. Use only if you know the exact directive syntax.

Select Basic Mode.
Choose the domain (location) you want to apply the settings to.

Step 3: Adjust common settings

The settings you are most likely to change:

Setting	What it controls
upload_max_filesize	The largest single file PHP will accept in an upload.
post_max_size	The largest total amount of data a form can submit (should be at least as large as upload_max_filesize).
memory_limit	How much memory a single script may use.
max_execution_time	How long a script may run before it is stopped.

Change the values you need.
Select Apply (or Save).

Tip: When raising upload size, increase both upload_max_filesize and post_max_size. If post_max_size is smaller, large uploads still fail.

Warning: Raise values only as much as your application needs. Very high limits can let a single script consume your account's resources and trigger a 508 Resource Limit Reached error.

Step 4: Confirm the change

After saving, confirm the new value took effect — for example, retry the upload or import that prompted the change. If your application has a tool that displays the active PHP configuration, check it there.