PHP Version and PHP Limits

Your websites (WordPress, WooCommerce and most other site software) run on PHP. Two things about PHP matter to you: which version your site runs on, and the limits PHP works within, such as the largest file you can upload or how long a task may run. The defaults suit almost every site, so most customers never need to change anything.

Which PHP version your site uses

New sites run on PHP 8.3. The version is set per domain by TackHost, not in the control panel. To find out which version a WordPress site uses, sign in to WordPress and open Tools > Site Health > Info > Server.

Need a different version? For example, an older plugin needs PHP 8.2, or a new one needs PHP 8.4. Open a support ticket with the domain name and the version you need. We switch it for you.

Your PHP limits

Limit	What it controls	Can you change it?
Memory limit	How much memory one page or task may use	Set by your plan. Larger plans allow more.
Upload size (`upload_max_filesize`, `post_max_size`)	The largest file you can upload through your site	Yes, see below
Run time (`max_execution_time`)	How many seconds one page or task may run	Yes, see below
Input fields (`max_input_vars`)	How many fields one form or settings page may send	Yes, see below

To see the values that apply to a WordPress site, open Tools > Site Health > Info > Server in WordPress.

To check which plan you are on, look at Package in the Statistics panel at the side of the hosting control panel (open it from my.tackhost.com with Open Control Panel):

The Package line in the Statistics panel

If a site needs more memory than your plan allows, upgrade your plan or open a support ticket and we will look at what is using the memory.

Change a limit for one site

You can change the upload size, run time and input fields for one website with a small settings file named .user.ini (the name starts with a dot).

On your computer, create a plain text file with only the lines you want to change, for example:
```
upload_max_filesize = 64M
post_max_size = 70M
max_execution_time = 120
max_input_vars = 5000
```
Keep post_max_size a little larger than upload_max_filesize.
Upload it with an FTP program into the public_html folder of the domain, and name it exactly .user.ini. See Upload files with FTP.
Wait a few minutes, then check the new values in WordPress under Tools > Site Health > Info > Server.

The file applies to that domain only. Afterwards you can also see it in the File Manager, in the domain's public_html folder:

The .user.ini file in the public_html folder

To undo the change, delete the .user.ini file.

Good to know

The memory limit cannot be raised with .user.ini. A memory_limit line in the file is ignored.
FTP programs often hide files that start with a dot. In FileZilla, choose Server > Force showing hidden files to see .user.ini.
Higher is not always better. A very long run time can hide a slow plugin instead of fixing it. Raise a limit only when a task actually fails because of it.

Need help? Open a support ticket and tell us which site and which limit. We will change it for you.