How to Install PHP on Ubuntu 22.04/24.04

Are you looking to install PHP on Ubuntu 22.04/24.04 LTS but don’t know where to start? Don’t worry! This guide will walk you through setting up your PHP environment quickly and easily, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer. We’ll also share some tips on optimizing PHP 8 performance so you can get the best results.

Installing PHP 8.1/8.2/8.3

The PHP PPA repository for Ubuntu allows you to install multiple PHP versions, including 7.4, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, and 8.4, on Ubuntu-based systems like 22.04 and 24.04. In this guide, we will install PHP 8.2 and PHP 8.2-FPM. Simply specify the version you want to install and follow the steps.

Step 1: Install Required Tools

PHP 8.1 is available through a third-party PPA repository, which needs to be added to your system. Start by installing the necessary tools and adding the repository:

sudo apt install lsb-release ca-certificates apt-transport-https software-properties-common -y

Step 2: Add the PHP PPA Repository

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php

Step 3: Update Package Lists

sudo apt update

Step 4: Install PHP

To install PHP, specify the version number as shown below:

sudo apt install php8.3 -y

To check the installed PHP version, run:

php -v

To check the PHP running status:

sudo systemctl status php8.3-fpm

If multiple PHP versions are installed, you can set a default version using:

sudo update-alternatives --config php

This command allows you to set a default PHP version on your system. The available versions will be listed in numerical order, and you simply need to enter the corresponding number to select one, as shown in the screenshot.

Installing PHP-FPM

PHP-FPM versions are available in the same PPA repository (Step 2), so you only need to specify the desired version:

sudo apt install php8.3-fpm

Enable PHP-FPM to start with the system:

sudo systemctl enable php8.3-fpm

Installing PHP Extensions

PHP extensions are additional modules that enhance PHP’s functionality, allowing it to interact with databases, process images, handle encryption, and more. Depending on your web application, certain extensions may be required to ensure proper functionality.

php8.3-amqp       php8.3-common   php8.3-gd        php8.3-ldap
php8.3-apcu       php8.3-curl     php8.3-gmp       php8.3-mailparse
php8.3-ast        php8.3-dba      php8.3-igbinary  php8.3-mbstring
php8.3-bcmath     php8.3-dev      php8.3-imagick   php8.3-memcached
php8.3-bz2        php8.3-ds       php8.3-imap      php8.3-msgpack
php8.3-cgi        php8.3-enchant  php8.3-interbase php8.3-mysql
php8.3-readline   php8.3-sqlite3  php8.3-xsl       php8.3-xml
php8.3-redis      php8.3-sybase   php8.3-yac       php8.3-raphf
php8.3-rrd        php8.3-tidy     php8.3-yaml      php8.3-solr
php8.3-smbclient  php8.3-uuid     php8.3-zip       php8.3-psr
php8.3-snmp       php8.3-xdebug   php8.3-zmq       php8.3-cli
php8.3-odbc       php8.3-opcache  php8.3-pgsql     php8.3-phpdbg
php8.3-pspell     php8.3-soap     php8.3-oauth     php8.3-psr
php8.3-fpm        php8.3-intl     php8.3-xhprof

To install a specific PHP 8.x extension, use:

sudo apt install php8.3-<extension>

To install multiple extensions at once:

sudo apt install php8.3-common php8.3-mysql php8.3-xml php8.3-xmlrpc php8.3-curl php8.3-gd php8.3-imagick php8.3-cli php8.3-dev php8.3-imap php8.3-mbstring php8.3-opcache php8.3-soap php8.3-zip php8.3-intl php8.3-fpm php8.3-zip php8.3-bcmath php8.3-mcrypt

Configuring PHP-FPM (Optional)

By default, PHP-FPM runs under the www-data user. However, if you are managing your projects under a different user, it’s recommended to update this setting for better security and permission manager.

Step 1: Create a Backup

sudo cp /etc/php/8.3/fpm/pool.d/www.conf /etc/php/8.3/fpm/pool.d/www.conf.disbaled

Step 2: Edit the PHP-FPM Configuration File

sudo nano /etc/php/8.3/fpm/pool.d/www.conf

Find and change user = www-data to user = your-username. (Replace your-username with your actual Ubuntu username.)

Step 3: Restart PHP-FPM to Apply Changes

sudo service php8.3-fpm restart

Common Issues and Fixes

PHP-FPM Fails to Start

If PHP-FPM does not start due to configuration changes, check the error log with:

sudo journalctl -u php8.3-fpm

Or revert to the original configuration file and restart PHP-FPM.

You have successfully installed PHP on Ubuntu 22.04/24.04 LTS. Now you can start developing web applications, testing PHP scripts, and optimizing performance as needed. If you run into any issues, double-check your PHP version, required modules, and error logs to troubleshoot quickly. Happy coding, and may your server always run smoothly!