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How do I install different (upgrade or downgrade) PHP version in still supported Ubuntu release?

rated 0 times [ 300] [ 0] / answers: 1 / hits: 319911 / 2 Years ago, fri, april 22, 2022, 4:06:54

I am trying to update to install PHP 5.5, 5.6 or 7.0 in Ubuntu 12.04/14.04/16.04 LTS, and I can only get PHP 5.3.10 for Ubuntu 12.04, PHP 5.5.9 for Ubuntu 14.04 or PHP 7.0.4 for Ubuntu 16.04 using official repositories (using apt-get).

I'm not really sure how to do a manual update – as I need:

to play around with the new(est) PHP features

to install older PHP version due support in the software

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answered 2 Years ago rcraftemur · Accepted Answer

You could use a PPA to stay up-to-date with PHP or install previous version of PHP (f.e. PHP 5.6 on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS).

The most widely used repositories come from Ondřej Surý, the Debian PHP maintainer:

ppa:ondrej/php (for PHP 5.6/7.0/7.1 co-installable versions, PHP 5.5 is no longer supported)

The php5 compat packages:

ppa:ondrej/php5-compat (for dummy php5 to satisfy dependencies in the old packages)

(Click here for instructions on using PPAs.)

PHP PPAs previously contained Apache 2.4 update. This is no longer a case, you need to add separate Apache 2.4 repository:

ppa:ondrej/apache2 (for Apache 2.4)

If you want use these PPAs, do this:

ppa:ondrej/php Launchpad logo (for PHP 5.6/7.0/7.1)

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get upgrade

sudo apt-get install php7.1   # for PHP 7.1

sudo apt-get install php7.0   # for PHP 7.0

sudo apt-get install php5.6   # for PHP 5.6

To switch between installed versions use

sudo update-alternatives --config php

Then you must set Apache to work with right version:

sudo a2dismod php7.1         # unload the current version

sudo a2enmod  php5.6         # load the version you need

sudo service apache2 restart # restart webserver to apply

ppa:ondrej/php5-compat Launchpad logo (for php5 compat)

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php5-compat

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get upgrade

sudo apt-get install php5 # this will pull php5.6 package

If you don't have add-apt-repository binary do the following:

sudo apt-get install python-software-properties

Precautions:

Are PPA's safe to add to my system and what are some "red flags" to watch out for?

Each version of PHP has its own set of modules and php.ini.

PHP 5.4

Prepackaged latest PHP 5.4 now resides in separate PPA:
ppa:ondrej/php5-oldstable Launchpad logo

Please be aware that PHP 5.4 has reached its end of life on 3. September 2015 and it doesn't receive any security updates. It's recommended to migrate to at least PHP 5.6 that will receive security updated till 31. December 2018.