Custom PHP Settings Pro

Review editable PHP options

Custom PHP Settings Pro lets WordPress administrators review and change PHP settings from the dashboard. Its table lists non-system settings the add-on can personalize. Changed values appear in red, though a red value may have been changed elsewhere, such as in php.ini, WordPress, or another add-on. For example, WP_DEBUG can affect the displayed error_reporting value. Directives marked PHP_INI_SYSTEM cannot be changed through the plugin.

PHP mode determines the configuration file

• Apache module: The plugin writes settings to .htaccess. The file must exist and be writable by the webserver.
• CGI or FastCGI: The plugin uses the custom INI file named by PHP’s user_ini.filename setting, commonly .visitor.ini. The PHP Information table shows the configured filename. Place the file in the website root and make it writable by the webserver. Block public access to .user.ini. The table also shows user_ini.cache_ttl, which controls how long PHP may cache the file. With a value of 300, changes may take up to five minutes to appear.

Paid edition functions and requirements

Create multiple named configurations, each with its own PHP settings, then select one to apply its values to the relevant configuration file. The paid edition also lets you define custom environment variables when PHP runs as an Apache module and uses .htaccess. The Apache mod_env module must be enabled, and the variables are available through $_SERVER.

Apply settings with care

Review what each PHP setting does before changing it. An incorrect value can make the site inaccessible or disrupt requests. For example, a variables_order value that omits expected superglobals can affect site behavior, while a very low post_max_size can prevent form data from being sent and saved. If a change makes the site inaccessible, remove the plugin-managed entries between its markers from the relevant .htaccess or custom INI file.

Install and configure

Install and activate the plugin, then open its settings page and review the available PHP settings. Confirm that the configuration file selected by PHP’s mode exists where needed and is writable by the webserver. Choose the values, check the option to update the configuration file, save, and verify the results after PHP reloads its settings. For CGI or FastCGI, the user INI cache TTL may delay that reload.