How to Install PHP 8.4 on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

PHP is one of the most widely used server-side programming languages for web development. Popular platforms such as Magento, WordPress, Laravel, and many custom PHP applications depend on a properly configured PHP environment.

In this guide, you'll learn how to install PHP 8.4 on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, install commonly used PHP extensions, configure PHP for better performance, verify the installation, and troubleshoot common issues.

What You'll Learn

By the end of this tutorial you'll know how to:

• Install PHP 8.4
• Install commonly required PHP extensions
• Verify your PHP installation
• Configure PHP settings
• Restart PHP-FPM
• Troubleshoot common PHP issues

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

• Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
• A user with sudo privileges
• Internet connectivity
• Terminal access

Step 1 — Update Your Ubuntu System

Before installing new software, update your package list and installed packages.

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sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y

Keeping your system updated ensures you're installing the latest available packages and security fixes.

You can also verify your Ubuntu version.

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lsb_release -a

Example:

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Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
Release: 24.04
Codename: noble

Step 2 — Install Required Packages

Install the package required to manage repositories.

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sudo apt install software-properties-common -y

Step 3 — Add the PHP Repository

Ubuntu's default repositories may not always provide the latest PHP release. A commonly used repository for newer PHP versions is maintained by Ondřej Surý.

Add the repository:

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sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php

Update package information:

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sudo apt update

Step 4 — Install PHP 8.4

Install PHP.

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sudo apt install php8.4 -y

After installation, verify the installed version.

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php -v

Example output:

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PHP 8.4.x (cli)
Copyright (c) The PHP Group
Zend Engine v4.x

Step 5 — Install Common PHP Extensions

Most PHP applications require additional extensions.

Install the commonly used extensions:

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sudo apt install \
php8.4-cli \
php8.4-common \
php8.4-fpm \
php8.4-bcmath \
php8.4-curl \
php8.4-gd \
php8.4-intl \
php8.4-mbstring \
php8.4-mysql \
php8.4-opcache \
php8.4-readline \
php8.4-soap \
php8.4-xml \
php8.4-xsl \
php8.4-zip \
php8.4-sockets -y

PHP Extension Overview

Step 6 — Verify Installed Extensions

Run:

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php -m

Verify that important modules such as the following are available:

• curl
• intl
• mbstring
• mysql
• soap
• xml
• xsl
• zip
• gd
• opcache

Step 7 — Find the Active PHP Configuration File

Display the active configuration.

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php --ini

Example output:

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Loaded Configuration File:
/etc/php/8.4/cli/php.ini

For PHP-FPM you'll typically edit:

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/etc/php/8.4/fpm/php.ini

Open the file:

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sudo nano /etc/php/8.4/fpm/php.ini

Step 8 — Recommended PHP Configuration

The following settings are suitable for many PHP applications and provide a good starting point.

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memory_limit = 2G
max_execution_time = 1800
max_input_time = 1800
upload_max_filesize = 64M
post_max_size = 64M
date.timezone = Asia/Kolkata

Recommended Values

Adjust these values based on your application's requirements.

Step 9 — Restart PHP-FPM

After making configuration changes, restart PHP-FPM.

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sudo systemctl restart php8.4-fpm

Check its status.

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sudo systemctl status php8.4-fpm

You should see:

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Active: active (running)

Step 10 — Verify the Default PHP Version

If multiple PHP versions are installed, verify which version is active.

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php -v

If needed, switch the CLI version.

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sudo update-alternatives --config php

Troubleshooting

PHP Command Not Found

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php: command not found

Possible solutions:

• Verify PHP is installed.
• Restart your terminal.
• Check your PATH configuration.

Incorrect PHP Version

Verify the installed version.

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php -v

If multiple versions exist, update the active version.

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sudo update-alternatives --config php

Missing Extensions

List installed extensions.

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php -m

Install any missing extension.

Example:

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sudo apt install php8.4-intl

PHP-FPM Service Won't Start

Check its status.

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sudo systemctl status php8.4-fpm

Review logs.

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sudo journalctl -u php8.4-fpm

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check my PHP version?

Run:

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php -v

Where is php.ini located?

Find the active configuration file.

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php --ini

Can I install multiple PHP versions?

Yes.

Ubuntu allows multiple PHP versions to coexist. You can switch the active CLI version using:

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sudo update-alternatives --config php

How do I list installed PHP extensions?

Run:

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php -m

Do I need PHP-FPM?

If you're using Nginx, PHP-FPM is the standard way to process PHP requests and is recommended for production deployments.

Conclusion

Congratulations! 🎉

You've successfully installed PHP 8.4 on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, installed commonly used extensions, configured PHP, and verified that your installation is working correctly.

Your server is now ready for PHP-based applications and is well prepared for the next steps in setting up a complete development environment.

What's Next?

Continue with the next guide in our series:

➡️ How to Install Composer on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

Composer is the dependency manager used by modern PHP applications such as Magento, Laravel, and many other frameworks.