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PHP settings control how WordPress and its plugins execute on the server — how much memory they can use, how long a request can run, how large a file you can upload, and whether errors are logged or displayed. You may need to adjust these values when installing resource-intensive plugins, running large product imports, processing bulk operations, or troubleshooting unexpected errors. WP Stratos Environment lets you change all of these settings directly from WordPress, and every change takes effect immediately.

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Available Settings

What it is: The version of PHP your site runs on.Default: The version active at the time your site was provisioned.Available options: 7.4, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3When to change it: Upgrade to a newer PHP version for better performance and security, or switch to an older version temporarily if a plugin or theme is not yet compatible with a newer release. Always test on a staging environment before changing the PHP version on a live site.
What it is: The maximum amount of memory a single PHP process can allocate.Default: 256MBAvailable options: 256MB, 512MB, 1GBWhen to change it: Increase this value if you see “Allowed memory size exhausted” errors, or when running page builders, WooCommerce, or other memory-hungry plugins.
What it is: The maximum number of seconds a PHP script is allowed to run before the server terminates it.Default: 60 secondsAvailable options: 30, 60, 120, 300 secondsWhen to change it: Increase this value when running long-running operations such as large WooCommerce imports, bulk media processing, or plugin/theme installations that time out.
What it is: The largest file size that can be uploaded through WordPress. WP Stratos Environment sets both upload_max_filesize and post_max_size together to keep them consistent.Default: 64MBAvailable options: 64MB, 128MB, 256MBWhen to change it: Increase this value when you need to upload large images, videos, WooCommerce product CSVs, or theme/plugin ZIP files that exceed the current limit.
What it is: The maximum number of input variables (form fields, query parameters, etc.) that PHP will accept in a single request.Default: 3000When to change it: Increase this value if you manage large menus, complex product attribute sets in WooCommerce, or any form-heavy plugin that submits many fields at once and silently drops data.
What it is: A toggle that controls whether PHP errors are printed directly on the front end of your site.Default: DisabledWhen to change it: Enable this temporarily in a development or staging environment to see PHP errors inline. Keep it disabled on any live production site — exposed error output can reveal sensitive server paths and application logic.
What it is: The WordPress debug mode constant. When enabled, WordPress surfaces PHP notices, warnings, and deprecated function calls that are suppressed by default.Default: DisabledWhen to change it: Enable WP_DEBUG only while actively troubleshooting a problem on a staging or development site. See Enabling Debug Mode below for safe usage guidance.
What it is: When enabled alongside WP_DEBUG, WordPress writes all debug output to /wp-content/debug.log instead of (or in addition to) displaying it on screen.Default: DisabledWhen to change it: Enable WP_DEBUG_LOG when you want to capture errors silently in a log file without displaying them to visitors. This is the safest way to collect debug information on a staging site that mirrors production traffic.

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Changing a PHP Setting

1

Open PHP Settings

In your WordPress admin, click WP Stratos Environment in the left sidebar, then select PHP Settings.
2

Locate the setting

Find the setting you want to change. Each option is labelled with its name, current value, and a short description.
3

Select the new value

Choose the new value from the dropdown menu or toggle the switch for boolean settings.
4

Save your changes

Click Save Changes. WP Stratos Environment applies the new configuration immediately — no server restart or additional action is required.
5

Verify the change

Reload the Server Info page to confirm the updated value appears under PHP Configuration.
Increasing memory limit or execution time gives PHP processes more of your server’s resources. Some plugins (such as WooCommerce during large imports, or complex page builders) legitimately require higher values — but always set the minimum that gets the job done. Unnecessarily high limits can mask inefficient plugin code and reduce available resources for concurrent requests.
If a plugin installation or data import fails with a timeout error, increase Max Execution Time to 120 or 300 seconds, complete the operation, then set it back to 60 seconds. Leaving it permanently elevated is rarely necessary.

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Enabling Debug Mode

WordPress debug mode is a powerful troubleshooting tool, but it must be used carefully. Enable it when you need to identify the source of an error, a blank screen, or unexpected behaviour — and disable it as soon as you’re done.
Never leave WP_DEBUG enabled on a live production site. Debug output can expose file paths, database query details, API keys passed through functions, and other sensitive information to anyone who visits your site.
To enable debug logging safely, follow these steps:
1

Enable WP_DEBUG

In PHP Settings, toggle WP_DEBUG on. This activates WordPress’s debug mode.
2

Enable WP_DEBUG_LOG

Toggle WP_DEBUG_LOG on. This redirects all debug output to /wp-content/debug.log rather than printing it on screen, so visitors are not exposed to error messages.
3

Reproduce the issue

Perform the action that triggers the error — for example, loading a specific page, saving a post, or running an import.
4

Review the log

Access /wp-content/debug.log via SFTP or your WP Stratos file manager to read the captured errors and warnings.
5

Disable debug mode

Once you have the information you need, toggle both WP_DEBUG and WP_DEBUG_LOG off and click Save Changes.

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