[DEV]

Quick answer
Check the PHP version assigned to the website, then verify required extensions in that website's web runtime. The PHP version used by a terminal command can differ from the website's PHP-FPM version. Do not install extensions only because they appear in the panel's catalog.

1. Check the website's selected PHP version
Open Website, select the site's settings and choose PHP version. Our lab shows PHP-84, meaning PHP 8.4. If you need a different version, install a supported version first, select it here and click Switch, then test your application. Use the application's compatibility requirements rather than choosing the newest version automatically.
We inspected and verified the existing PHP 8.4 selection; this guide does not claim we tested switching to another installed version.



2. Open extension settings for that version
Click Setting in the site's PHP version tab, then Install extensions in the PHP manager. This opens settings for the selected PHP version. Extensions belong to a version, so installing one for a different PHP version will not fix this website.


The catalog can show available installation actions even when a component is already loaded in the web runtime. Check before changing it.

3. Verify the web runtime with a small temporary check
Create a temporary PHP file in the website directory containing only the checks you need:

Code:Copy

<?php // AdminsForum tutorial: temporary PHP runtime check header('Content-Type: application/json'); echo json_encode([ 'php_version' => PHP_VERSION, 'mysqli' => extension_loaded('mysqli'), 'pdo_mysql' => extension_loaded('pdo_mysql'), 'mbstring' => extension_loaded('mbstring'), 'curl' => extension_loaded('curl'), 'gd' => extension_loaded('gd'), 'zip' => extension_loaded('zip'), 'intl' => extension_loaded('intl') ]);

Open that file through the website's HTTPS URL. true means that extension is loaded in this runtime; false means it is not. Delete the temporary file immediately after checking. Avoid leaving a full public phpinfo page on the server.

Our tested result
A temporary check served through https://adminslab.com returned:

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PHP: 8.4.26 mysqli: true pdo_mysql: true mbstring: true curl: true gd: true zip: true intl: true

We removed the file after the test. These are our lab results, not a guarantee for every aaPanel installation or PHP version.

4. Install only a missing required extension
Compare the results with your application's requirements. If a required extension is missing, locate it in the manager for the correct PHP version and use Install. Wait for the task to finish, inspect errors, and follow the panel's reload or restart instruction where needed. Then repeat the website test and remove the check file again.
No additional extension installation was needed for the checks above, so this walkthrough verifies settings and runtime rather than claiming a new extension was installed.

Troubleshooting
Terminal says installed but website says missing: Check the website's selected PHP version and its PHP-FPM configuration. The manager shows a version-specific command path, such as /www/server/php/84/bin/php.
Website downloads PHP code: Stop and check the web-server PHP handler before placing application credentials in PHP files.
Application still fails: An extension check is only one requirement. Also check PHP compatibility, configuration, file permissions and application logs.
Panel shows Install despite true: Use the actual web test as evidence and investigate the catalog status instead of reinstalling blindly.

Related guides
Install PHP 8.4 in aaPanel Free Edition
Create a website in aaPanel Free Edition

Tested: 10 October 2026, aaPanel Free Edition 8.0.6, Nginx and PHP 8.4.26 on Ubuntu 22.04. Original AdminsForum lab inspection and web-runtime test.