PHP not working in Windows? Here are the fixes

Introduction

When setting up a PHP environment on Windows, you might run into several issues that can prevent PHP from working correctly. This might be due to configuration errors, problems with the server software, or missing components. Identifying the cause is the first step in resolving these issues.

Solution 1: Check PHP Installation

Ensure that PHP is installed and configured correctly on your Windows system.

1. Download PHP from the official PHP website.
2. Extract the ZIP file to a designated location, for example, C:\php.
3. Add the PHP folder to your system’s Environment Variables under Path.
4. Verify the installation by opening Command Prompt and typing php -v. You should see the PHP version details.

This approach only verifies PHP is installed. It doesn’t solve configuration issues.

Solution 2: Configure PHP.INI

Edit your PHP.INI file to ensure proper configuration.

1. Locate your php.ini file, usually in your PHP installation directory.
2. Open php.ini with a text editor.
3. Uncomment (remove the semicolon) from the line ;extension_dir = "ext".
4. Ensure important extensions like extension=mysqli or extension=curl are uncommented if you use these features.
5. Save the file and restart your web server.

This solution resolves extension-related issues but it equires knowledge of PHP configuration.

Solution 3: Install Visual C++ Redistributable

PHP on Windows requires the Visual C++ Redistributable to be installed.

1. Visit the Microsoft support page to download the Visual C++ Redistributable.
2. Download the version recommended by the PHP installation instructions.
3. Run the downloaded executable to install the redistributable packages.
4. Restart your system and check if PHP now works.

Thi approach can fix issues related to missing dependencies but it Requires additional software installation.

Solution 4: Correct Apache Configuration

If using Apache, ensure that it is correctly configured to work with PHP.

1. Open the Apache configuration file, typically httpd.conf.
2. Add or confirm the presence of these lines to load the PHP module: LoadModule php7_module "c:/php/php7apache2_4.dll" AddHandler application/x-httpd-php .php PHPIniDir "C:/php"
3. Change the paths if your PHP is in a different directory.
4. Ensure that the Apache service is pointing to the right version of php7apache2_4.dll if you are using a PHP version other than 7.
5. Restart Apache and test a PHP file.

This enables PHP to run on Apache but it might require manual tweaking of file paths.

Solution 5: Check Firewall and Antivirus

Firewall or antivirus software can sometimes block PHP or the web server from operating.

1. Go to your Firewall settings through the Control Panel or Windows Defender.
2. Add an exception for the ports your web server uses (typically port 80 and 443).
3. If using an antivirus, temporarily disable it and see if PHP works.
4. If PHP works with the antivirus off, add an exception to it for your web server and PHP executable.
5. Remember to re-enable your antivirus after testing.

The purpose of this solution is to ensure that security software isn’t interfering with PHP, but it can risk system security if not re-enabled properly.

Conclusion

In sum, you need to ensure PHP is installed correctly, properly configure the php.ini file, have the necessary Visual C++ Redistributable installed, configure your Apache server correctly, and check your firewall and antivirus settings. With these solutions, you should be able to resolve most of the issues that prevent PHP from working on Windows.