How To Fix 'MySQL Extension' Error from MultiPHP Update - HostGator cPanel

Did you update your PHP and get an odd error? Have no fear, for Josh is here. We'll show you how to fix that pesky error and get your website running properly in no time.

If you are still receiving the error after following the steps of this video, you may need to check for a .htaccess in the folder/directory above the one where your website is stored. If there is a PHP handler there, disable it and it should fix the issue.

In this video you'll learn:
How to spot the "MySQL Extension" Error after updating your PHP
How to locate your .htaccess file
How to make a backup of your .htaccess file
How to comment or delete what is causing the error
How to be super excited about fixing your site

Check out our Knowledgebase articles for more information:

[benfrank]

I'm very new to this stuff and not technologically gifted. It's worth noting that you have to unhide the .htaccess files. Do this by going to settings in the top right corner of file manager -> make sure 'show hidden files' is checked. That should make them visible. I'm new to this stuff and it took me a few minutes to figure that one out. Also, I had two .htaccess files in my root folder (same folder/level as public_html). In his video description he says to disable these files, but not how to 'disable.' I used his same method in the video but added a # to every line in the file and saved it. I'm guessing this essentially disables the whole file. I didn't want to take the risk of deleting something. I did this for both files. Everything works now. Thanks for the video!!

[federitossa]

The video didn´t fix my problem BUT the description below did the job! Thanks mate

[ollypowell]

Literally been screaming at my computer for 3 hours and this video has saved the day and Josh with his mega beard! As others have commented just check to make sure there isnt another /htaccess file somewhere else.

[youssefsami]

I have 3 .htacess files on my website, how can if fix the same issue as the php update make changes to the default file only?
I tried to edit the files manually but still not fixed.

[BelindaHodge]

Thanks - that did not immediately fix it but following the comments below I also edited the .htaccess file in the home directory and that solved it. Phew! Thanks to all who contributed.

[xavierparedes]

I was going crazy for a couple of days with this PHP error message! Some sites recommended a manual WordPress update via FTP and it was a long list of steps. This solution was very easy and it worked perfectly. Thanks for posting this!!! Hostgator rocks.

[katiemoreno]

I was literally in tears trying to figure this out, thinking I crashed my client's site (while just trying to update a darn plugin!!) YOU ARE A LIFESAVER, SIR.

[cathyalling]

You guys are awesome! I was kinda stressed out when the video didn't do the trick. Scrolled through the comments and kept looking back at my files. I finally found 3 .htaccess files in my home directory. I added the # to them and everything came back up. This is the best support and hosting program around. Literally every question I have had I have been able to find the answer to in the support section.

[arcadeheroes_coinop]

Thanks for the tutorial, although I checked my htaccess file and it does not show that line of text that needs to be commented out, but I'm still getting that error anyways (yes I triple checked, but it's a small file, and the code that should be there simply isn't, but if I try any version of PHP that is new, my site shuts down and shows the error). I've reverted back to the old php for the moment...is there something else that I might be missing?

[DollWrestling]

"If you are still receiving the error after following the steps of this video, you may need to check for a .htaccess in the folder/directory above the one where your website is stored. If there is a PHP handler there, disable it and it should fix the issue."

If this still does not work for you, after having changed your htaccess file(s), go to your Cpanel, MultiPHPManager and set your PHP Version to "Inherit" as the last step. That worked for me.

[robcostigan]

I still have this error message:
Your PHP installation appears to be missing the MySQL extension which is required by WordPress.

In my version of .htaccess, no previous version of PHP exists in the code just above the new batch of code which installed PHP 7.4. I was running a really old version of PHP something like 5.1?? Could the old code exist somewhere else in the .htaccess. I searched for AddHandler but nothing came up.

[johnmcclainiii]

Thank you so much. I was able to update my php based on your video. I also ran into the dreaded issue where my site would not load after the update. I was able solve my issue from reading thru the comments...ended up have more than one .htaccess file..and by commenting out the info in those files my site started working...

[bedroomsoliloquies]

Thank you so much! I have a wordpress website and no idea how any of it actually works but with this tutorial (and the initial one on how to update the PHP version) it's all working now! If someone with no clue can successfully manage this, I'd say that means your tutorials are pretty awesome!

[TropCity]

This seems pretty insane that people have to edit htaccess files just to upgrade their php.

[mannyconde]

If you're like me and didn't have lines 18-22 like in this video.
go to your file manager scroll down a little bit. Look for old .htacess file.
Then delete it.
I had 4 Old .htaccess files and they were conflicting each other.
I figure if I made it worse I can just restore the files from the trash.
but it all worked out for me!

[keonah]

Great video! Like someone else mentioned the description under the video actually helped me more since I didn't have that 'add handler' in my file. Now I have successfully updated the PHP for all my sites and your video saved me a phone call to Hostgator...thanks again!

[ruefreviews]

Thank you! I finally got this to work. If you are still having issues check for duplicate php versions throughout your .htaccess file and comment these out too. I had a duplicate about halfway up the page.

[veteranmac]

thank you for your instructional video. I got scared once I made the change and my website gave me the error but I found the htaccess file and followed the steps. Thanks again!

[YaminaBoase]

I can't see a .htaccess file in the Public html folder, how come??? So I am blocked there and cannot follow the prompts from this video any more :( My issue is the following, after updated to PHP 7.4, I cannot see my website any more and get this: Your PHP installation appears to be missing the MySQL extension which is required by WordPress.
Deprecated: Directive 'allow_url_include' is deprecated in Unknown on line 0

[Yorsh]

Seguí los pasos del video, pero el error persistía. Si se comenta todo el código "BEGIN cPanel-generated handler" el error se arregla, pero se vuelve a la versión por defecto de PHP. Asi que lo que hice fui al directorio principal del servidor "/home1/myusername" y editar comentar las lineas con "AddHandler" y el bloque "IfModule mod_suphp.c". Con esto pude actualizar todos mis sitios a la última versión de PHP, la 7.4