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PHP Settings Manager

A lightweight WordPress plugin to configure PHP settings.

by Mohamed Houssem Eddine SAIGHI · github.com/houssemdub/php-settings-manager

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Install

No release zip yet. The repository archive installs, but the folder name will carry the branch suffix and updates will not flow:

wp plugin install https://github.com/houssemdub/php-settings-manager/archive/refs/heads/main.zip
Readme github.com/houssemdub/php-settings-manager ↗

A lightweight WordPress plugin to configure PHP runtime settings including memory limits, execution time, and upload sizes directly from your admin dashboard.

📋 Table of Contents

✨ Features

🎯 Core Functionality

  • Memory Limit Control - Increase PHP memory allocation on-the-fly
  • Execution Time Management - Extend script execution time for long operations
  • Upload Size Configuration - Adjust maximum file upload sizes
  • Post Size Settings - Configure POST data size limits
  • Real-Time Monitoring - View current PHP configuration values
  • Simple Interface - User-friendly settings page

🔧 Technical Features

  • Runtime Configuration - Uses ini_set() for immediate changes
  • Persistent Settings - Saves configuration to WordPress database
  • Security First - Requires admin capabilities
  • Nonce Validation - CSRF protection on all forms
  • Safe Defaults - Pre-configured recommended values
  • No PHP.ini Access Required - Works without server file access

💡 Developer-Friendly

  • Clean Code - Well-documented and organized
  • WordPress Standards - Follows WP coding conventions
  • Lightweight - Minimal resource footprint
  • Activation Defaults - Sets optimal values on activation
  • No Database Overhead - Single option entry

📸 Screenshots

Settings Dashboard

Settings Page

Current Configuration View

Configuration

💿 Installation

Method 1: WordPress Admin Panel

  1. Download the php-settings-manager.php file
  2. Go to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin
  3. Choose the downloaded file
  4. Click Install Now
  5. Click Activate Plugin

Method 2: Manual Installation

  1. Download the plugin file
  2. Upload to /wp-content/plugins/php-settings-manager/ directory
  3. Activate through the Plugins menu in WordPress

Method 3: FTP Upload

  1. Download and extract the plugin
  2. Upload via FTP to /wp-content/plugins/
  3. Activate in WordPress admin panel

🚀 Quick Start

Initial Setup (2 Minutes)

  1. Activate the Plugin

    • Upon activation, the plugin automatically sets recommended defaults:
      • Memory Limit: 512M
      • Max Execution Time: 300 seconds
      • Upload Max Filesize: 128M
      • Post Max Size: 128M

  2. Access Settings

    • Navigate to Settings > PHP Settings in WordPress admin
    • View your current PHP configuration

  3. Adjust Settings (if needed)

    • Modify any value based on your needs
    • Click Save Settings
    • Changes apply immediately

  4. Verify Changes

    • Check "Current PHP Configuration" table
    • Settings should reflect your saved values

📖 Settings Guide

Memory Limit

What it does: Controls the maximum amount of memory a PHP script can consume.

Default: 512M (512 Megabytes)

Recommended Values:

  • Small Sites (blogs, portfolios): 256M
  • Medium Sites (business, e-commerce): 512M
  • Large Sites (high traffic, complex): 1G (1 Gigabyte)
  • Enterprise (large databases, imports): 2G

Format:

256M  = 256 Megabytes
512M  = 512 Megabytes
1G    = 1 Gigabyte
2G    = 2 Gigabytes

When to Increase:

  • WordPress "Allowed memory size exhausted" errors
  • Plugin installation failures
  • Theme updates failing
  • Large import/export operations
  • WooCommerce with many products

Example Error:

Fatal error: Allowed memory size of 134217728 bytes exhausted

Max Execution Time

What it does: Maximum time in seconds a script is allowed to run before being terminated.

Default: 300 seconds (5 minutes)

Recommended Values:

  • Standard Sites: 300 (5 minutes)
  • Import/Export Operations: 600 (10 minutes)
  • Database Migrations: 900 (15 minutes)
  • Backup Operations: 1800 (30 minutes)

When to Increase:

  • "Maximum execution time exceeded" errors
  • Large database operations
  • Bulk data imports/exports
  • Plugin/theme updates timing out
  • Backup plugin failures

Example Error:

Fatal error: Maximum execution time of 30 seconds exceeded

Note: Some shared hosting providers may limit this setting.

Upload Max Filesize

What it does: Maximum size of an individual file that can be uploaded via HTTP.

Default: 128M (128 Megabytes)

Recommended Values:

  • Image-Heavy Sites: 64M - 128M
  • Video Content: 256M - 512M
  • Large Media Libraries: 512M - 1G
  • File Download Sites: 1G - 2G

Common Sizes:

32M   = Small images, documents
64M   = HD images, small videos
128M  = Large images, short videos
256M  = Long videos, presentations
512M  = Large video files
1G    = Very large media files

When to Increase:

  • Cannot upload theme files
  • Media upload failures
  • "Exceeds maximum upload size" errors
  • Video upload issues
  • Large PDF upload failures

Post Max Size

What it does: Maximum size of POST data that PHP will accept.

Default: 128M (128 Megabytes)

Important: Should be equal to or larger than upload_max_filesize.

Recommended: Set to same value as Upload Max Filesize or slightly higher.

Why it Matters:

  • Handles form data + file uploads combined
  • Affects WordPress media uploader
  • Impacts plugin/theme uploads
  • Controls bulk operations

Best Practice:

If upload_max_filesize = 128M
Then post_max_size = 128M or 256M

🎯 Use Cases

Use Case 1: E-Commerce Site Performance

Scenario: WooCommerce store with 5,000+ products experiencing slow admin dashboard.

Solution:

Memory Limit: 1G
Max Execution Time: 600
Upload Max Filesize: 256M
Post Max Size: 256M

Result: Faster product imports, smoother admin operations, larger product images supported.

Use Case 2: Media-Heavy Portfolio Site

Scenario: Photography portfolio needs to upload high-resolution images (50MB+).

Solution:

Memory Limit: 512M
Max Execution Time: 300
Upload Max Filesize: 512M
Post Max Size: 512M

Result: Successful upload of RAW images, no timeout errors.

Use Case 3: Database Migration

Scenario: Migrating site from staging to production with large database.

Solution:

Memory Limit: 2G
Max Execution Time: 1800
Upload Max Filesize: 512M
Post Max Size: 512M

Result: Migration completes without timeout or memory errors.

Use Case 4: Plugin Development & Testing

Scenario: Developer testing import/export functionality.

Solution:

Memory Limit: 1G
Max Execution Time: 900
Upload Max Filesize: 256M
Post Max Size: 256M

Result: Reliable testing environment without PHP limitations.

🔧 Troubleshooting

Settings Not Taking Effect

Problem: Changed settings but seeing no difference.

Solutions:

  1. Check Hosting Restrictions

    • Some shared hosts disable ini_set()
    • Contact your hosting provider
    • May need VPS or dedicated hosting

  2. Server-Level Limits

    • PHP.ini or .htaccess overrides plugin settings
    • Server-level limits take precedence
    • Request host to increase limits

  3. PHP Configuration

    • Check if PHP is running in Safe Mode
    • Safe Mode restricts ini_set() usage
    • Upgrade hosting plan if necessary

  4. Cache Issues

    • Clear WordPress cache
    • Clear browser cache
    • Refresh settings page

Verification:

// Add to a test page
<?php
echo 'Memory Limit: ' . ini_get('memory_limit') . '<br>';
echo 'Max Execution Time: ' . ini_get('max_execution_time') . '<br>';
echo 'Upload Max: ' . ini_get('upload_max_filesize') . '<br>';
echo 'Post Max: ' . ini_get('post_max_size') . '<br>';
?>

Settings Reverting After Deactivation

Problem: Settings reset when plugin is deactivated.

Solution:

  • Settings are stored in database
  • Deactivation doesn't delete options
  • Reactivate plugin to restore settings
  • Settings only deleted on plugin deletion

"Settings Saved" But No Change

Problem: Success message appears but values unchanged.

Solutions:

  1. Check "Current PHP Configuration" table on settings page
  2. Verify hosting doesn't restrict ini_set()
  3. Try lower values first (e.g., 256M instead of 2G)
  4. Check PHP error logs for permission issues
  5. Contact hosting support

Upload Still Failing After Increase

Problem: Increased upload size but still can't upload files.

Solutions:

  1. Check Post Max Size: Must be ≥ Upload Max Filesize
  2. Server Timeout: Increase Max Execution Time
  3. Web Server Limits: Nginx/Apache may have separate limits
  4. Check .htaccess: May have conflicting directives
  5. Proxy Limits: CloudFlare, reverse proxies may limit uploads

❓ FAQs

Q: Is this plugin safe to use?

A: Yes! It uses WordPress-native functions and only admins can access settings. All changes are reversible.

Q: Will this work on shared hosting?

A: It depends. Some shared hosts restrict ini_set(). If settings don't apply, contact your host.

Q: Can I break my site with this plugin?

A: Unlikely. Worst case: PHP may hit server limits and show errors. Simply reduce values and save again.

Q: Do I need to edit PHP.ini or .htaccess?

A: No! This plugin manages settings without file editing. However, server-level configs override plugin settings.

Q: What happens when I deactivate the plugin?

A: Settings revert to server defaults. Your saved preferences remain in database for reactivation.

Q: Can I set unlimited memory/execution time?

A: Not recommended. Use -1 for unlimited, but this can crash servers. Stick to reasonable values.

Q: Why are my settings not saving?

A: Check that:

  • You have admin capabilities
  • Hosting allows ini_set()
  • Format is correct (e.g., 512M not 512MB)

Q: Does this work with multisite?

A: Yes, but settings apply per-site, not network-wide. Configure separately for each site.

Q: Will this slow down my site?

A: No. The plugin only runs during init hook and has minimal overhead.

Q: Can I use this with WP-CLI?

A: Yes! Plugin works with WP-CLI. Settings apply to CLI operations too.

Q: Does it support custom PHP directives?

A: Currently supports 4 common directives. Custom directive support planned for future versions.

🔬 Technical Details

How It Works

  1. Plugin Activation

    • Registers activation hook
    • Creates option in wp_options table
    • Sets default recommended values

  2. Settings Page

    • Accessible at Settings > PHP Settings
    • Requires manage_options capability
    • CSRF protection via nonces
    • Real-time configuration display

  3. Runtime Application

    • Hooks into WordPress init action (priority 1)
    • Retrieves settings from database
    • Applies settings via ini_set()
    • Runs on every page load

Code Structure

class PHP_Settings_Manager {
    private $settings_key = 'php_settings_manager';

    // Constructor registers hooks
    public function __construct() { ... }

    // Adds admin menu
    public function add_menu() { ... }

    // Registers settings
    public function register_settings() { ... }

    // Applies settings at runtime
    public function apply_settings() { ... }

    // Renders settings page
    public function settings_page() { ... }
}

Database Storage

Option Name: php_settings_manager

Structure:

array(
    'memory_limit' => '512M',
    'max_execution_time' => '300',
    'upload_max_filesize' => '128M',
    'post_max_size' => '128M'
)

Filters & Hooks

Currently no custom hooks. Planned for v2.0:

// Planned filters
apply_filters('php_settings_manager_defaults', $defaults);
apply_filters('php_settings_manager_max_values', $max_values);
apply_filters('php_settings_manager_allowed_directives', $directives);

Security Features

  1. Capability Check: current_user_can('manage_options')
  2. Nonce Verification: check_admin_referer()
  3. Input Sanitization: sanitize_text_field(), intval()
  4. Output Escaping: esc_attr(), esc_html()
  5. Direct Access Prevention: defined('ABSPATH') || exit;

Performance Impact

  • Memory Overhead: ~2KB
  • Database Queries: 1 query per page load (cached)
  • Execution Time: <1ms
  • Impact: Negligible

🛣️ Roadmap

Version 1.1 (Planned - Q1 2025)

  • [ ] Export/Import settings
  • [ ] Preset configurations (Small, Medium, Large sites)
  • [ ] Settings validation and warnings
  • [ ] Recommended values based on site size
  • [ ] Reset to defaults button

Version 1.2 (Planned - Q2 2025)

  • [ ] Additional PHP directives (max_input_vars, max_input_time)
  • [ ] Per-page/per-post override capability
  • [ ] WP-CLI commands support
  • [ ] Multisite network-wide settings
  • [ ] Settings history/logging

Version 2.0 (Future)

  • [ ] Visual configuration wizard
  • [ ] Automatic optimization recommendations
  • [ ] Server compatibility check
  • [ ] Before/after performance comparison
  • [ ] Integration with popular performance plugins

🤝 Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Here's how you can help:

Ways to Contribute

  1. Report Bugs: Open an issue with detailed information
  2. Suggest Features: Share your ideas for improvements
  3. Submit Pull Requests: Fork, code, and submit PRs
  4. Improve Documentation: Help make docs clearer
  5. Test: Try on different hosting environments and report findings

Development Setup

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/houssemdub/PHP-Settings-Manager.git

# Install in WordPress plugins directory
cp php-settings-manager.php /path/to/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/

# Activate via WordPress admin
# Start developing!

Coding Standards

  • Follow WordPress Coding Standards
  • Use proper escaping and sanitization
  • Comment complex logic
  • Test on PHP 7.4+
  • Ensure backward compatibility

👨‍💻 Credits

Developed by: Mohamed Houssem Eddine SAIGHI
Version: 1.0
License: GPL-2.0-or-later
Requires PHP: 7.4+

Technologies Used

  • WordPress - Core CMS platform
  • PHP - Server-side language
  • ini_set() - Runtime configuration
  • WordPress Options API - Settings storage

📄 License

This plugin is licensed under the GPL v2 or later.

PHP Settings Manager
Copyright (C) 2024 Mohamed Houssem Eddine SAIGHI

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
(at your option) any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
GNU General Public License for more details.

🔗 Links

⚠️ Important Warnings

Server Restrictions

Not all hosting providers allow runtime PHP configuration changes:

✅ Usually Works On:

  • VPS (Virtual Private Servers)
  • Dedicated Servers
  • Managed WordPress Hosting (varies)
  • Cloud Hosting (AWS, DigitalOcean, etc.)

❌ May Not Work On:

  • Shared Hosting with strict limits
  • Hosts with disable_functions restrictions
  • PHP Safe Mode environments
  • Some budget hosting providers

Recommendation: Test on your hosting first. If settings don't apply, contact your host or upgrade your plan.

Security Considerations

  • Only admins should access settings
  • Don't set unlimited values
  • Monitor server resources after changes
  • Keep backups before major adjustments

Best Practices

  1. Start Conservative: Begin with recommended values
  2. Increase Gradually: Raise limits incrementally
  3. Monitor Performance: Watch server resource usage
  4. Test Thoroughly: Verify changes don't cause issues
  5. Document Changes: Keep notes on what you changed and why

📞 Support

For support, questions, or feature requests:

⭐ Show Your Support

If this plugin helps you, please:

  • ⭐ Star the repository on GitHub
  • 🐛 Report bugs to help improve the plugin
  • 💡 Suggest features you'd like to see
  • 📢 Share with others who might benefit

Made with ❤️ by Mohamed Houssem Eddine SAIGHI

Simplifying PHP configuration for WordPress users

📚 Additional Resources

Useful Links

Related Plugins

  • WP Maximum Upload File Size
  • Increase Maximum Upload File Size
  • WordPress PHP Settings Configurator

Last Updated: October 2025
Documentation Version: 1.0