In Plesk, the PHP handler defines how PHP scripts are executed. Switching the handler can help with:
- Performance tuning (especially for busy sites)
- Compatibility issues after an update
- Troubleshooting errors like 502/503 caused by a misbehaving PHP process
On GARMTECH hosting, available handler options depend on the server configuration and the selected PHP version.
Where to change the PHP handler
- Log in to Plesk (open it from My.GARMTECH).
- Go to Websites & Domains and click your domain.
- Open PHP Settings.
- Find PHP handler and select the required option.
- Click OK/Apply to save.
How to choose the right handler
You may see options similar to:
- FPM application served by Apache (or “FPM (Apache)”) — usually the safest compatibility choice.
- FPM application served by nginx (or “FPM (nginx)”) — can be efficient, but some configurations do not apply
.htaccess rules in the same way. If your application relies on .htaccess (common for WordPress/permalinks), test carefully.
- FastCGI application — often stable, sometimes useful for compatibility.
Recommendation: If you are not sure, choose the handler that best supports typical CMS compatibility (WordPress, Joomla, etc.), and change only one thing at a time.
After switching the handler
- Test both the front-end and the admin area.
- Clear caches (especially if you use LiteSpeed Cache / LSCache for WordPress).
- Check Plesk → Logs for new PHP errors.
If the website breaks after switching
- Return to the previous handler (PHP Settings → PHP handler) and save.
- If you see 502/503 errors, also check whether your PHP version is compatible with your application/plugins.
- For WordPress, temporarily disable recently updated plugins/themes if needed.
Good practice
- Change handler on a staging copy first (test subdomain) if the site is business‑critical.
- Keep regular backups before making changes.
