Managing PHP Versions

Burrow acts as a complete PHP version manager, allowing you to run multiple PHP versions side-by-side.

Native PHP CGI Manager

Since PHP-FPM is not available on Windows, Burrow manages PHP versions using the native php-cgi.exe binary. Each version runs on a distinct port derived from a base port (default: 9000):

• PHP 8.5 → port 9085
• PHP 8.4 → port 9084
• PHP 8.3 → port 9083
• PHP 7.4 → port 9074

Nginx routes each site to its assigned PHP port dynamically, so switching PHP versions takes effect instantly without a full server restart.

Switching the CLI Version

Changing the default PHP version in Settings updates your Windows PATH to point to the selected runtime. Open a new terminal and verify with:

php -v

The output will immediately reflect your configured version, enabling you to run CLI scripts, Composer commands, and Artisan tasks seamlessly.