Creating a .user.ini File

A .user.ini file can be used to control PHP settings in a specific directory. For a more in-depth explanation, visit our php.ini vs .user.ini article.  You can create a .user.ini file in your directory of choice by following the tutorial below.

If you want to make changes to the PHP settings for the entire account, VPS and Dedicated accounts should check out their php.ini file. Check out our php.ini vs user.ini article for more information on how to do this. For Shared Hosting accounts, we recommend still using the user.ini file to make changes. You may also use a .user.ini file if you are trying to implement zlib compression on a WordPress site.

Creating a .user.ini File with ACC File Interface

If your hosting account offers the built-in file editor interface, you can use it to create and edit a .user.ini file. 

Choose the tutorial that reflects your ACC interface type: 

• Legacy Interface
• New ACC Interface

Not sure what the difference is? See Which ACC Interface Am I Using? 

If you are using the Legacy Interface:

1. Log in to the Account Control Center (ACC) at my.pair.com
2. Click Files in the left sidebar and then click Web in the drop-down
3. From here, navigate to the directory where you’d like to create a .user.ini file
4. Once within your chosen directory, click +New File in the navigation bar
5. In the Editing file text field, enter “.user.ini”
6. In the large text field below, add the desired PHP directives
7. When finished, click Create File

If you are using the New ACC Interface:

1. Log in to the Account Control Center (ACC) at my.pair.com
2. In the top navigation bar, click Files
3. Navigate to the directory where you’d like to create a .user.ini file
4. Once within your chosen directory, click the +New File button
5. In the Editing file text field, enter “.user.ini”
6. In the large text field below, add the desired PHP directives
7. When finished, click the Create File button

If the file is created successfully, it will now appear within your chosen directory. 

Creating a .user.ini with SSH

If your hosting account doesn’t offer a file management interface, you may be able to use SSH to create and manage a .user.ini file. See your hosting package details for more information about your hosting account’s features. 

Navigation and file creation with SSH will differ depending on whether you are using a terminal or graphical SSH interface. See your chosen method’s documentation for specific instructions.

1. Connect to your hosting account via SSH 
2. Navigate to the directory where you’d like to create a .user.ini file
3. Once in your chosen directory, create a new file named “.user.ini”
   

   Be sure to include the period at the beginning of the filename.

4. Once created, edit the file and add your desired PHP directive
5. When finished, be sure to save the file