To find and use XAMPP with PHP 7.1.3, you generally need to download an older, archived version of XAMPP, as modern releases use PHP 8.x. How to Get PHP 7.1.3 in XAMPP
Since PHP 7.1 is no longer supported, it isn't listed on the main XAMPP homepage. You can find it through the following steps:
Download Archived Versions: Navigate to the XAMPP SourceForge Archive or the Apache Friends Downloads page and look for the "More Downloads" or "Older Versions" link.
Select the Correct Version: PHP 7.1.x versions were released between 2016 and 2019. Look for XAMPP installers specifically labeled with PHP 7.1.3. How to Switch PHP Versions
If you already have XAMPP installed and want to move to or from PHP 7.1.3 without a full reinstall, follow these general steps:
Back Up Files: Copy your existing xampp/php and xampp/apache folders to a safe location.
Download the PHP 7.1.3 Binary: Download the thread-safe zip file of PHP 7.1.3 from PHP.net archives.
Replace the Folder: Delete the contents of your current xampp/php folder and replace them with the extracted files from the 7.1.3 zip.
Configure Apache: You may need to update httpd-xampp.conf in the xampp/apache/conf/extra/ folder to ensure it points to the correct PHP module version.
Restart Services: Stop and start Apache via the XAMPP Control Panel to apply the changes. Verifying the Version To confirm the change worked: Open the XAMPP Control Panel and start Apache.
Click the Admin button next to Apache or go to http://localhost/dashboard/phpinfo.php in your browser. XAMPP Installers and Downloads for Apache Friends xampp php 7.1.3
To develop with PHP 7.1.3 on XAMPP, you must use a legacy version of the software, as the current official releases only support PHP 8.x. Downloading the Correct Version
Because XAMPP version numbers correspond directly to the PHP version they include, you specifically need XAMPP 7.1.3. Since this version is no longer on the main download page, you can find it in the XAMPP Windows archives on SourceForge.
Standard Installer: Recommended for a clean, permanent setup.
Portable Version: Ideal for testing without modifying your system's registry or if you already have another XAMPP version installed. Managing Multiple PHP Versions
If you already have a newer XAMPP installed and just need PHP 7.1.3 for a specific project, you can "swap" versions manually: How to downgrade php from 7.1.1 to 5.6 in xampp 7.1.1?
Guide to XAMPP with PHP 7.1.3: Installation and Setup XAMPP is a popular, open-source cross-platform web server solution that bundles Apache, MariaDB, PHP, and Perl into a single easy-to-install package. While modern web development often moves toward the latest PHP versions, many legacy applications and specific development projects still require PHP 7.1.3 or other versions within the PHP 7.1.x branch. Finding the Right XAMPP Version for PHP 7.1
Because XAMPP versions are strictly tied to the PHP version they include, you cannot simply download the "latest" XAMPP to get PHP 7.1.3.
Official Downloads: The latest releases of XAMPP typically feature PHP 8.x.
Legacy Versions: To find versions supporting the PHP 7.1 series, you must visit the XAMPP SourceForge archives.
Version History: While PHP 7.1.3 was a specific early release in that branch, stable maintenance versions like 7.1.33 are often recommended for better security and stability while maintaining compatibility with PHP 7.1 requirements. How to Install XAMPP with PHP 7.1.3 To find and use XAMPP with PHP 7
The installation process for legacy XAMPP versions is identical to the modern setup: New XAMPP with PHP 7.1.1, 7.0.15 & 5.6.30 versions
Maintaining the Legacy: A Deep Dive into XAMPP with PHP 7.1.3
In the fast-moving world of web development, "latest" isn't always "greatest." For many developers, working with XAMPP and PHP 7.1.3 is a necessity driven by legacy projects, specific CMS requirements (like older versions of Magento or Laravel), or the need for a stable testing environment that mirrors a specific production server. Why PHP 7.1.3?
PHP 7.1 was a significant milestone that introduced features like nullable types, void return types, and iterable pseudo-types. Specifically, version 7.1.3 served as a stable maintenance release that many developers "froze" their environments on to ensure long-term compatibility. Setting Up the Environment
To get started with this specific stack, you typically need to source an older installer from the Apache Friends archives.
Installation: Run the installer and select only the components you need—usually Apache, MySQL, and PHP.
Configuration: Your primary configuration file is located at C:\xampp\php\php.ini. To optimize this version for development: Set display_errors = On to catch bugs early.
Adjust memory_limit to at least 256M if you are running modern frameworks.
Local Development: Place your project files in C:\xampp\htdocs. You can then access them via http://localhost/your-project. Handling PHP Version Mismatches
If you already have a newer version of XAMPP but specifically need 7.1.3, you don't necessarily have to uninstall everything. You can "swap" PHP versions by: Downloading the PHP 7.1.3 binaries. Renaming your current /php folder to /php_backup. Placing the 7.1.3 files into a new /php folder. Linux Installation
chmod +x xampp-linux-x64-7
Updating your httpd-xampp.conf to point to the correct DLLs.
Detailed guides on this process can be found on resources like the XAMPP FAQs or Stack Overflow community threads. Security Warning
It is critical to remember that PHP 7.1.3 reached its End of Life (EOL) years ago. It no longer receives security patches. While it is perfect for a disconnected local development environment, never use this version for a live, public-facing website as it is vulnerable to known exploits. Conclusion
XAMPP remains the "Swiss Army Knife" for local PHP development. While version 7.1.3 belongs to a previous era of the web, understanding how to configure and maintain it is a vital skill for any developer tasked with maintaining legacy systems or performing forensic code audits.
PHP 7.1.3 is strict about timezones. Set in php.ini:
date.timezone = "America/New_York"
chmod +x xampp-linux-x64-7.1.3-0-installer.run
sudo ./xampp-linux-x64-7.1.3-0-installer.run
Follow the terminal prompts. Default location: /opt/lampp.
C:\xampp-713C:\xampp-latestC:\xamppPATH environment variable accordingly.When you install the specific XAMPP version that houses PHP 7.1.3 (historically XAMPP 7.1.3 / PHP 7.1.3), here is what you get out of the box:
.htaccess overrides.Note: This version does not include sodium crypto library, nor does it support union types or iterable pseudo-types introduced later in 7.1.
Some legacy SQL code uses mysql_* functions (deprecated in PHP 7.0). PHP 7.1.3 removed them entirely. You must refactor to mysqli or PDO—no workaround exists.
Unlike modern XAMPP versions (which ship with PHP 8.x), the official XAMPP website defaults to the latest release. To get version 7.1.3, you must use the Apache Friends archive.
A: Yes, using Rosetta 2. The Intel installer works. However, performance may be slower. Consider Docker as an alternative.