How to downgrade php from 5.5 to 5.3

Question

Is there a way to downgrade php 5.5 to 5.3 in xampp? I searched on google but every one just tell me to uninstall xampp and install an older version. Could I have php 5.5 downgrade to 5.3 without reinstall xampp?

Answer 1

Short answer is no.

XAMPP is normally built around a specific PHP version to ensure plugins and modules are all compatible and working correctly.

If your project specifically needs PHP 5.3 - the cleanest method is simply reinstalling an older version of XAMPP with PHP 5.3 packaged into it.

XAMPP 1.7.7 was their last update before moving off PHP 5.3.

Answer 2

Long answer: it is possible!

1. Temporarily rename existing xampp folder
2. Install xampp 1.7.7 into xampp folder name
3. Folder containing just installed 1.7.7 distribution rename to different name and previously existing xampp folder rename back just to xampp.
4. In xampp folder rename php and apache folders to different names (I propose php_prev and apache_prev) so you can after switch back to them by renaming them back.
5. Copy apache and php folders from folder with xampp 1.7.7 into xampp directory

6. In xampp directory comment line apache/conf/httpd.conf:458

   #Include "conf/extra/httpd-perl.conf"

7. In xampp directory do next replaces in files:

php/pci.bat:15

from

"C:\xampp\php\.\php.exe" -f "\xampp\php\pci" -- %*

to

set XAMPPPHPDIR=C:\xampp\php "%XAMPPPHPDIR%\php.exe" -f "%XAMPPPHPDIR%\pci" -- %*

php/pciconf.bat:15

from

"C:\xampp\php\.\php.exe" -f "\xampp\php\pciconf" -- %*

to

set XAMPPPHPDIR=C:\xampp\php "%XAMPPPHPDIR%\.\php.exe" -f "%XAMPPPHPDIR%\pciconf" -- %*

php/pear.bat:33

from

IF "%PHP_PEAR_PHP_BIN%"=="" SET "PHP_PEAR_PHP_BIN=C:\xampp\php\.\php.exe"

to

IF "%PHP_PEAR_PHP_BIN%"=="" SET "PHP_PEAR_PHP_BIN=C:\xampp\php\php.exe"

php/peardev.bat:33

from

IF "%PHP_PEAR_PHP_BIN%"=="" SET "PHP_PEAR_PHP_BIN=C:\xampp\php\.\php.exe"

to

IF "%PHP_PEAR_PHP_BIN%"=="" SET "PHP_PEAR_PHP_BIN=C:\xampp\php\php.exe"

php/pecl.bat:32

from

IF "%PHP_PEAR_BIN_DIR%"=="" SET "PHP_PEAR_BIN_DIR=C:\xampp\php" IF "%PHP_PEAR_PHP_BIN%"=="" SET "PHP_PEAR_PHP_BIN=C:\xampp\php\.\php.exe"

to

IF "%PHP_PEAR_BIN_DIR%"=="" SET "PHP_PEAR_BIN_DIR=C:\xampp\php\" IF "%PHP_PEAR_PHP_BIN%"=="" SET "PHP_PEAR_PHP_BIN=C:\xampp\php\php.exe"

php/phar.phar.bat:1

from

%~dp0php.exe %~dp0pharcommand.phar %*

to

"%~dp0php.exe" "%~dp0pharcommand.phar" %*

Enjoy new XAMPP with PHP 5.3

Checked by myself in XAMPP 5.6.31, 7.0.15 & 7.1.1 with XAMPP Control Panel v3.2.2