httpd.conf on Windows: can't locate API model structure `php8_module`

Question

I'm trying to install PHP, Apache and MySQL on Windows, following these guidelines. At some point, I am prompted to edit httpd.conf to point to my PHP installation. Both the apache directory and the php directory are under C:\: C:\Apache24 and C:\php-8.0.0beta1-Win32-vs16-x64.

The relevant lines for my installation are:

PHPIniDir "C:/php-8.0.0beta1-Win32-vs16-x64"
AddHandler application/x-httpd-php .php .phar
LoadModule php8_module "C:/php-8.0.0beta1-Win32-vs16-x64/php8apache2_4.dll"

Unfortunately, these seem to break Apache, since even running httpd afterwards yields:

httpd.exe: Syntax error on line 542 of C:/Apache24/conf/httpd.conf: Can't locate API module structure `php8_module' in file C:/php-8.0.0beta1-Win32-vs16-x64/php8apache2_4.dll: No error

It seems that php8_module is not recognized by PowerShell. Any ideas?

That tutorial is a bit old now. Did you install ALL the required MSVC Runtimes specifically the latest ones — RiggsFolly, Aug 13 '20 at 17:32
You may find it easier to install something like XAMPP or WAMPServer as then all the heavy lifting is done for you — RiggsFolly, Aug 13 '20 at 17:34
Did you download the Thread Safe or NON Thread Safe version of PHP? — RiggsFolly, Aug 13 '20 at 17:35
If you are using it for the development purposes: 1) Forget about installing everything one by one 2) Download and install XAMPP. — Undry, Aug 13 '20 at 17:54
@RiggsFolly 64 bit. Powershell is the terminal I have used for all this stuff. Also, I am using apache 2.4. Additionally, thread safe. Based on both of your feedback, xampp or wampserver are the way to go. — Jason, Aug 13 '20 at 19:10
Dont forget to uninstall what you have done so far if you go that way — RiggsFolly, Aug 13 '20 at 20:31

score 118 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 26 '20 at 14:35

118

I had exactly the same problem. I found a solution here.

As it turned out in PHP 8 we should not use php8_module as we would expect, but only plain php_module

So the loader line should look like this:

LoadModule php_module "c:/Program Files/PHP/php-8.0.0RC2/php8apache2_4.dll"

answered Oct 26 '20 at 14:35

Vmxes

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I ended up downloading an entire stack, fwiw – Jason Oct 26 '20 at 20:13
Does XAMPP or WAMPServer support PHP 8? On their sites, I can only found 7.4.x versions. – Vmxes Oct 26 '20 at 21:02
2

@Vmxes many thanks by your help, that is 100% efective: **before: LoadModule php7_module** but for PHP8 using **NOW: LoadModule php_module** and that is all, run fine for me :-) – VyR Dec 03 '20 at 14:32
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This worked with Laragon, which many of us prefer to XAMP. – s3c Jan 11 '21 at 09:04
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it worked, I am using Laragon, in file "C:\Laragon\apache2\mod_php.conf " I changed php8_module to php_module and it worked, thanks – Omar Mar 13 '21 at 02:58
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This solution worked beautifully. The tutorials should be updated indeed! – Faustin Gashakamba Mar 19 '21 at 20:14
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@Vmxes I am using laragon. When I restart the server, it shows the error again. So I have to go to "C:\Laragon\etc\apache2\mod_php.conf" and change the loader line again. – Umair Feb 06 '22 at 18:02
@VyR is the real hero for this one. downgraded from PHP 8 to PHP7.4.33 – pythlang Dec 27 '22 at 14:40

score 29 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 01 '21 at 21:04

You would expect that the Apache2 directive for PHP8 would intuitively be:

LoadModule php8_module "path/to/PHP/php8apache2_4.dll"

But rather you have to use:

LoadModule php_module "path/to/PHP/php8apache2_4.dll"

I find that strange but that's how it is.

If you now navigate to your Apache2bin directory (something like C:/Apache24/bin) and check your httpd.conf file for any syntax errors using:

httpd -t

You should get the output "Syntax OK". Now you can start your apache server without any errors.

I am using laragon. When I restart the server, it shows the error again. So I have to go to "C:\Laragon\etc\apache2\mod_php.conf" and change the loader line again. — Umair, Feb 06 '22 at 18:03

score 24 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 07 '21 at 14:19

If you are just looking for the answer it is:

LoadModule php7_module "C:/Apache/modules/php7apache2_4.dll"

If you'd like to read on, I am trying to help people with other issues that come with trying to install php, mysql and apache together.

So normally for the PHP 8 version if you try to install it and try to connect it with MySQL and Apache it will not work which we already know. IF you didn't know this, please go and uninstall PHP 8 and install Php 7.4 in your C directory.

Now the line:

httpd.exe: Syntax error on line 244 of C:/Apache/conf/httpd.conf: Can't locate API module structure `php_module' in file C:/Apache/modules/php7apache2_4.dll: No error

If you notice what the error actually is that of a syntax which is pretty confusing if you go letter by letter trying to fix the issue. It turns out it is more of a logical error than a syntax error.

Now if you typed this in your config code:

LoadModule php_module "C:/Apache/modules/php7apache2_4.dll"

You are not wrong or far from the actual solution actually you are 99% correct with this above line.

So if you notice the error line again it states it is unable to locate an API called php_module. So by default for PHP 8 you don't need to change this line as it understands it, but for Php 7.4 you must add a 7 in front of php so it can locate the module.

So the correct line of code to be placed in the config file is:

LoadModule php7_module "C:/Apache/modules/php7apache2_4.dll"

thank you for patiently reading through this, I hope it helps anyone searching for a more whole answer in relation to trying to download php 7.4, mysql and apache together.

score 6 · Answer 4 · answered May 10 '22 at 15:30

To resolve the error in my case I have to add as

LoadModule php_module "c:/php/php8apache2_4.dll"

instead of

LoadModule php8_module "c:/php/php8apache2_4.dll"

My working environment details..

Windows 10 64 Bit
PHP Version: PHP 8.0.19 64 bit Thread safe version
Apache version: httpd-2.4.53-win64-VS16

In httpd.conf file: I have added below line of code on top.

AddHandler application/x-httpd-php .php
AddType application/x-httpd-php .php .html
LoadModule php_module "c:/php/php8apache2_4.dll"
PHPIniDir "c:/php"

score 5 · Answer 5 · answered Dec 17 '21 at 10:06

5

LoadModule php[PHP_MAIN_VERSION]_module "path/to/PHP/php[PHP_MAIN_VERSION]apache2_4.dll"

Example:

LoadModule php7_module "C:/php7.4.27/php7apache2_4.dll"

answered Dec 17 '21 at 10:06

CodingEra

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Well done - annoying little bugger. – Andrew Carr Jan 22 '22 at 18:50

score 2 · Answer 6 · answered Jan 13 '21 at 05:56

2

It should look like below:

# PHP8 module
AddHandler application/x-httpd-php .php
AddType application/x-httpd-php .php .html
LoadModule php_module "c:/php/php8apache2_4.dll"
PHPIniDir "c:/php"

answered Jan 13 '21 at 05:56

askwizard

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score 0 · Answer 7 · answered Jul 02 '21 at 05:13

0

I had the same problem but in my case it worked changing this line in the httpd.conf file from

#ServerName www.example.com:80

to

ServerName localhost

And it worked

Not forgetting @vmxes answer

answered Jul 02 '21 at 05:13

victcdva

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score 0 · Answer 8 · answered Jan 11 '22 at 10:10

0

from https://windows.php.net/download#php-8.0 you have to download the "Thread Safe" version. otherwise you have no "php8apache2_4.dll" and you need that so that php8 works with apache in XAMPP. just download this version and you have

answered Jan 11 '22 at 10:10

nodar abramishvili

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httpd.conf on Windows: can't locate API model structure `php8_module`

8 Answers8