Enabling Mbstring extension on a cPanel server – EasyApache

Mbstring extension is missing on my PHP installation. How can I enable it?

Mbstring is a non default extension, which means it won’t enabled with the normal PHP installation by default. But you can enable this module by using the configure option along with the installation process. More about Mbstring module.

In a WHM/cPanel server you can simply enable this module by using the EasyApache script. This is the inbuilt script used for rebuilding Apache and PHP on the server.

This can simply be done from the WHM panel or from the server CLI (Command Line Interface). I prefer server CLI for EasyApache. Here I’m explaining the steps to enable the PHP module Mbstring via EasyApache script.

Make sure you’ve verified the current Apache and PHP version before starting the EasyApache script. Make a copy of current Apache (/usr/local/apache/conf/httpd.conf) and PHP (/usr/local/lib/php.ini) configuration files.

Here we go!

Steps to enable Mbstring via EasyApache script – CLI

First of all, check this module is already enabled on server. You can use the following code to check this from CLI:

php -m | grep mbstring

cPanel updated their EasyApache script from EasyApache3 to EasyApache4 in their latest software version. And the script EasyApache 3 will stop soon. Here I am going to explain the installation of Mbstring using EasyApache 3 and EasyApache 4.

  1. Installation on EasyApache 3
  2. Installation on EasyApache 4

Installation using EasyApache 3

Please do follow the steps pasted below to enable Mbstring using EasyApache 3.

1. SSH to server as root.

2. Create a screen session to execute the EasyApache.

screen -S name

3. Execute the EasyApache script.

/scripts/easyapache

3. If the script prompted with a cPanel update message, hit NO and continue.

Mbstring1

4. Click on “Customise Profile

5. Make sure you’ve selected the Apache and PHP version correctly as you required.

6. Now click on “Exhaustive Options List.”

Mbstring2

7. Use down arrow until you see the Mbstring  extension.

8. Select it.

Mbstring3

9. Click on “Next Step” then “Save and build.”

1o. Now check it.

# php -m | grep mbstring
mbstring

That’s it dude!

This can also be done from the WHM panel, you can select it from “Home » Software.”

Installation on EasyApache 4

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Arunlal A

Senior System Developer at Zeta. Linux lover. Traveller. Let's connect! Whether you're a seasoned DevOps pro or just starting your journey, I'm always eager to engage with like-minded individuals. Follow my blog for regular updates, connect on social media, and let's embark on this DevOps adventure together! Happy coding and deploying!

10 thoughts on “Enabling Mbstring extension on a cPanel server – EasyApache

      1. Dear Friend. My server was also Centos but it worked. Please check that you are finishing it with clicking on provision button at last page at the bottom

  1. Dear Arunlal Ashok, My confusion is this:
    On my local machine (php 5.5.12, apache 2.4.9) using WAMP, I install the php_mbstring extension and enable it by uncommenting its entry in php.ini. (this resolves a problem that arises when installing drupal 8)

    On CentOS using cpanel, when I install the mbstring extension, I still get the error. I’m wondering if wondering if I should do the same to some php.ini file on the server. Does easyapache install and enable it automatically, or one has to uncomment an entry?

    1. Hi Kobena,

      On a CentOS 6 cPanel server, you can enable this from the EA itself. Please check the server has CloudLinux, if so you need to remove the entry from php.ini and need to enable it from cPanel → PHP selector.

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