A while back I wrote a blog post on Enabling PHP 5.4 in Windows Azure Web Sites, when we enabled the ability to bring-you-own-runtime to Windows Azure Web Sites. This is still a valid solution if you would like to manage your own PHP.ini file, or if you would like to ensure that you are using a specific build of PHP.

It’s exciting to announce that Windows Azure Web Sites now has PHP 5.4 ready to be enabled in your Web Sites.

Even though PHP 5.4 is available PHP 5.3 is still enabled by default.

Enable Native PHP 5.4 in Windows Azure Web Sites

After Creating a Windows Azure Web Site, navigate into the Web Site details page and select the CONFIGURE tab. Under the framework section you will see PHP VERSION, select the box containing 5.4, it will turn purple notifying that there is an unsaved change.

At the bottom of the browser viewport you will find the TASK DRAWER, which would have changed to include a SAVE button. Click the SAVE button to enable PHP 5.4 for your Windows Azure Web Site.

Once the change has been saved, you’ll be greeted by this nice little success notice.

Finally, you will also notice that the purple indicator has now changed back to blue on the PHP 5.4 box.

You are now ready to deploy PHP 5.4 applications to Windows Azure Web Sites.

Happy Clouding!