How to Install PHP in Termux — Run PHP & Build Web Apps on Android (2026)

📅 February 28, 2026 👤 Rixon Xavier ⏱ 12 min read 📝 3,500+ words

🆓 Free 🤖 No Root Required 📱 Android ✅ Tested 2026

// Table of Contents

Introduction — PHP on Android?
Why Learn PHP in Termux?
Requirements Before You Start
Step 1 — Install and Update Termux
Step 2 — Install PHP in Termux
Step 3 — Write and Run Your First PHP Script
Step 4 — Start a Local PHP Web Server
Step 5 — Create and Serve HTML Files
Step 6 — Mix PHP and HTML Together
Step 7 — Install Extra PHP Modules
Step 8 — Install Composer and PHP Frameworks
Troubleshooting Common Errors
Pro Tips
FAQ
Conclusion

// 01 — Introduction: PHP on Your Android Phone?

Here is something most people do not realise: your Android phone is capable of running a complete PHP development environment. Not a stripped-down, limited version — a real, full PHP setup where you can write scripts, run a local web server, process forms, connect to databases, and even install entire frameworks like Laravel. All of this works inside Termux, and none of it requires rooting your device.

PHP is one of the most important languages in web development. It powers over 77% of all websites that use a server-side language — WordPress, Facebook's original backend, Wikipedia, and hundreds of millions of other sites around the world all run on PHP. If you want to get into web development, backend programming, or even just understand how the websites you use every day actually work, PHP is a fantastic starting point. And starting it in Termux on Android means you can learn and build anywhere, at any time, on the device you already carry with you.

This guide was written by Rixon Xavier at HYDRA TERMUX specifically for Android users who want to get into PHP without owning a laptop or paying for cloud hosting. Every single command is explained in plain language. Every step is tested. Whether you have never opened a terminal before or you are a developer looking to set up a quick mobile coding environment, this guide covers everything you need from the very beginning to running real PHP web applications on your phone.

By the time you finish reading and following along, you will have PHP installed, your first scripts running, a local web server serving pages in your mobile browser, PHP modules installed for extended functionality, and Composer set up so you can pull in any PHP package or framework you need. Let's get into it.

✅

What you will build: A fully working PHP development environment on Android — able to write, run and test PHP scripts and web pages without any internet connection once setup is complete.

// 02 — Why Learn PHP in Termux?

Before diving into the commands, it is worth understanding why this matters and what you actually gain from running PHP inside Termux on Android.

The most obvious benefit is accessibility. Most PHP tutorials assume you are sitting in front of a laptop or desktop computer with XAMPP, WAMP, or some other local server stack installed. If you do not have that setup — if you only have an Android phone — those tutorials leave you out. Termux changes that entirely. Your Android phone becomes a real Linux environment, and PHP in Termux gives you the same capabilities you would have on any Linux development machine, just in your pocket.

There is also the learning angle. Running PHP from a command line in Termux teaches you things that GUI tools like XAMPP hide from you. You learn what a web server actually is, how PHP processes requests, what modules do, how Composer manages dependencies. This deeper understanding makes you a significantly better developer than someone who has only ever clicked buttons in a visual interface.

And practically speaking, PHP in Termux is genuinely useful for real work. You can test scripts on the go, build small tools and automations, prototype web applications, work on freelance projects during a commute, or practice for interviews anywhere. The development server PHP includes runs fine on Android hardware — modern phones are faster than many dedicated servers from ten years ago.

PHP also pairs extremely well with the other tools available in Termux. You can combine it with Git for version control, SQLite or MariaDB for databases, Composer for package management, and even connect it to Python or Node.js scripts if your project needs it. The Termux ecosystem is surprisingly complete for full-stack web development.

// 03 — Requirements Before You Start

Everything you need for this setup is free. Here is the full checklist before you run your first command:

Requirement	Details
Android Version	Android 7.0 (Nougat) or higher
Termux App	Download from F-Droid only — NOT Google Play Store
Free Storage	At least 300 MB free (500 MB+ if installing Laravel)
Internet	Required during installation only
Root Access	Not required — works on any stock Android device
Experience Level	Beginner friendly — no prior experience needed

The single most important item on that list is the Termux source. This point comes up in every HYDRA TERMUX guide and it always will — the Google Play Store version of Termux is abandoned and completely outdated. Its package repositories are broken and you will get errors trying to install anything modern. Delete it if you have it and install the correct version from F-Droid instead. The F-Droid version is actively maintained by the Termux team and gets regular updates.

Storage is the other thing to pay attention to. Basic PHP takes under 50 MB. Installing a few modules adds another 50 to 100 MB. If you plan to create a Laravel project, budget around 500 MB extra because Laravel pulls in a lot of dependencies. Check your available storage before starting and free up space if needed — you do not want an installation failing halfway through because the disk filled up.

⚠️

Use F-Droid Termux: The Google Play Store version of Termux is outdated and no longer maintained. Always download from f-droid.org to get the latest version with full package support.

// 04 — Step 1: Install and Update Termux

Go to f-droid.org in your Android browser and search for Termux. Download and install the APK. Android will ask you to allow installation from unknown sources — go to your settings, enable it for your browser, and proceed. Once installed, open Termux. You will see a black terminal screen with a command prompt. That is your Linux environment up and running on Android.

The very first thing to do before installing anything is update your package list and upgrade all existing packages. Skipping this step causes more failed installations than anything else. Do not skip it.

bash copy

pkg update && pkg upgrade -y

What this does: pkg update contacts Termux's package servers and downloads the latest list of available software. pkg upgrade -y then upgrades every installed package to its current version. The -y flag answers yes automatically to any confirmation prompts so you do not have to keep pressing Enter.

This process takes anywhere from one to five minutes depending on your connection speed and how many packages need updating. You will see a lot of text scrolling by — that is completely normal. Do not interrupt it. If it asks whether to replace a configuration file, just press Enter to keep the existing one and let it continue. When you see the command prompt appear again at the bottom, the update is finished.

💡

Make this a habit: Run pkg update && pkg upgrade -y every time you open Termux before installing new software. It takes two minutes and prevents most installation errors before they happen.

// 05 — Step 2: Install PHP in Termux

With your packages updated, installing PHP itself is a single command. Termux handles all the dependencies automatically — you do not have to manually install anything else for PHP to work.

Run the PHP Installation Command

Install PHP using Termux's package manager:

bash copy

pkg install php -y

This downloads and installs PHP along with all necessary libraries. The installation typically takes thirty to sixty seconds. When it finishes you will see the command prompt again.

Verify the Installation Worked

Always confirm a successful install by checking the version:

bash copy

php -v

You should see output that looks something like this:

output copy

PHP 8.3.x (cli) (built: Feb 2026)
Copyright (c) The PHP Group
Zend Engine v4.3.x

If you see a version number, PHP is installed and working correctly. The exact version will depend on what Termux's repository has available at the time you install, but as of 2026 it installs PHP 8.2 or 8.3 — both are modern, fully supported versions.

✅

PHP is now installed on your Android phone. You now have the same PHP version that runs on millions of production web servers — right in your pocket.

// 06 — Step 3: Write and Run Your First PHP Script

The best way to confirm PHP is working and to get comfortable with the workflow is to write and run an actual script. Termux comes with the nano text editor built in — it is simple, works completely in the terminal, and is perfect for editing code on a phone.

Create a PHP File with Nano

Open nano and create a new file called index.php:

bash copy

nano index.php

The nano editor opens. Type the following PHP code:

php — index.php copy

<?php
echo "Hello, Termux!";
echo "\nPHP is running on Android!";
echo "\nCurrent time: " . date("Y-m-d H:i:s");
echo "\nPHP Version: " . PHP_VERSION;
?>

To save the file: press Ctrl + X, then press Y to confirm saving, then press Enter to keep the filename. You are back at the command prompt with your file saved.

Execute the PHP Script

Run your newly created PHP file:

bash copy

php index.php

You should see output like this in your terminal:

output copy

Hello, Termux!
PHP is running on Android!
Current time: 2026-02-28 14:35:22
PHP Version: 8.3.x

There it is. Your first PHP script running on Android. Notice that date() returned the current time from your phone's clock and PHP_VERSION printed the exact version installed. These are real PHP functions working exactly as they would on any Linux server.

This command-line mode — running PHP scripts directly with php filename.php — is called the PHP CLI (Command Line Interface). It is incredibly useful for automation scripts, cron jobs, data processing, command-line tools, and testing code quickly without needing a browser. Many professional developers use it daily.

// 07 — Step 4: Start a Local PHP Web Server

PHP includes a built-in development web server that has been part of PHP since version 5.4. This is one of PHP's most convenient features for developers — you can spin up a web server instantly without installing Apache or Nginx. On Termux, this means you can serve web pages directly from your Android phone and view them in your mobile browser.

Start the PHP Development Server

Launch the built-in server on port 8080:

bash copy

php -S localhost:8080

You will see this output in Termux:

output copy

PHP 8.3.x Development Server (http://localhost:8080) started
Press Ctrl-C to quit.

The server is now running. Open your Android browser — Chrome, Firefox, Brave, whatever you prefer — and go to:

url copy

http://localhost:8080

You should see the output of your index.php file rendered in the browser. This is a real web server request — your browser sent an HTTP request to localhost:8080, PHP processed the script, and returned the response. The same thing that happens on every website you visit, running entirely on your phone.

💡

Keep the server running: While the PHP server is active, your Termux session is occupied. To edit files or run other commands at the same time, swipe from the left edge of the Termux screen to open the session panel and tap the + button to open a second session. You can switch between them freely.

Stop the Server When Done

When you are finished testing, go back to the Termux session running the server and press:

keyboard copy

Ctrl + C

This stops the server cleanly. You can restart it any time by running the same php -S localhost:8080 command.

// 08 — Step 5: Create and Serve HTML Files

The PHP built-in server does not just serve PHP files. It serves any file you point it at — HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images. This makes it a complete local development server for web projects of all kinds.

Create an HTML File

Create a new HTML file in the same directory:

bash copy

nano index.html

Type this HTML inside the editor:

html — index.html copy

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
  <title>My Termux Web Page</title>
  <style>
    body {
      background: #0a0e0f;
      color: #00ff88;
      font-family: monospace;
      text-align: center;
      padding: 40px;
    }
    h1 { font-size: 2rem; margin-bottom: 16px; }
    p  { color: #6b8a94; }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <h1>Hello from Termux! 🚀</h1>
  <p>This HTML page is being served by PHP on Android.</p>
  <p>No laptop. No cloud. Just your phone.</p>
</body>
</html>

Save with Ctrl + X → Y → Enter. Start the server if it is not already running, then visit http://localhost:8080/index.html in your browser. You will see your styled HTML page rendered perfectly in your mobile browser — served locally from your phone.

// 09 — Step 6: Mix PHP and HTML Together

The real power of PHP comes from combining it with HTML. PHP files can contain both server-side PHP code and regular HTML markup in the same file. The PHP code runs on the server side and generates HTML output, which gets sent to the browser. This is how virtually every dynamic website works.

bash copy

nano page.php

php + html — page.php copy

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <title>PHP + HTML in Termux</title>
  <style>
    body { background:#0a0e0f; color:#c8d8dc;
           font-family:monospace; padding:30px; }
    h1   { color:#00ff88; }
    .info{ background:#141b1d; border-left:3px solid #00ff88;
           padding:14px 18px; border-radius:4px; margin:16px 0; }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <h1>Dynamic PHP Page</h1>

  <?php
    $author   = "Rixon Xavier";
    $blog     = "HYDRA TERMUX";
    $datetime = date("Y-m-d H:i:s");
    $version  = PHP_VERSION;
    $os       = php_uname('s');
  ?>

  <div class="info">
    <p><strong>Author:</strong> <?php echo $author; ?></p>
    <p><strong>Blog:</strong> <?php echo $blog; ?></p>
    <p><strong>Server Time:</strong> <?php echo $datetime; ?></p>
    <p><strong>PHP Version:</strong> <?php echo $version; ?></p>
    <p><strong>Running On:</strong> <?php echo $os; ?></p>
  </div>

  <p>This content was generated dynamically by PHP — not written statically in HTML.</p>
</body>
</html>

Save the file, start the server, and visit http://localhost:8080/page.php in your browser. You will see a styled page with live data — the current time, your PHP version, and the OS string — all generated by PHP at the moment the page was requested. Every time you reload the page the time updates. That is dynamic, server-side PHP working exactly as intended.

You can now visit all three files through the same server:

urls copy

http://localhost:8080/index.html   ← Static HTML page
http://localhost:8080/index.php    ← PHP CLI output in browser
http://localhost:8080/page.php     ← Dynamic PHP + HTML page

// 10 — Step 7: Install Extra PHP Modules

The base PHP installation that comes from pkg install php is solid and covers most common use cases. But as your projects grow — especially if you start working with APIs, image processing, databases, or international text — you will need additional PHP modules. Termux makes this easy.

bash — install all common extensions copy

pkg install php-gd php-curl php-mbstring php-xml php-sqlite -y

Here is what each module does and when you actually need it:

Module	What It Does	When You Need It
php-gd	Image creation, editing, resizing in PHP	Image upload features, thumbnails, captchas
php-curl	Make HTTP requests to external URLs and APIs	REST APIs, webhooks, web scraping
php-mbstring	Multi-byte string support for Unicode text	Non-English languages, emoji, special characters
php-xml	Parse and generate XML data	RSS feeds, SOAP web services, XML configs
php-sqlite	SQLite database support built into PHP	Lightweight database without needing MySQL

To see a complete list of all PHP modules currently loaded on your installation, run:

bash copy

php -m

This prints every loaded extension. If a module you need is missing, check whether Termux has a package for it with pkg search php to see the full list of available PHP packages.

💡

Check your php.ini: Run php --ini to find the location of your PHP configuration file. You can edit it with nano to adjust settings like memory limits, file upload sizes, and error reporting levels.

// 11 — Step 8: Install Composer and PHP Frameworks

Composer is the standard dependency manager for PHP. It is to PHP what npm is to JavaScript or pip is to Python. With Composer you can install any of the hundreds of thousands of PHP packages from Packagist — the main PHP package registry — with a single command. This includes entire frameworks like Laravel, Symfony, and CodeIgniter.

Install Composer in Termux

Termux has Composer in its package repository, so installation is simple:

bash copy

pkg install composer -y

Verify Composer installed correctly:

bash copy

composer --version

output copy

Composer version 2.x.x

Create a New Laravel Project (Optional)

With Composer installed, you can create a complete Laravel application on your Android phone. Laravel is the most popular PHP framework in the world and is used by companies ranging from small startups to large enterprises.

bash copy

# Create a new Laravel project named myapp
composer create-project laravel/laravel myapp

# Navigate into the project folder
cd myapp

# Start the Laravel development server
php artisan serve --host=localhost --port=8080

Open http://localhost:8080 in your Android browser and you will see the Laravel welcome page — a complete MVC PHP framework running on your phone. The php artisan serve command is Laravel's wrapper around PHP's built-in server, configured specifically for the Laravel project structure.

⚠️

Storage warning: Creating a Laravel project downloads around 500 MB of dependencies through Composer. Do this on WiFi and make sure you have at least 600 MB of free storage before running the create-project command.

Install Individual Composer Packages

You do not have to install a full framework to use Composer. You can add individual packages to any project. For example, to add the popular Guzzle HTTP client to a project:

bash copy

# Initialize a new project
composer init

# Add a specific package (example: Guzzle HTTP client)
composer require guzzlehttp/guzzle

# Add a dev-only package (example: PHPUnit testing)
composer require --dev phpunit/phpunit

// 12 — Troubleshooting Common Errors

pkg install php fails with "unable to locate package"

You are almost certainly using the outdated Play Store version of Termux. Uninstall it, download the F-Droid version from f-droid.org, install it, run pkg update && pkg upgrade -y, then try again.

PHP server starts but browser says "connection refused"

Make sure you are typing the URL exactly as http://localhost:8080 — not https, not just localhost without the port. Also check that the PHP server is still running in Termux (you should see the "Development Server started" message in that session).

php: command not found after installation

Close Termux completely and reopen it. Sometimes the PATH does not refresh in the same session after installing a new package. Reopening Termux fixes this almost every time.

bash copy

# If still not found after reopening, reinstall PHP
pkg reinstall php -y

Composer create-project fails or hangs

This is usually a network timeout or storage issue. Check your storage with df -h. Make sure you are on WiFi. If the download keeps timing out, try setting Composer's memory limit and timeout:

bash copy

COMPOSER_MEMORY_LIMIT=-1 composer create-project laravel/laravel myapp

Port 8080 already in use

Another process is using port 8080. Simply start PHP's server on a different port number:

bash copy

php -S localhost:9000

// 13 — Pro Tips for PHP in Termux

💡

Tip 1 — Serve from any directory: Use the -t flag to serve files from a specific folder without navigating into it first. For example: php -S localhost:8080 -t /sdcard/myproject

💡

Tip 2 — Share with other devices on WiFi: Find your phone's local IP with ifconfig in Termux. Then start the server with php -S 0.0.0.0:8080. Other devices on your WiFi network can now access your PHP server using your phone's IP address.

💡

Tip 3 — Store projects on internal storage: Save your PHP projects in /sdcard/PhpProjects/ so they are accessible from your Android file manager and backed up with your photos. Files stored inside Termux's internal directory are lost if you reinstall Termux.

💡

Tip 4 — Add a MySQL database: Install MariaDB (MySQL-compatible) alongside PHP with pkg install mariadb -y. This gives you a full LAMP-style stack — Linux, Apache equivalent (PHP server), MySQL, PHP — all running on your Android phone.

💡

Tip 5 — Use multiple Termux sessions: Keep your PHP server running in session 1 and edit your files in session 2. Swipe from the left side of the Termux screen to switch between sessions. This is much more efficient than stopping and restarting the server every time you make a change.

💡

Tip 6 — Keep PHP updated: Run pkg upgrade php -y regularly to stay on the latest PHP version. Security patches and performance improvements come out frequently and the Termux repository is updated quickly.

// FAQ

Does installing PHP in Termux require root access?

No root access is required at all. PHP runs entirely within Termux's user-space environment without any system-level modifications. It works on any stock, unrooted Android device running Android 7.0 or higher. This is one of Termux's biggest strengths — you get a full Linux development environment without touching your system partition.

What PHP version does Termux install in 2026?

As of 2026, Termux's package repository installs PHP 8.2 or 8.3 — both are modern, fully supported versions with all current features including named arguments, fibers, enums, readonly properties, and the full range of modern PHP syntax. You can check your exact version at any time with php -v.

Can I connect PHP to a MySQL database in Termux?

Yes. Install MariaDB using pkg install mariadb -y. MariaDB is a drop-in replacement for MySQL and is fully compatible with PHP's PDO and MySQLi extensions. Once both are running you can build complete PHP applications with a proper relational database entirely on your Android phone.

Can other devices on my WiFi access my PHP server?

Yes. Find your phone's local IP address with ifconfig in Termux. Then start the PHP server with php -S 0.0.0.0:8080 instead of localhost. Any device on the same WiFi network can then access your PHP server at http://YOUR_PHONE_IP:8080. This is great for testing on multiple devices simultaneously.

Is the PHP built-in server suitable for production use?

No. The PHP built-in server is for development and local testing only. It handles one request at a time, has no production security hardening, and is not designed for concurrent users or real traffic loads. For production deployment, use a proper setup like Nginx or Apache with PHP-FPM on a real server or VPS.

Why does pkg install php fail with package errors?

This almost always means you are using the outdated Google Play Store version of Termux. That version's package repositories are broken. Uninstall it, download the F-Droid version from f-droid.org, run pkg update && pkg upgrade -y first, then install PHP. That sequence works every time on the correct Termux version.

Can I run WordPress on Termux with PHP?

Technically yes — you would need PHP, MariaDB, and the necessary PHP modules (php-gd, php-curl, php-mbstring, php-xml) plus some additional configuration. It is an advanced setup and WordPress itself requires more RAM than some budget Android phones have available. A dedicated guide covering this will be published on HYDRA TERMUX in the future.

What is the difference between PHP CLI and the PHP web server?

PHP CLI (Command Line Interface) runs PHP scripts directly in the terminal — you run php script.php and see the output in the terminal. The PHP built-in web server handles HTTP requests from a browser — it listens on a port, receives browser requests, runs the matching PHP file, and sends back HTML. Both are part of the same PHP installation and are useful for different purposes.

// 15 — Conclusion

That is the complete picture — from downloading the right version of Termux all the way to running Laravel on your Android phone. You now have a proper PHP development environment that most people would not believe is running on a mobile device. No root. No laptop. No cloud subscription. Just Termux and a few minutes of setup.

What you do with it from here is entirely up to you. If you are just starting out with PHP, spend time writing scripts and testing things in the CLI mode first — it is the fastest way to learn the language itself without worrying about HTML and browsers. Once you are comfortable with variables, functions, loops, and arrays, move to building simple web pages with the built-in server. Then tackle forms, sessions, and database queries. Then frameworks.

If you are already an experienced developer, you have a surprisingly capable mobile coding environment now. The PHP server is fast enough for real development work on modern Android hardware. Composer gives you the full Packagist ecosystem. Git is available in Termux for version control. You can genuinely do real work from your phone.

For more guides like this one — covering PHP databases, building real apps, combining PHP with Python scripts, and setting up full web stacks in Termux — keep checking hydratermux.blogspot.com. New tutorials from Rixon Xavier are published every week covering everything from beginner commands to advanced Android Linux setups.

✅

You are all set! PHP is running on your Android phone. Start the server with php -S localhost:8080, write your scripts with nano, and build something real. Happy coding!

Rixon Xavier

Founder — HYDRA TERMUX

Cybersecurity educator and Termux enthusiast. Creating free tutorials to help Android users learn Linux, web development, and ethical cybersecurity since 2023.

⚠️ Disclaimer: This tutorial is for educational purposes only. Always practice on systems you own or have explicit permission to test. HYDRA TERMUX does not support illegal activity of any kind.