How to install PHP GD in xampp?

How to enable the GD image library for PHP 8 with XAMPP on Windows. All that’s needed is a simple php.ini file edit.

Enable GD PHP 8 XAMPP

To enable GD image library on XAMPP PHP 8 open your php.ini file, find your extensions section and add into it:

extension=gd

Now restart Apache for the GD library to be loaded and enabled.

Why?!

For previous versions of PHP (less than PHP 8.0.0) the extension was labelled as gd2 with the dll being php_gd2.dl this was changed in PHP version 8:

extension=gd2 ;Does NOT work with PHP 8

Thankfully XAMPP PHP 8 versions have the GD library pre-packed, it just needs enabling in the config file as seen above.

Do you need to install PHP GD Extension? Don't worry I got you. In this post, I will share with you how to install PHP GD Extension in your windows. This extension is important if you have the functionality to create and manipulate images in PHP. Kindly follow the simple steps below.

First, check if "php_gd2.dll" is already exists in your extension web server directory. If you're using Xampp you will find it here "C:\xampp\php\ext".

Second, if "php_gd2.dll" the extension is not yet existing kindly download it here and upload it to your web server extensions directory or here "C:\xampp\php\ext".

Third, then if the above is already checked then open the "php.ini" file to your editor which is can be found in this directory "C:\xampp\php\" then search inside the "php.ini" file.

Fourth, once you found the "extension=gd2" then if you see like this ";extension=gd2" this is commented that's why GD extension is not enabled. Now we will enable this by removing the ";" (comma).

//change the following line 
;extension=gd2

//to this
extension=gd2

NOTE: If you can't found the "extension=gd2" then you must add this line under "Dynamic Extensions" inside the "php.ini" file. Just see the following file below:

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
; Dynamic Extensions ;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

; If you wish to have an extension loaded automatically, use the following
; syntax:
;
;   extension=modulename
;
; For example:
;
;   extension=mysqli
;
; When the extension library to load is not located in the default extension
; directory, You may specify an absolute path to the library file:
;
;   extension=/path/to/extension/mysqli.so
;
; Note : The syntax used in previous PHP versions ('extension=<ext>.so' and
; 'extension='php_<ext>.dll') is supported for legacy reasons and may be
; deprecated in a future PHP major version. So, when it is possible, please
; move to the new ('extension=<ext>) syntax.
;
; Notes for Windows environments :
;
; - Many DLL files are located in the extensions/ (PHP 4) or ext/ (PHP 5+)
;   extension folders as well as the separate PECL DLL download (PHP 5+).
;   Be sure to appropriately set the extension_dir directive.
;

extension=gd2

extension=bz2
extension=curl
;extension=ffi
;extension=ftp
extension=fileinfo

Fifth, now let's restart your web server.

Once your server is already restarted then let's check and confirm if the GD is already enabled to your web server. Now create a PHP file then name it as you want then add this code. Then run it. Then search GD Support and you will see the GD configuration. Then that's it you have successfully installed the GD Extension.

How to install PHP GD module?

How to enable PHP GD in PHP?

How to install php_gd2?

How to install PHP in xampp?