Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-04

How to Fix: Error "Root composer.json requires php ^7.3 but your php version (8.0.0) does not satisfy that requirement"

Composer error due to PHP version mismatch.

Quick Answer: Try updating the composer.json file to specify a lower PHP version requirement or upgrade your PHP version to 7.3 or later.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🔍 Why This Happens
  2. 🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes
  3. ✨ Wrapping Up

You are experiencing an error while running the `composer install` command due to a version requirement mismatch between your PHP installation (8.0.0) and the required version by composer (7.3). This issue affects developers who use composer for dependency management in their projects.

This error can be frustrating as it prevents you from installing dependencies and moving forward with your project. In this guide, we will walk you through the root causes of this issue and provide two methods to resolve it.

🔍 Why This Happens

  • The primary reason for this error is that composer's `composer.json` file contains a dependency on PHP 7.3 or higher. When you run `composer install`, composer checks if your PHP version meets this requirement. Since your PHP version (8.0.0) does not satisfy the minimum required version, composer throws an error.
  • Another possible reason for this issue is that there might be a misconfigured PHP environment or a conflicting dependency in your project's `composer.json` file.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes

Update Composer to Use PHP 8.0.0

  1. Step 1: Open a terminal or command prompt and navigate to the directory where your composer.json file is located.
  2. Step 2: Run the following command to update the minimum required PHP version in your composer.json file: `composer config set bin-dir /usr/bin/php-8.0` (or equivalent for your system's PHP installation path).
  3. Step 3: Then, run `composer install --prefer-dist` to re-run the installation process with the updated PHP version requirement.

Downgrade PHP Version or Use a PHP Compatibility Layer

  1. Step 1: If you cannot update your PHP version immediately, you can try downgrading to a compatible version (e.g., PHP 7.4) using your system's package manager.
  2. Step 2: Alternatively, you can use a PHP compatibility layer like `php-compat-mode` to emulate the behavior of an earlier PHP version in your project. This method may require additional configuration and setup.

✨ Wrapping Up

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the error and install dependencies using composer. Remember to update your PHP version or use a compatibility layer if necessary to avoid similar issues in the future.

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