Domain shows 500 error: The file index.php was encoded by the ionCube Encoder for PHP 5.x and cannot run under PHP 7.x or later

Symptoms

• Domains show 500 Internal server error

• PHP version is set to 7.x in Domains > example.com > PHP Settings

• The following error is seen in /var/logs/plesk-php7x-fpm/error.log:

  WARNING: [pool example.com] child 1159 said into stderr: "NOTICE: PHP message: PHP Fatal error: The file /var/www/vhosts/example.com/app/helpers/facebook_helper.php was encoded by the ionCube Encoder for PHP 5.x and cannot run under PHP 7.x or later."

Cause

Domain was built for the PHP version 5.x and does not work properly with PHP version 7.x.

Resolution

Review the domain's code to update it to the 7.x version or change the PHP version for this domain to an appropriate version: 

1. Log in to Plesk GUI

2. Go to Domains > example.com > PHP Settings and change version to the 5.x.

Note: Additional custom PHP handlers could be installed following the next article if needed.