Nginx package update for PHP apps on Azure App Service
We’re updating the Nginx packages used in Azure App Service PHP images, moving from the deprecated deb.sury.org repository to the official nginx.org repository. This follows the upstream repository changes.
We expect most PHP apps to continue working without any changes, particularly those using the default Nginx configuration. However, if you’ve customized your Nginx configuration or startup command, we recommend validating your app against the updated images.
What should you check?
If your app uses a custom Nginx configuration, review the following potentially affected customizations:
- Loading optional Nginx modules using
load_module - Using module directives such as
echo,geoip2,image_filter, or XSLT - Hardcoded Nginx paths, such as
/var/lib/nginx/ - Custom startup commands that replace or start Nginx
These are examples, not an exhaustive list. Having a customized configuration does not necessarily mean your app will be affected.
How to prepare
The updated PHP images are already available on the Latest channel, so you can test compatibility ahead of the rollout to Standard.
We recommend using an App Service deployment slot to validate your app without affecting production. Configure the staging slot to use the Latest channel, test your application and Nginx customizations, and keep your production slot on Standard.
We plan to begin a gradual rollout of the updated images to the Standard (default) channel starting October 14, 2026 (UTC), with rollout across all Azure regions expected to take several days.
If you encounter any issues, you can temporarily switch to the Extended channel to return to an earlier image while you investigate and update your configuration.
Once your app is compatible, we recommend using Standard (or Latest, if appropriate) to continue receiving platform and security updates.
For instructions on viewing or changing your channel, see Control runtime patch updates with Platform Release Channel.
