When scripts take too long.
THE SYMPTOM
A process stops partway: an import, a backup, a bulk operation.
Frequently with no error message, or a timeout.
HOW TO CHANGE IT
cPanel, PHP selector, max_execution_time.
WHAT TO CONSIDER FIRST
Whether the operation should take that long.
A query taking minutes usually indicates a problem rather than a limit.
WHERE RAISING IT IS LEGITIMATE
Large imports Backup generation Bulk operations you run occasionally
WHERE IT IS NOT
A page a visitor loads.
A page needing more than a few seconds has a problem no limit increase fixes.
THE ALTERNATIVE FOR LONG OPERATIONS
Run them in batches.
Most import tools support processing in chunks.
WHAT ELSE MAY APPLY
The web server has its own timeout, separate from PHP.
If raising the PHP limit does not help, that may be why. Open a ticket.
