To download & install the PHP Interpreter and use it in PHPStorm :

1. Visual C++ Redistributable

1. Make sure you've installed Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015-2019 : x64 or x86

2. PHP Interpreter (CLI)

1. Download the last version of the PHP interpreter (current: 2020-Apr-14 / PHP 7.4.5) at https://windows.php.net/download

2. There you've to choose between Non Thread Safe (NTS) and Thread Safe (TS) versions.

   • If you are using PHP as FastCGI with IIS you should use the Non-Thread Safe (NTS) versions.
   • Otherwise proceed to download the Thread Safe (TS) version.

3. Click the "Zip" link that suit your processor architecture (x64 for 64bit, x86 for 32bit or lower).

4. After the downloading the file, extract the .zip archive in the directory of your choice (for example, in C:\php\)

5. Open the directory you just extracted, you will see bunch of directories (dev, ext, lib, ...), DLL files and executables. Spot the php.exe, that's our PHP interpreter :)

3. Configure PHPStorm interpreter

1. In PHPStorm, go to "File" menu (Windows), then Settings (Ctrl+Alt+S).
2. Go to "Languages & Frameworks", then click on "PHP".
3. Click the ... button from the "CLI Interpret" field.
4. Add a new interpreter by clicking the + button.

5. Here, provide the PHP Executable path to the php.exe we've spotted earlier (eg.: C:\php\%currentPhpVersionDir%\php.exe).

   If done correctly, PHPStorm will display the PHP version & the path to the configuration file (php.ini).

That's all for linking PHPStorm to a PHP interpreter in itself.

Copy the php directory to the root folder of your Web server

Then Open phpstorm

1. Click File > settings to open the preferences dialog and click PHP under Languages and Framework

2. On the PHP page that opens click on the button next to the interpreter

3. On the interpreter dialog box, click add toolbar on the left hand pane, and choose local from the context menu

4. On the right hand pane specify the PHP interpreter settings

   • in the name text box, enter any name to identify the interpreter, for example, php_installatuon_7

   • Specify the location of the php installation directory by typing manually or click the browse button and choose the location in the dialog box

5. Click OK to complete the process

Screenshots below to guide you through the process

https://www.jetbrains.com/help/phpstorm/2016.1/configuring-local-php-interpreters.html

This worked for me, however I'm in PhpStorm 8 and the layout is entirely different. I'll still pop this here in case someone else needs these instructions.

• Install your prefered PHP from here: http://windows.php.net/ (It doesn't need to be in your PATH, just pop it anywhere)
• In PhpStorm, go to File -> Settings
• In settings go to Languages & Frameworks -> PHP
• Click the ellipsis next to Interpretter (this opens a new window)
• Click the plus button in the top left and choose "Other Local"
• Set the PHP exectuable to wherever you put your download above. It just needs to see php.exe

That's it. I've been using that to run Composer from PhpStorm... though I'm not convinced by the results.

As an alternative I would highly recommend using Vagrant for your PHP needs. You don't need PHP in Windows at all, and I've been developing this way for about 2 years. PhpStorm's remote support (including Vagrant, SSH and Remote Interpreter) is now excellent. I think the only thing I've been irritated by is PHPUnit Code Coverage is still broken.