If you’ve tried installing or updating Mautic using Composer on PHP 8.5, you might have hit a frustrating wall thanks to the missing ext-imap extension. This issue recently popped up in the Mautic community forum, and it’s causing some installer headaches.
Here’s the lowdown: PHP 8.5 has removed the ext-imap extension entirely. This wasn’t just a random whim—it’s a deliberate change in PHP’s core extensions. Unfortunately, Mautic’s installer (at least in version 7.2.1) still lists ext-imap as a required extension. When Composer runs the checks, it fails because that extension simply doesn’t exist anymore in PHP 8.5.
Some users have found workarounds by either running Composer with an “ignore errors” flag or switching their command line PHP back to 8.4. Both solutions work but feel like hacks—not exactly what you want for a smooth install or upgrade.
There’s chatter in the community about whether Mautic needs to update its core requirements, possibly by adopting a polyfill or alternative package to handle IMAP functions. One suggestion involves the fain182/ext-imap-polyfill, which replicates removed IMAP functions and could be a practical stopgap.
We checked GitHub for any official fixes or pull requests targeting this gap. It seems like the issue hasn’t yet been formally addressed in core releases, so for now, it’s a wait-and-watch situation. If you’re running a production environment, sticking with PHP 8.4 is currently the safest bet until Mautic adjusts its dependencies to be PHP 8.5-compatible.
Here’s the takeaway: PHP 8.5 is out, but Mautic’s installer isn’t quite ready for it because of the ext-imap removal. Don’t rush to upgrade your PHP just yet if you rely on painless Mautic installs or updates. Keep an eye on the community and GitHub for updates, and consider using PHP 8.4 for smooth sailing for now.
If you want to dive deeper into the conversation or add your own experience, check out the original forum thread below.
And if you’d rather skip these PHP version headaches entirely, remember that Mailertizer handles your Mautic hosting, maintenance, and upgrades so you don’t have to sweat the technical details.
