diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/from_md/release-notes/rl-2211.section.xml b/nixos/doc/manual/from_md/release-notes/rl-2211.section.xml
index 4abcf0165a4b..79268b398e60 100644
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/from_md/release-notes/rl-2211.section.xml
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/from_md/release-notes/rl-2211.section.xml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
       In addition to numerous new and upgraded packages, this release
       has the following highlights:
     </para>
-    <itemizedlist spacing="compact">
+    <itemizedlist>
       <listitem>
         <para>
           During cross-compilation, tests are now executed if the test
@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@
           <literal>stdenv.buildPlatform.canExecute stdenv.hostPlatform</literal>.
         </para>
       </listitem>
+      <listitem>
+        <para>
+          PHP now defaults to PHP 8.1, updated from 8.0.
+        </para>
+      </listitem>
     </itemizedlist>
   </section>
   <section xml:id="sec-release-22.11-new-services">
diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-2211.section.md b/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-2211.section.md
index 6dec063f4032..7d2eacce57fe 100644
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-2211.section.md
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-2211.section.md
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ In addition to numerous new and upgraded packages, this release has the followin
   built for `stdenv.hostPlatform` (i.e. produced by `stdenv.cc`) by evaluating
   `stdenv.buildPlatform.canExecute stdenv.hostPlatform`.
 
+- PHP now defaults to PHP 8.1, updated from 8.0.
+
 <!-- To avoid merge conflicts, consider adding your item at an arbitrary place in the list instead. -->
 
 ## New Services {#sec-release-22.11-new-services}
diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
index 52667051b855..ac0f65c04d87 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
@@ -14355,7 +14355,7 @@ with pkgs;
   # PHP interpreters, packages and extensions.
   #
   # Set default PHP interpreter, extensions and packages
-  php = php80;
+  php = php81;
   phpExtensions = php.extensions;
   phpPackages = php.packages;