If a site diagnostic tool or your hosting provider reports that your PHP version is outdated, and you’re wondering if your site will survive the update, know this: WordPress runs fastest and most securely on a supported PHP version—currently PHP 8.3 or higher. Update the PHP version through your hosting control panel, but first check on a staging environment to make sure your theme and plugins are compatible. If you follow the right steps, updating PHP in WordPress takes about 15 minutes, and I’ll show you exactly what those steps are below.
What version of PHP does WordPress require?
WordPress requires a supported version of PHP, and wordpress.org recommends PHP 8.3 or higher. Versions starting with 7.4 still work, but are end-of-life. PHP is the programming language in which WordPress is written, and the server executes that code with every visit. I like to compare PHP to the engine under your website. You can replace it without touching the body—your content—but you should first check to make sure all the parts fit. The table shows, for each version, how long it will continue to receive security updates and what I would recommend. The latest version is PHP 8.5, released on November 20, 2025.
Updated on October 29, 2026.
| PHP version | Status | Security updates through | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.4 and later | End of Life | No more updates | Update Now |
| 8.1 | End of Life | No more updates | Update |
| 8.2 | Security updates only | December 31, 2026 | Plan Your Switch |
| 8.3 | Security updates only | December 31, 2027 | A Safe Choice |
| 8.4 | Actively supported | December 31, 2028 | Recommended if your plugins support it |
| 8.5 | Latest version | December 31, 2029 | Test first |
Source: php.net/supported-versions, accessed on October 29, 2026. I personally prefer a version that’s one release behind the latest one. That way, you get the speed and support, while most plugins have already ironed out the kinks.
Why It's Important to Keep Track of Your PHP Version
"End of life" means that a PHP version will no longer receive security updates. Any discovered vulnerabilities will remain unpatched, and outdated software is one of the most common entry points for hackers. Anyone still using PHP 7.4 has been running without security updates from php.net for years. If something has already gone wrong, then WordPress hacked Fix the issue and address its root cause. In addition, a newer version executes the same code faster—especially when combined with OPcache—and new versions of plugins and WooCommerce increasingly require a recent PHP version. If you stick with the old version, there may come a day when you can no longer update an important plugin—and then you’ll suddenly be facing two problems at once.
To check your current PHP version in WordPress, go to Extras > Site Diagnosis > Info > Server, next to the PHP version line. In cPanel, you can also find it under Select PHP Version. Please note that this is slightly different from which version of WordPress you're running, because those two are often confused. Keeping the PHP version up to date is part of the hosting side of your site. You can read about how that layer works in What is managed WordPress hosting?.
How to Safely Update Your PHP Version in 6 Steps
My most important piece of advice before you get started is to follow the correct order. First, update WordPress, your theme, and your plugins, and only then update PHP. In most cases I’ve seen, doing it the other way around leads to problems. Does your site run on custom code or on plugins that haven't been updated in a long time, fix that first. Otherwise, the PHP update will be when that old problem becomes apparent.
- Back up your files and database, and make sure you know how to Restore a backup performs.
- Update WordPress, your theme, and your plugins to the latest version. Outdated plugin versions are the main cause of problems.
- Check for compatibility. On the plugin page at wordpress.org, you'll find Required PHP version and Tested up to, and for premium themes and plugins, check the changelog. The PHP Compatibility Checker plugin helps, but it doesn't catch everything.
- First, install the new version on your staging environment and test it there. The copy should then run on the new PHP version on its own.
- Change the PHP version of your live site in the hosting control panel during off-peak hours. In cPanel, you can do this by Select PHP Version, and other panels have a similar option.
- Test the homepage, forms, and the login process right away, and place a test order if it's an online store. Check the error log and verify under Options or
memory_limitandupload_max_filesizestill in good shape.
Is something going wrong? Here's how to fix it
Rolling back a PHP update is easy, because switching PHP versions doesn't change your files or database. Just restore the previous version in the hosting control panel, and your site will work just as it did before. That's exactly why I find this update less daunting than people think. Afterward, take your time to figure it out Which plugin or theme is causing the problem?, edit or replace it, and try again. Consider that old version a temporary solution, not a permanent one.
Most problems after a PHP update are caused by a plugin or theme that isn't compatible with the new version, and they all look pretty much the same. If you see the message “A critical error has occurred,” roll back PHP and read A critical error has occurred. A blank page with no error message is trickier. First, I check the error log, and if I don't find anything there, then I Enable debug mode with WP_DEBUG. Warnings or deprecation notices at the top of the site usually mean that a plugin is using outdated code. Turn off error display and update that plugin. If a PHP extension is missing, such as mysqli or imagick, ask your hosting provider to enable it.
Keep PHP Up to Date Without Even Thinking About It
At Surver, we let you choose for yourself as a standard feature. With shared hosting, you can select your PHP version—from 7.4 through 8.5—via cPanel > Select PHP Version, and that's where you put it back if necessary. Under Options adjust memory_limit, upload_max_filesize, post_max_size and max_execution_time . If you need higher values than your plan allows, or if an extension is missing, our support team can help. PHP errors can be found in the file error_log in the folder where the error occurs. Surver Cloud runs PHP 8.2 and higher; see also PHP 8.2 at Surver. To test the migration, clone your installation in Installatron to a staging environment. For more information about the packages, see our Managed WordPress Hosting.
All you need to do is check the PHP version once a year. Set it to your maintenance checklist And with every major WordPress update, check to see if your version is still supported. If you don't want to worry about it at all, this is part of WordPress maintenance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to update PHP if my site is working fine?
Yes. Php.net no longer supports older versions, and WordPress, plugins, and themes will eventually stop supporting those versions as well. At Surver, older PHP versions on shared hosting still receive patches, but that doesn’t solve the compatibility issue. In cPanel, under Select PHP Version which version your site is running.
Why does WordPress still show the old PHP version?
This is usually due to the cache, or because you've changed the version for a different domain or account. The latter happens mainly with hosting services where you choose a version for each domain, such as with MultiPHP Manager in cPanel. Clear the cache and check again via Extras > Site Diagnosis. If it still isn't correct, ask your hosting provider which version is associated with your domain.
Does my hosting provider not automatically update PHP?
WordPress certainly doesn't do that, and many hosting providers leave the choice up to you because a new version could affect your plugins. With Surver, you choose the version yourself in cPanel, so you decide when to switch and can test it first.
