How to Update PHP Version

How to Update PHP Version in WordPress for Better Speed

Keeping your WordPress website updated isn’t just about themes and plugins; your PHP version plays a crucial role in site speed, security, and overall performance. An outdated PHP version can slow down your website, cause compatibility issues, and even expose it to security risks. That’s why knowing how to update the PHP version in WordPress is essential for every website owner.

In this guide, “How to Update PHP Version in WordPress, Quick and Simple Method Explained,” we’ll walk you through easy, beginner-friendly steps to upgrade your PHP version safely without breaking your site. Whether you run a blog, business website, or WooCommerce store, this tutorial, which works perfectly even if you are using premium WordPress templates will help you boost performance and keep your WordPress site running smoothly in just a few minutes.

Why Update PHP Version in WordPress?

Understanding how to Update PHP Version in WordPress is essential for maintaining a secure, fast, and compatible website. PHP is the scripting language that powers WordPress, and running an outdated version can expose your site to various risks. The main reasons to update are:

  • Protection Against Exploits: Every new PHP version comes with patches for security vulnerabilities found in older versions. When a PHP version reaches its End-of-Life (EOL), it stops receiving official security updates, leaving your site open to potential attacks, malware, and exploits by hackers.
  • Reduced Risk of Data Breaches: By staying up-to-date, you significantly reduce the chance of attackers compromising your site or stealing sensitive data.
  • Faster Execution: Newer PHP versions are typically more efficient and optimised for speed, much like how top WordPress speed-optimisation plugins streamline your site's background processes. For example, some modern PHP versions can handle more than double the requests per second compared to older versions.
  • Better User Experience and SEO: Faster processing leads to quicker page load times and a more responsive user experience, which can also positively impact your site's Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) rankings. 
  • WordPress Core, Themes, and Plugins: As WordPress core, themes, and plugins evolve, they are developed to leverage the features and standards of the latest PHP versions. Running an outdated PHP version can lead to compatibility issues, broken features, and unexpected errors.
  • Access to New Features: Newer PHP versions introduce new features, improvements, and better error handling that developers can use to build more robust and future-proof websites.
  • Hosting Requirements: Web hosting providers often stop supporting older, insecure PHP versions, and may even force an upgrade when a version reaches EOL, which can sometimes break a site that hasn't been prepared.

What is the PHP Version Compatibility with WordPress?

Keeping your WordPress website updated isn’t just about themes and plugins; your PHP version plays a crucial role in site speed, security, and overall performance. An outdated PHP version can slow down your website, cause compatibility issues, and even expose it to security risks. That’s why learning How to Update PHP Version in WordPress is essential for every website owner.

In this guide, “How to Update PHP Version in WordPress, Quick and Simple Method Explained,” we’ll walk you through easy, beginner-friendly steps to upgrade your PHP version safely without breaking your site. Whether you run a blog, business website, or WooCommerce store, this tutorial—which works perfectly even if you are using premium WordPress templates—will help you boost performance and keep your WordPress site running smoothly in just a few minutes.

Why Update PHP Version in WordPress?

Understanding How to Update PHP Version in WordPress is essential for maintaining a secure, fast, and compatible website. PHP is the scripting language that powers WordPress, and running an outdated version can expose your site to various risks. The main reasons to update are:

  • Protection Against Exploits: Every new PHP version comes with patches for security vulnerabilities. When you know How to Update PHP Version in WordPress, you ensure your site doesn't reach End-of-Life (EOL) status, which leaves it open to malware.

  • Reduced Risk of Data Breaches: Staying up-to-date significantly reduces the chance of attackers compromising your site or stealing sensitive data.

  • Faster Execution: Newer PHP versions are more efficient. For example, modern PHP can handle more than double the requests per second compared to older versions, much like how top WordPress speed-optimisation plugins streamline your site's background processes.

  • Better User Experience and SEO: Faster processing leads to quicker page load times, which positively impacts your Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) rankings.

  • Access to New Features: Newer versions introduce better error handling that developers use to build more robust websites.

What is the PHP Version Compatibility with WordPress?

Before you research how to Update PHP Version in WordPress, you must understand compatibility. WordPress core, themes, and plugins are tested against specific versions to ensure stability.

Recommended PHP Version for WordPress
PHP 8.1 or later – Recommended
Minimum supported version: PHP 7.4
WordPress officially supports PHP versions that are still actively maintained by the PHP community.

WordPress and PHP Compatibility:

PHP 8.3: Compatible with updated themes and plugins. 
PHP 8.2: Compatible 
PHP 8.1: Fully Compatible 
PHP 8.0: Compatible 
PHP 7.4: Compatible 
PHP 7.3 and below: Not Recommended

How to Check Your PHP Version?

Before learning how to Update PHP Version in WordPress, check your current status:

Go to WordPress Dashboard → Tools → Site Health
Or check via your hosting control panel (cPanel / hPanel)

How to Update PHP Version in WordPress? 

Updating the PHP version for your WordPress site is a crucial process for security and performance. Because PHP runs on your web server, updates are managed through your hosting control panel. Follow these steps for a better wordpress content security policy and version update:

Step 1. Pre-Update Checklist

Before stepping into “How to Update PHP Version in WordPress, you must prepare your site to avoid breaking it.

  • Backup Your Site: Create a full backup of your website files and database. Use a plugin like UpdraftPlus or Duplicator, or your hosting provider's backup tool. This is your essential safety net.
  • Update WordPress, Themes, and Plugins: Ensure your WordPress core, all themes, and all plugins are running their latest versions. Developers continuously update their code to be compatible with newer PHP versions.
  • Check Compatibility: Consider installing a plugin like the PHP Compatibility Checker to scan your active themes and plugins for known conflicts with the PHP version you plan to upgrade to.
  • Use a Staging Site: If your host offers a staging environment, create a copy of your live site and perform the PHP update on the staging site first. This lets you test the new version without any risk to your live traffic.

Step 2: Update PHP via Your Hosting Control Panel.

The general process on How to Update PHP Version in WordPress via cPanel is as follows:

Log in to your cPanel Account
Access the main dashboard provided by your hosting company.

Navigate to the Software Section
Scroll down and locate the Software section.

Open the PHP Manager

Open the PHP Manager

 Click on MultiPHP Manager or Select PHP Version. The name depends on your host's configuration.

Select Your Domain

In MultiPHP Manager, check the box next to the domain you want to update. In Select PHP Version, select the domain from the dropdown list.

Choose the New PHP Version

 Find the PHP Version dropdown menu. Select the desired, recommended version.

Apply the Change

Apply the Change

In MultiPHP Manager, click the Apply button. In Select PHP Version, click Set as current or Apply. The change is usually instant or takes a few minutes.

Verification

Immediately check your website for errors and verify the change in your WordPress Admin by going to Tools Site Health > Info tab, Server section.

Step 3: Post-Update Verification

After you complete the process of How to Update PHP Version in WordPress, immediately check your website.

  • Test Your Site: Visit the front end and backend of your website. Check key features: Can you log in to the WordPress Admin Dashboard? Does your homepage load correctly? Do crucial features like forms, e-commerce checkout, or sliders still work?
  • Verify the New Version: In your WordPress Admin Dashboard, go to Tools > Site Health. Switch to the Info tab. Expand the Server section and verify that the PHP Version number matches the version you just selected in your managed WooCommerce hosting panel.

Best Practices for Updating PHP in WordPress

Knowing how to Update PHP Version in WordPress safely involves a methodical process:

  • Check Your Current PHP Version: Find this in your WordPress dashboard under Tools - Site Health - Info - Server. This helps you know how big a jump you are making.
  • Create a Complete Backup: This is the most critical step. Use a reliable WordPress backup and restore plugin (like UpdraftPlus) or your hosting provider's backup tool to create a full backup of your website files and database. This allows you to restore your site quickly if an issue arises.
  • Update Everything Else: Ensure your WordPress Core, all Themes, and all Plugins are updated to their latest versions. Developers release updates to ensure compatibility with newer PHP versions.
  • Check Compatibility: Verify that your active themes and plugins are compatible with the target PHP version. Check their official documentation or use a tool like the PHP Compatibility Checker plugin if you're on a version older than what WordPress currently supports.

Conclusion

Learning how to update the PHP Version in WordPress is a quick task that keeps your website secure, fast, and compatible. By checking compatibility, taking a full backup, and updating through your hosting panel, you protect your WP theme bundle from security vulnerabilities. Staying up to date with the latest supported PHP version ensures your WordPress website remains future-ready and delivers a better experience to both visitors and search engines.

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