​Update the PHP Version of your WordPress Site

The process of updating the PHP Version of your WordPress Site is relatively easy and mostly depends on the hosting provider. Before you do it, perform a backup, check what is the current version, see to what date it is supported, and do you really need to update already. Then follow the instructions below.

​What PHP version is your WordPress site currently using?

You can find out the current version of PHP that your WordPress site is using by following these steps:

1. Enter your WordPress admin panel with your username and password.
2. Locate the menu Tools. Hover over it, and you will see other submenus.
3. Click on Site Health.
4. Inside the menu, find the tab Info and click on it.
5. Inside the Info tab, scroll to the Server section and expand it by clicking on it.
6. There, you will see the current PHP version.

​What is the latest version of PHP?

The current stable version of PHP is 8.1.2. It was released on 20 January 2021.

PHP 8 was introduced in 2020, and PHP 8.1 came in December of 2021.

If you are running a PHP version older than 7.4, like 7.3, 7.2, 7.1, 7.0, 5.6, etc., you are already using an outdated version, and you should most definitely update to a newer one.

If you are using PHP 7.4, you have time until 28 November 2022 to upgrade.

And if you have updated previously to PHP 8.0, you will receive support until 26 November 2023.

​Updating the PHP version of your WordPress website

The process of updating the PHP Version will happen in the back, not directly through your WordPress Admin panel. It will depend on the hosting provider you are using, but in general, the process is very similar.

​cPanel

If you are using shared hosting, you will probably have cPanel.

1. Log in to your cPanel with your username and password.
2. Inside the search bar, search for “PHP version” and click on the result.
3. You will see the current version, and there will be a drop-down menu next to it. Click on it and select a newer version.
4. Click on set as current, and you are ready.

​SiteGround

If you are using SiteGround, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your SiteGround account with your username and password.
2. Go to the Websites tab, then click on Site Tools.
3. Next, go to DEVS, and click on PHP manager.
4. You will see the current version, and on the right, there will be a small pen icon for editing. Click on it.
5. Select the PHP version you would like to use.

​Any other hosting provider

The generic steps that you should follow, no matter the provider, are:

1. Log in to your control panel.
2. Located the PHP settings.
3. See the current version.
4. Update it to the PHP version you like, and you are ready.