Using a current version of PHP is essential for the security, performance, and stability of your WordPress website. WordPress core is designed to be compatible with particular PHP versions, and there are important considerations to keep in mind when managing your site’s environment.
Current PHP Recommendations
- Current Stable Version: PHP 8.3
- Minimum Recommended: PHP 8.1 (Versions older than this have reached "End of Life" and no longer receive official security patches).
PHP compatibility and WordPress
General Compatibility Tips & Help
For a site to function correctly, the WordPress core, your active theme, and every single plugin must be compatible with the PHP version you are using.
- Always check the documentation or "Tested up to" tags for your plugins and themes before performing a major PHP upgrade.
Upgrading from PHP 7.4 to 8.x
The jump from PHP 7.4 to the 8.x series (8.1, 8.2, 8.3) is a major architectural shift. This transition is the most likely to cause "Critical Errors" or broken functionality if you are using older, unmaintained plugins or custom code.
- Recommendation: If you are still on 7.4, do not upgrade directly on your live site without a backup. Test the upgrade in a staging environment first, or contact WP NET Support for help.
Incremental Stability (8.1 to 8.3)
If your website is already running error-free on PHP 8.1 or 8.2, it is likely it will run smoothly on PHP 8.3. The breaking changes between 8.1 and 8.3 are much less severe than the jump from 7.4 to 8.0.
Security & Performance
Older PHP versions (like 7.4 and 8.0) are officially "End of Life" (EOL). This means they no longer receive security updates from the PHP development team. Upgrading to a modern version not only secures your data but typically provides a noticeable boost in page loading speeds.
PHP Version Lifecyle
How can I find out my PHP version?
Thanks to our WP Shield Dashboard widget, finding your PHP version is super easy. It’s displayed right there, on your WordPress Dashboard homepage:
WP Shield Dashboard Widget
If the WP Shield widget isn’t displayed for some reason, you can also find your PHP version on the WordPress Site Health page. In the WordPress Dashboard, go to Tools, then Site Health. From there, select the Info tab at the top of the page, then open the Server section. The PHP version currently in use is shown here.
WordPress Site Health “Info” tab displays the PHP version in use
How to Change Your PHP Version
Depending on your hosting plan with WP NET, you can update your PHP version using the following methods:
WP Site / WP Studio (Plesk Servers)
You can adjust your PHP version yourself via the Plesk Panel:
- Log in to your Plesk Panel.
- Navigate to the Websites & Domains tab.
- Locate the PHP Settings icon (usually found under the "Dev Tools" section).
- Select your desired PHP version from the dropdown menu and click OK.
PHP version displayed on the Plesk Panel
Click on the PHP button, this will open the PHP Settings page. You’ll see a checkbox with PHP Support, next to that is a drop-down menu, use this to select your PHP version, then scroll to the bottom of the page and click OK or Apply.
WP Server (Managed Servers)
For customers on dedicated WP Servers, PHP versions are managed by our technical team to ensure server-wide stability.
- Open a support ticket through our client portal.
- Request the specific PHP version you wish to move to.
- Our team will coordinate the change and monitor the server logs for any immediate issues.
Need Help Testing?
We can create a Staging Clone of your site to test a new PHP version in a safe environment without affecting your live production site. Open a support ticket to get started.
If you have any questions regarding your WordPress sites and PHP compatibility, please do not hesitate to open a support ticket and we’ll be happy to help!
