How to update your PHP version

The single most important reason to update your PHP version is security. Older versions, like 5.2 through 7.4, no longer receive security updates and leave your site vulnerable. You also benefit from a massive increase in speed in newer versions. For these reasons, we strongly recommend updating to PHP 8.0 or higher.

Before you update your PHP version, we always recommend creating a backup of your site. Most hosts have documentation explaining how you can update your PHP version yourself. In case you cannot do the update yourself, you can ask your hosting company for assistance. Below, we prepared a sample letter that you can use when contacting your host.

Hi,

For security reasons and an increase in speed I want to update the PHP version of my WordPress website to PHP 8.0 or higher. WordPress also strongly recommends the latest version of PHP on their requirements page, https://wordpress.org/about/requirements/.

More information about currently supported versions of PHP can be found here: http://php.net/supported-versions.php.

I’ve heard that sometimes a website can break when updating the PHP version. Can you assist me and update my site safely to PHP 8.0 or higher?

Thanks!