How to Check and Update Your WordPress PHP Version

Published On -

Emily Harris

Check your WordPress PHP version before making any site changes, then update it through your hosting control panel only after you have a fresh backup and have confirmed plugin and theme compatibility. PHP runs WordPress behind the scenes, so an outdated version can slow your site, break features, and expose security risks. A careful update usually takes less than 30 minutes, but skipping the checks can turn a simple maintenance task into an outage.

TLDR: Log in to WordPress, go to Tools > Site Health > Info > Server, and check the PHP version listed there. If it is outdated, back up your site, update themes and plugins, test on staging if available, then switch PHP in your hosting dashboard. For example, a small business site running PHP 7.4 may see faster admin screens after moving to PHP 8.2 or 8.3, but one old plugin could still cause a fatal error. In many real cases, preparation takes 80% of the time, while the actual PHP switch takes under five minutes.

Why Your PHP Version Matters

WordPress is written mainly in PHP. Every page load, login, plugin process, checkout action, and form submission depends on it. When PHP is old, your site may still appear normal, but it is running on weak ground.

A newer supported PHP version can improve:

  • Security: Older PHP versions stop receiving security fixes.
  • Speed: Modern PHP versions often process requests faster.
  • Plugin compatibility: Many serious developers stop supporting obsolete versions.
  • Hosting stability: Hosts may retire old versions with limited warning.

The annoying part is that WordPress may keep working for months on an outdated PHP version, so the risk feels invisible. Then one plugin update fails, or your host disables the old version, and suddenly the site owner is dealing with a broken checkout page at the worst possible time.

How to Check Your PHP Version in WordPress

The simplest method is inside your WordPress admin area.

  1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Go to Tools.
  3. Select Site Health.
  4. Open the Info tab.
  5. Expand the Server section.
  6. Look for PHP version.

This screen also shows useful server details such as memory limit, database version, and web server type. If WordPress flags your PHP version as outdated, treat it as a serious maintenance item, not a cosmetic warning.

How to Check PHP Version Through Hosting

You can also check PHP through your hosting account. The exact labels differ by provider, but the pattern is similar.

  • cPanel: Look for MultiPHP Manager or Select PHP Version.
  • Plesk: Open the domain settings and find PHP Settings.
  • Managed WordPress hosting: Look for Site Tools, Environment, or PHP Version.
  • Cloud hosting: Check the server stack, control panel, or command line.

If you manage the server yourself, you can often check with a terminal command such as php -v. Be careful here. The command line PHP version may not always match the version used by your website through the web server.

Before You Update PHP

Do not switch PHP blindly. A version jump can expose old code that was already fragile. The catch is that some plugins do not fail politely. They can throw a fatal error and lock you out of the admin area.

Use this checklist first:

  • Create a full backup: Include files and database.
  • Confirm restore access: A backup is useless if you cannot restore it quickly.
  • Update WordPress core: Use the latest stable release available to you.
  • Update plugins and themes: Remove anything abandoned or unused.
  • Check plugin details: Look for stated PHP compatibility.
  • Use staging if possible: Test the update away from the live site.
  • Record the current PHP version: You may need to roll back temporarily.

If your site handles sales, bookings, memberships, medical data, or client portals, schedule the change during a quiet traffic period. A personal blog can tolerate more risk than a store processing orders.

Recommended PHP Version for WordPress

Use a PHP version that is currently supported by the PHP project and accepted by your host, theme, and plugins. In most modern hosting accounts, that means PHP 8.2 or PHP 8.3. Some sites may already support PHP 8.4, depending on the hosting stack and plugin set.

Avoid running PHP 7.4 or older on a live WordPress site unless you have a short-term technical reason and a clear plan to move. Those older versions no longer fit the security needs of a professional website.

If you are unsure, check three places:

  • The official WordPress requirements page.
  • Your hosting provider’s PHP support policy.
  • The documentation for your most business-critical plugins.

How to Update PHP in Your Hosting Panel

The update itself is usually simple. The risk is in what happens after the switch.

  1. Log in to your hosting account.
  2. Open the PHP version manager for your domain.
  3. Select the target version, such as PHP 8.2 or PHP 8.3.
  4. Apply the change.
  5. Clear any server, plugin, CDN, or browser cache.
  6. Test the public site and the WordPress admin area.

Some hosts apply the change in seconds. Others take a few minutes. Honestly, it feels like hosting panels hide this setting in a different place every time, so expect to spend a few extra minutes finding the right screen.

What to Test After Updating PHP

Do not stop after the homepage loads. Many PHP problems appear only when a plugin runs a specific process.

Test these areas:

  • Homepage and key landing pages
  • Blog posts and custom post types
  • Contact forms
  • Search
  • Login and password reset
  • Checkout or payment flow
  • Membership or course access
  • Admin screens for major plugins

Also check your error logs. A page may look fine while warnings are filling the logs. Repeated warnings can point to code that needs updating before it becomes a larger failure.

What to Do If the Site Breaks

If your site shows a fatal error, blank screen, or broken layout, stay calm and roll back PHP to the previous version if your host still offers it. Then identify the cause.

Common causes include:

  • An outdated plugin using removed PHP functions.
  • A theme that has not been maintained.
  • Custom code in functions.php.
  • Old ionCube or PHP extensions.
  • Server settings that changed during the update.

If you cannot access WordPress admin, use your hosting file manager or FTP. Rename the suspected plugin folder to disable it. If the site returns, you found the likely issue. Replace that plugin, contact its developer, or restore from backup while you plan a safer update.

Best Practices for Ongoing PHP Maintenance

Check your PHP version at least twice per year. Add it to the same routine as backups, security scans, plugin audits, and uptime checks. Serious site maintenance is not exciting, but it prevents expensive surprises.

Keep a simple record with:

  • Current PHP version.
  • Date last updated.
  • Backup location.
  • Theme name and version.
  • Critical plugins.
  • Known compatibility issues.

For client sites or revenue sites, use a staging copy for every major PHP jump. Test first, fix issues, then schedule the live change. If you do not have staging, ask your host to provide it or consider moving to a hosting plan that includes it.

The safe process is simple: check the version, back up the site, update WordPress components, test compatibility, switch PHP, then review the site closely. Done this way, updating PHP is routine maintenance rather than a crisis. Ignore it for too long, and the update becomes harder than it ever needed to be.