How to Update PHP version in WordPress Website

It is critical to update the PHP version in WordPress for site performance, security, and compatibility with new themes and plugins.

An outdated PHP version slows down your website, exposes it to security risks, and causes incompatibility issues.

Update PHP version in WordPress regularly to improve speed, strengthen security, and ensure smooth integration with modern WordPress tools. Make the update now for a better user experience.

By the end of this session, you will understand how to update PHP version in WordPress and maintain a smooth-running WordPress platform effectively.

Correlation between WordPress and PHP

WordPress is free and global software that offers various themes and plugins for building your website. On the other hand, PHP is an open-source scripting language that developers use to perform advanced-level customization and ensure optimal performance.

Since WordPress is a PHP-based website that makes your site secure and faster. Therefore, having the latest version of PHP for your WordPress will help you keep your site safe and quicker. Also, you can develop your website with new features/improvements.

We will delve into the benefits of the latest PHP version in WordPress. But remember, you play a crucial role in updating the PHP version on your WordPress website. So, we will also provide some essential tips to ensure you’re doing it right.

Benefits of Update PHP Version in WordPress Website

Like every software or programming language, WordPress keeps itself updated. It helps the site utilize all the latest features. PHP also gets various updates that help WordPress sites stay safe and secure.

When you use an older version of PHP for WordPress, it may lead to various cyber threats and performance issues. Hence, update PHP version in WordPress website according to the latest PHP version provided with multiple benefits. Let’s understand them briefly:

• Performance Optimization: Keeping your WordPress website up-to-date with the PHP version helps you optimize WordPress performance. It enhances user engagement and interaction by improving the site’s loading speed and responsiveness.
• Security Enhancements: Maintaining the security of your website keeps it secure from potential security threats, such as data breaches, malware injections, and hacking attempts. You will get the latest security features and patches with the updated and supported PHP version.
• Plugins and Themes Compatibility: You will get all the latest features for your WordPress website with the latest version of PHP. You will get compatibility with all the latest plugins and themes that you can quickly install and utilize.
• Long-term Support: Running an outdated version of PHP doesn’t provide you with all the benefits. Hence, regarding the updated WordPress website, you can get active support, security fixes, and timely updates.

The pointers mentioned above are the benefits of keeping your WordPress updated with the latest PHP version. In addition to WordPress security updates, updated PHP version compatibility and performance optimization are provided.

How to check current PHP version in WordPress?

A particular WordPress version requires a specific supported version of PHP. Hence, before updating your site with the latest PHP version, you must check whether WordPress supports this version. Here, we will learn how to check the current version of PHP in WordPress.

• Log in to your WordPress dashboard
• Head towards the “Tools” section and open the “Site Health” page
• Afterwards, switch to the “Info” tab
• Then, scroll down the page and click on the “Server” tab to expand the page
• Now, you will be able to see the site’s current PHP version

It is the process by which you can check the website’s current PHP version. After looking at the current version, you can check which is the next update PHP version in WordPress that will support running faster and smoother.

Points to Remember Before Updating Website

While updating your working site, you must ensure it won’t affect user engagement. Hence, before updating the site, you must perform the below tasks, as they will help you prevent your site’s performance and speed.

• Keep your WordPress core, plugins and themes updated. It will help the site be more compatible with the latest PHP version.
• Create a backup of your site. It will help you to restore an older and error-free version of the site in case of any issue or disaster.
• Make sure that you have a dummy site. It will help you check the updates before uploading them to the live website.
• Try using the WordPress PHP compatibility checker plugin. It lets you understand the potential issues and threats from a supported version of PHP for your site.

Remember these pointers while updating your website with the latest supported PHP version. Performing these steps helps restore the site before updating the PHP version in WordPress and keeps the performance unaffected.

How do you update the latest PHP version for different hosting providers?

Various hosting providers offer hosting PHP version updates for different users. In this section, we will learn how to update the latest PHP version for WordPress sites and other hosting platforms.

BlueHost

• Go to the BlueHost control panel and hit the “Website” tab in the left column
• Select the desired website for which you want to update PHP version in WordPress
• Select the “Settings” tab and configure towards the advanced settings of your site

• Now, scroll down to the PHP version section
• Hit the “Change” button next to the current PHP version

• Move ahead with the PHP version that you want to install
• Select the desired PHP version and hit the “Change” button to apply this PHP version to your site

Hostinger

• • Log in to the Hostinger account dashboard and choose the “Websites” tab
  • Click on the “Manage” button opposite the website for which you want to update PHP version in WordPress

• Under the “Advanced” menu from the left sidebar, search for the “PHP configuration.”
• Here, you will see all the supported PHP versions for your website
• Select the latest PHP version and hit the “Update” button to update your site

• Now, a pop-up will appear for confirmation
• Click on the “Confirm” button to continue

SiteGround

• • First, log in to your SiteGround dashboard and move towards the “My websites and services” tab
  • Click on the “Manage” button for the desired website that you want to update PHP version in WordPress

• After heading towards the “My Website” page, click on the “Site Tools” button

• Under the “Devs” section on the left-hand side, hit the “PHP Manager.”
• Now, you will see a pop-up where you must select the “Change PHP version manually” button inside the “Set PHP version.”

• Then, select the latest and supported version of PHP from the dropdown menu
• Hit the “Confirm” button at the end to update PHP version in WordPress your site

HostGator

• • Log in to your HostGator hosting account and move ahead towards the “Websites” section.

• Click on the “Settings” button against the website that you want to update PHP version in WordPress

• Now, hit the “Settings” tab and scroll down to the PHP version section
• Hit the “Change” button next to the current PHP version tab

• Select the latest version and hit “Change” to update PHP version in WordPress on your site

DreamHost

• Log in to your dashboard and select the “Manage Websites” button from the left side panel.
• On the website page, hit the three dots and select “PHP Version” against the site that you want to update PHP version in WordPress
• Now, select the PHP version from the dropdown of the control panel
• Hit “Change PHP Version” to update PHP version in WordPress on your site

WP Engine

• • Log in to your WP Engine dashboard.

• Head towards the “My Sites” page and click on the “PHP version” of the site that you want to update PHP version in WordPress
• Now, you are on the “Overview” page of that particular website
• Hit the “Preview PHP” button to move forward

• To update PHP version in WordPress, scroll down to the “Updates” section
• Click the “PHP number version link” and choose the “Upgrade to PHP option.”

• Now, don’t forget to click on the “Confirm” button to update the site.

These are the methods for updating the PHP version in a WordPress website. You can also manage the supported PHP versions for your site through these methods.

Conclusion

Update PHP version in WordPress site health, speed, performance, security, and compatibility. Working on an updated website also lets you learn about new features and plugins.

The guide will help you keep your site up-to-date with the latest technologies and threat-free. Hence, ensure you regularly monitor the site’s performance to ensure that it is healthy and has a secure online presence for better performance.