PHP version in WordPress
PHP, a programming language, powers a WordPress website. The PHP version has a big influence on the website’s security, speed, performance, and SEO ranking because PHP is the most crucial part of a WordPress website.
In this following blog, we’ll explain what PHP is and why it’s critical to check for updates frequently. Then, we’ll walk you step-by-step through the numerous ways to verify and update the PHP version on a WordPress site.
What is PHP?
Hypertext Preprocessor, or PHP, is a popular computer language for developing webpages. It is mainly used to create web server-based page-related programs.
HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP are the four types of languages that make up any WordPress website.
HTML and CSS determine how a website is designed and how its content is displayed. layout, text formatting, page, font options, colors, positioning, and so on are examples of this.
The functionality of the website is controlled by JavaScript and PHP. User form validation, submitting a form to the server, UI and page updates, and so on are all common operations handled by JavaScript and PHP.
Therefore, some PHP programs are probably running in the background each time you request data or take any other action on a WordPress website or page to produce the HTML you asked for.
PHP files are identified by the.php suffix.
Here is an example of PHP applications that are responsible for completing specific activities on a WordPress site:
PHP files
PHP is used to create most WordPress themes and plugins. This is why using the latest PHP version or the most compatible PHP version for your WordPress site is critical.
Why check and update the PHP version of your important WordPress site?
Well, it will improve your website’s security and speed. Those are the two most important factors of PHP version upgrade.
You should update PHP the same way you update WordPress to ensure you are protected from security threat issues. Also, updating PHP results in a huge speed boost.
For instance, PHP 7.0 was a significant improvement over PHP 5.6 in terms of performance. Even here at Optimizer. me we witness a performance increase in each new version compared to the previous one.
How to check the PHP version in WordPress?
Many of you must be unsure about the version of PHP you are using, right?
Well, if you are running WordPress 5.0 or higher then check the PHP version on the WordPress website. Just log in to your admin panel and click Tools > Site Health.
How to verify the WordPress site’s PHP version
You are now on the Site Health page. There are two options Status and Info. Just click on ‘Information’
How to verify the WordPress site’s PHP version
There is a component named PHP Version when you click on Server.
How to update the PHP version in WordPress?
All the best WordPress hosting companies make it simple to change your website’s PHP version. We’ll show you some examples of top hosting companies below:
Update PHP Version on Bluehost
To get started, you need to log in to your hosting account from the Bluehost account dashboard and then select the Advanced tab on the left column. Then scroll down to the Software section and click on MultiPHP Manager.
How to Update WordPress’ PHP Version Using Bluehost
It will take you to the next page, where you must first choose your site(s) and the PHP version it uses, then select the PHP version you want to use, and finally click Apply.
You’re good to go… let’s get to the next one!
Update PHP Version in SiteGround
If you use SiteGround as your hosting provider. So here is how you can update the PHP version of your WordPress site.
First, log in to your SiteGround account dashboard. Next, you must select the ‘Site’ tab, then click the Site Tools link next to the name of your website (for example, mywordpressaccount.com).
Now in the left column, you must go to DEVS > PHP Manager. From here, you can choose whether to use SiteGround’s lightning-fast PHP or standard PHP. Then simply select your PHP version number by clicking the edit icon below.
This will open a popup where you have to first choose the Change PHP version manually option from the Select PHP version option.
How to Update PHP Version in WordPress Using SITEGround
You will then be able to choose your PHP version from a drop-down menu. To apply your changes, don’t forget to click the Confirm button.
Update PHP Version in wpengine
WP Engine is a managed WordPress hosting provider, meaning they will automatically update your PHP version. You can, however, upgrade and downgrade the PHP version for your sites manually.
You must sign in to the WP Engine dashboard and choose the PHP version adjacent to your site to upgrade the PHP version of your WordPress website hosted by WpEngine.
This will open a window where you can choose whether to downgrade or upgrade the PHP version of your WordPress site.
How to update the PHP version in WordPress using wpengine
In the end, don’t forget to click the Change PHP Version button.
Update PHP Version at Kinsta
Now, if Kinsta is your respected hosting provider, then you just need to log in to your Kinsta account dashboard. Then click Sites in the admin options on the left and select the site you want to change your PHP version on.
Right after that, click on the Tools tab. You must click the Modify button on the PHP Engine and select the required PHP version from the drop-down box.
How to Update PHP Version on WordPress Using Kinsta
If you want to test a new PHP version on your WordPress site first, be sure you choose test mode rather than live site. We recommend that you start with PHP 8.0 for testing.
If your site is experiencing issues, you can always roll back to an earlier version such as PHP 7.4.
Once you’ve determined which version of PHP you’d like to update your site with. Click Modify PHP Version to confirm.
Update the PHP version on Dreamhost
To update the PHP version of the WordPress site on Dreamhost. You first need to navigate to the Manage site. Click the Manage button on the right side of your domain. In the PHP section. Click on the Modify icon.
How to Update PHP Version in WordPress Using Dreamhost
Now choose yours from the PHP version selection dropdown menu and click Change PHP version.
Update PHP Version in cPanel
If you are a cPanel server user, just log in to your cPanel. Then click on the MultiPHP Manager link in the Software section of cPanel.
How to Use Cpanel to Update WordPress’ PHP Version
For the site or sites you wish to update, check the appropriate box. From the drop-down option, choose the required PHP version. Finally, click the Apply button.
What happens if my website stops working?
Updated versions of PHP cause problems when the code on your site uses outdated functions that are no longer supported by newer versions of PHP. A plugin or active theme is most likely to be the culprit.
What Is My PHP Update Breaks My Website?
There is a very small possibility that a PHP update will break your WordPress site. However, as there are so many free and paid plugins available, incompatibility issues can easily arise.
The first step is to make sure a plugin or theme does not cause the error. And to check you need to deactivate all your WordPress plugins and switch to the default WordPress theme to do that.
If that doesn’t resolve the issue, contact your web host’s customer service department. There is a high chance that the problem you are having has already been brought to their attention, and they will be able to help you.
If your hosting provider cannot help you with this issue, you will need to go back to the previous version of PHP to fix the issue. However, the chances are slim.
Conclusion on updating the PHP version in WordPress
We hope this article has shown you how to update the PHP version of your WordPress site. If not, let us know in the comments section which thread is unclear.
