Change either version from the selected website’s settings in the Bluehost Portal: go to Websites, select Manage Site, open Settings, choose the relevant version control, select an available release, and click Apply. PHP and WordPress are separate settings, so change and verify them individually. Bluehost says a PHP change takes effect immediately; after a successful WordPress change, the portal displays a notification. Bluehost’s Agency Hosting guide documents this workflow.
Before changing a version
Make a backup first. Bluehost’s Agency staging instructions say, “Before changing the version, we strongly recommend that you create a backup of your site.” Where staging is available, test the change on a staging copy before applying it to the live site. Bluehost also recommends backing up site files and the database, checking theme and plugin compatibility, and testing updates on staging in its WordPress update guidance.
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- Check that your WordPress core, active theme, and plugins are compatible with the PHP version you plan to use.
- For a WordPress update, review whether your essential plugins and theme support the chosen release.
- After applying a change in a test environment, check important pages, forms, and site functions before promoting it to production.
Staging and backups reduce risk, but the version-change guide does not document a guaranteed rollback method. Do not assume a change can always be reversed through the same control.
Change the PHP version
- Sign in to the Bluehost Portal.
- In the left navigation, select Websites.
- Find the site you want to change and select Manage Site.
- On Overview, check the current PHP version if you need to record it.
- Open Settings. Under PHP Version, select Change PHP Version.
- Choose one of the versions currently offered for that site, then select Apply.
Bluehost says the site immediately reflects the selected PHP version. Check the site after applying it, especially pages and features that depend on plugins or the active theme.
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Which PHP versions are available?
Bluehost’s Agency-specific guide identifies PHP 7.3, 7.4, 8.0, and 8.1 as deprecated, and says Agency Hosting supports PHP 8.2 and above. The exact releases available can change; use the choices shown in the target site’s Settings as the current authority. These details apply to the Agency Portal workflow, not Bluehost Shared Hosting instructions that use cPanel or MultiPHP Manager. See Bluehost’s version-change guide.
Change the WordPress version
- In the Bluehost Portal, select Websites from the left navigation.
- Select Manage Site beside the website.
- On Overview, note the current WordPress version if needed.
- Open Settings. Under WordPress Version, select Change WordPress Version.
- Select an option displayed in the portal and click Apply.
Bluehost says a notification appears after a successful version change. Its guide describes these choices:
- Latest: the current stable release.
- Previous: one version behind the current stable release.
- Beta: a release candidate intended for testing.
Use the portal’s current options and check compatibility before selecting a release. Beta is for testing, not a default choice for a production site. Bluehost’s guide does not make a blanket recommendation to use Previous or Beta on live sites. See the Agency Hosting instructions.
Staging and production: a safer sequence
Bluehost describes Agency staging as a private copy of a production website for trying changes. Its dashboard documentation covers staging and deployment controls; consult the Agency dashboard guide for that context.
- Create a backup of the site.
- Use staging, if available, to change the PHP or WordPress version.
- Test the site’s key pages and functions, and resolve compatibility problems before deployment.
- Promote the tested staging site to production using the available Agency controls.
Changing PHP and changing WordPress are independent actions. If you need to change both, apply and test them as distinct changes so you can identify which one causes a problem.
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