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To update PHP for a WordPress site, first check its current version in Tools → Site Health → Info → Server, then back up the site, update WordPress core, themes, and plugins, and check their compatibility. The PHP change itself is made through your hosting provider, not the WordPress dashboard. After the host switches versions, test the site; if it fails, ask the host to restore the previous PHP version and restore your backup if needed.
Which PHP version should a WordPress site use?
WordPress currently recommends PHP 8.3 or greater. Its requirements page also says PHP 7.4 and later can run WordPress, but those versions have reached end of life and may expose a site to security vulnerabilities. The recommendation is a baseline, not a promise that every theme and plugin supports every PHP release. See WordPress.org’s requirements.
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Core compatibility depends on the WordPress version. A May 22, 2026 clarification from Make WordPress Core says WordPress 6.4 and later are documented as fully supporting PHP 8.3; WordPress 6.8 and later support PHP 8.4; and WordPress 6.9 and 7.0 support PHP 8.5. It also states that PHP 8.3 remains the minimum recommended version and PHP 7.4 the minimum supported version since WordPress 7.0. These mappings concern WordPress core, not the compatibility of every extension or theme. Read the Core compatibility clarification.
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Check the site’s current PHP version
- Sign in to the WordPress dashboard.
- Open Tools → Site Health → Info.
- Expand the Server section and find the PHP version.
If you cannot access the dashboard, ask your hosting provider how to check the version assigned to the site.
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Prepare before changing PHP
Make a restorable backup
Back up the WordPress files and database, and confirm how to restore them before making changes. Ask the host how to switch the site back to its previous PHP version. A site restore alone may not return PHP to the earlier version, so you may need both a PHP rollback and a backup restore.
Update WordPress, themes, and plugins
Install available updates and verify that the site still works before changing PHP. Updating the whole stack first helps separate existing update problems from issues caused by the PHP switch.
Review compatibility
Check documentation and compatibility information from the developers of your active theme and plugins, especially components the site relies on for essential functions. Automated compatibility checks are only clues: they can miss problems or report false positives. If a component’s support is unclear, ask its developer or your host; replace unsupported components before upgrading when practical.
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PHP runs on the server, so the hosting provider determines which versions are available and how to change them. As WordPress.org explains in its official PHP update guide, “The PHP version is set at the server level by your hosting company, so updating it involves either interacting with your host’s settings or asking your provider to do it for you.”
Use the host’s own instructions or contact support and ask which suitable PHP version is available for your site, how to apply it, and how to revert if needed. Control-panel labels and procedures vary by provider; there is no universal WordPress setting for switching PHP.
Test the site after the switch
Once the host applies the change, test the site while you still have access to the provider’s support and rollback process. Check:
- Public pages and any important landing pages.
- WordPress login and dashboard access.
- Forms, search, and other interactive features.
- Checkout, booking, or other business-critical flows, if the site uses them.
- Functions provided by key plugins, including anything used to publish or manage content.
Look for visible errors, failed actions, or missing content. If a problem appears, contact the host and ask it to restore the previous PHP version. Restore the site backup if the issue remains or if site data or files need recovery. The WordPress guide recommends contacting the host or a professional when problems arise.
If your host cannot provide a suitable PHP version
Ask the provider which versions it supports and what help it offers during a change or rollback. If the available version is unsuitable or the procedure is unclear, compare hosting options based on PHP version availability, whether you can make the change yourself, access to upgrade support, and the process for returning to the prior version. WordPress directs site owners to their host because the procedure is provider-specific.
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