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To update PHP for WordPress, first check the version your site is using, back up the site, update WordPress and its plugins and themes, and check compatibility. Then change PHP through your hosting provider’s controls or with its support team, and test the site. PHP is set at the server level, so the available versions and exact steps depend on your host.
Check your current PHP version
In your WordPress dashboard, go to Tools → Site Health → Info → Server and find the PHP version. This gives you a starting point before you contact your host or choose a target version.
WordPress currently recommends PHP 8.3 or greater. PHP 7.4 and later can still run WordPress, but those versions have reached end of life and may expose a site to security vulnerabilities. A recommended version is not a guarantee that every plugin or theme supports it. See the WordPress requirements.
Choose a PHP version with compatibility in mind
WordPress core support is only one part of the decision: your active theme and plugins must also work with the version selected. A May 22, 2026 clarification from Make WordPress Core documents full support for PHP 8.5 in WordPress 6.9 and 7.0, PHP 8.4 in WordPress 6.8 and later, and PHP 8.3 in WordPress 6.4 and later. It also states that PHP 8.3 remains the minimum recommended version and PHP 7.4 the minimum supported version since WordPress 7.0. Check the version-specific compatibility clarification; core compatibility alone does not establish that every extension on your site is compatible.
Review the documentation and support information for your active theme and plugins. Automated compatibility checks can be useful clues, but WordPress warns that they can miss problems or flag false positives. If a component is flagged or its support status is unclear, ask its developer before upgrading; replace unsupported components when necessary.
Prepare the site before changing PHP
- Make a complete backup. Confirm that it covers the site and that you know how to restore it. Ask your host how to switch PHP back to the previous version if the update causes a problem.
- Update the WordPress stack. Update WordPress core, the active theme, and plugins. Check that the site still works before proceeding.
- Resolve compatibility concerns. Review active components’ documentation and contact their developers about uncertain or flagged issues.
For WordPress’s full guidance on preparing and handling problems, see its official PHP update guide.
Change PHP through your hosting provider
WordPress.org explains: “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.” The exact controls and available versions vary by provider, so there is no universal WordPress dashboard setting or control-panel path for this change.
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Use your host’s documented PHP settings if you are comfortable making the change, or ask its support team to do it. If the host does not offer a suitable version or explain how to upgrade and revert, ask about its supported versions, upgrade assistance, and rollback process.
Test the site and recover if something breaks
After the host changes PHP, check the site rather than assuming that a successful version switch means everything works. Test:
- Public pages and key content
- WordPress login and dashboard access
- Forms, checkout, or other business-critical flows
- Important features supplied by plugins or the theme
If you encounter errors or broken functionality, contact the host and ask it to restore the previous PHP version. Restore the backup if needed; depending on what changed, recovery may require both reverting PHP and restoring the site. WordPress advises contacting the host or a professional when problems occur.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If your host cannot provide a suitable PHP version
Ask the provider which PHP versions it supports and whether you can switch versions yourself or must request help. Also establish how upgrade support and rollback work. If it cannot support a suitable version or provide a clear procedure, those are practical points to weigh when considering another host.
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