As a Webmaster, one of the most important aspects of my job is taking care of the things my clients don’t even realize need attention. Updating PHP is one of those jobs.
PHP forms the backbone of WordPress’s core files; it handles web requests, manages content, and interacts with the database. Running an outdated version leaves your website vulnerable to attacks like malware, data breaches, and other security threats.
Each PHP version has a limited support lifecycle, typically two years. After this, a version reaches its end of life (EOL) and receives no further updates, including security patches.
It is important to keep your version up-to-date, but be cautious when updating to the most recent major version on a production website. It’s generally recommended to wait a short period after an update. While major versions are thoroughly tested, new releases might have initial bugs. Waiting allows time for these issues to be identified and addressed.
The primary reason to wait is to ensure your themes and plugins are fully compatible with the new PHP version. If you would like to be notified of new updates or to see a list of PHP versions, here are some convenient links.
https://www.updatephp.com/php-update-notifications
I will walk you through updating PHP on three different hosting providers. Hostinger, GoDaddy, and WPMU DEV.
Hostinger
- Open your hosting dashboard
- Navigate to the Website list
- Select a website
- Click on the Dashboard Button for the website
- Find the “Advanced Tab” in the sidebar
- Navigate to PHP Configuration
- Click on the upgraded version you want to deploy
- Don’t forget to check the live website for any issues. If you do observe any issues you can easily go back to the older PHP version.
GoDaddy
- Open your server in the Hosting platform
- From the Settings Sidepanel (Right)
- Select the Server tab
- Scroll down to PHP Version
- Select the version you want to use
WPMU DEV
- From the “My Sites” dashboard
- Select the Hosted tab
- Click on the website title
- From the Site Info box (first box to the left)
- Select the version you want to use
Updating the PHP version isn’t difficult. But you do need to ensure that your clients’ software (including PHP) is updated.
If you found this video helpful, please subscribe to my channel for more tips. Thanks for watching.