PHP is a scripting language for web development and WordPress is a PHP-powered content management system. Processing PHP code ultimately renders your WordPress page or post. Your WordPress core system files, themes, and plugins all include PHP code.
Every year, a new version of PHP is released with improvements and additional features (see PHP.net’s Lifecycle Timeline here). Every new version of PHP is fully supported for two years from its initial stable release. During this period, bugs and security issues that have been reported are fixed and are released in regular point releases.
Once those two years pass, the version is then supported for an additional year for critical security issues only. Releases during this period are made on an as-needed basis, and once that year is up, the version is no longer supported and is considered End of Life (EOL).
Pressable retires PHP versions a few weeks before PHP.net completely ends support for the version.
Examples:
- Pressable is set to retire PHP 8.1 on December 9, 2025
- Pressable will retire PHP 8.2 in December of 2026
Important PHP Update Dates for Pressable Customers
- June or July: Pressable will announce the next PHP version to be retired on the platform, and the exact date of retirement.
- June or July: Pressable will remove the option to select the PHP version being retired for new sites (cloned sites using the PHP version will still have the same version).
- December: On the specified retirement date, all sites on the Pressable platform that are currently running the retired PHP version will be automatically updated to the next available version.
Top Questions About Updating PHP Versions
How can I find a list of my sites using PHP Version X.X?
You can download a Site Listing Report for your account, which will email you a CSV that outlines which PHP version each site is using.
How can I quickly update my PHP version on my site(s)?
Follow the details here to update the PHP version on your WordPress staging site.
How can I bulk update my PHP version on my site(s)?
You can use our Bulk Operations tool to bulk-update the PHP version on your sites.
Before bulk-updating, we recommend testing the new PHP version on a few sites to ensure no issues.
How do I safely upgrade the PHP version on my Pressable sites?
Keeping your WordPress site’s PHP version up to date is important for performance and security. Updates can cause issues if your plugins or themes aren’t compatible with the latest PHP version(s). Follow the steps below to help safely update the PHP version on your site(s):
Step 1: Check Your Current PHP Version
There are a few ways to do this:
- Use the Site Listing Report to quickly get an overview of the PHP version of your sites (php_version column in the exported CSV).
- Log in to your My.Pressable.com dashboard, click Sites, then navigate to the site you’re working on. In the Overview section, you will find the PHP Version information.
- In your website’s WP Admin, look for Site Health under Tools > Site Health > Info > Server.
Step 2: Update on a Staging Site
Before updating the PHP version on your live site:
- Follow the details here to clone your site and create a staging site.
- Confirm the staging site is working and matches your live site.
- Follow the details here to update the PHP version on your WordPress staging site.
- Test the staging site:
- Clear the cache (Edge Cache & Object Cache)
- Check the PHP Error logs for new errors (review live site logs and check the staging site logs to see which new errors appear on the staging site after the PHP version update).
- Log in and browse the WP Admin area to check for issues
- Test key site features:
- Forms
- Checkout processes
- Contact pages
- Custom code (if any)
- Look for visible errors or broken functionality.
- If something breaks:
- Check the PHP Error logs – searching for Status Code – Fatal Error should outline the issue.
- Conduct a theme and plugin conflict test.
- Check for plugin/theme compatibility on their official websites or WordPress.org. Make sure your theme and all plugins are up to date.
- Contact the developer if no updates are available.
- Look for alternative plugins if support is dropped for older code.
Step 3: Update PHP on the Live Site
Once the staging site looks good:
- Take an on-demand backup of your live site.
- Repeat the PHP update for your live site.
- Clear the live site’s cache (Edge Cache & Object Cache)
- Monitor the site closely for any unexpected behavior (see Step 2 for monitoring details).
- Change the PHP version back, if needed
Important Notes
- Always take a full, on-demand backup (database and filesystem) before making changes to your live site(s).
- Pressable keeps WordPress core updated, but keep themes and plugins updated to their latest versions.
- Consider using a PHP Compatibility Checker plugin to scan for issues before updating.
What will happen to my sites that are running on a PHP version when it is removed as an option for new sites to select?
Any sites you have that are running the retiring PHP version will continue to use that version (until it is retired in December), and any clones (or staging sites) that you create of that site will carry over your use of the retiring PHP version as well.
All sites running the retiring PHP version will be automatically upgraded to the next sequential PHP version in December, so we recommend all customers begin testing and updating their sites well before the December deadline.
What are the differences between PHP versions?
You can view information on the differences between PHP versions here: https://www.php.net/manual/en/appendices.php – Find the specific PHP version you’re updating to, as there will be an overview and update guide.
My site is showing an error, what can be done to fix it?
If the PHP update triggered an error on your site, most likely an outdated plugin or theme is the cause. The error logs for your site might indicate where the problem is originating from. We have a guide on how to access WordPress site error logs.
You can deactivate a plugin that is triggering the error directly from within the Pressable Dashboard even if you are having trouble logging into the site. You can check out the guide on how to view and perform actions on your WordPress site’s themes and plugins.
Additionally, you can reach out to our customer success team for help. What we can help with is limited (more information here) but we would be more than happy to point you in the right direction for a fix!
When will the next required PHP version upgrade occur?
PHP.net maintains a timeline showing the various PHP versions and their lifecycles. It’s a great resource for anyone wondering when the next version will reach EOL. We will be managing the security patches for all Pressable customers between that date and the automatic update.
We recommend always trying to use the most recent version of PHP available for your site, then downgrading to older versions only if your site(s) experience issues.