WordPress is one of the most widely used content management systems in the world. To run smoothly and securely, WordPress requires a reliable stack—and at the heart of that stack is PHP. Updating PHP can improve performance, security, and compatibility, but doing so without adequate preparation may also break your website. That’s why it’s critical to understand how to update PHP the right way and how to safely roll back if needed.
TLDR
Updating PHP for your WordPress site is vital for maintaining security, boosting speed, and ensuring compatibility with new plugins and themes. However, the process must be done with caution to avoid breaking your site. By using staging environments, making backups, and understanding rollback options, you can update PHP safely. Always test thoroughly before pushing changes live.
Why Updating PHP Matters
Many WordPress users avoid updating PHP due to fears of incompatibility or downtime. But staying on outdated PHP versions—like PHP 5.6 or 7.0—opens the door to security vulnerabilities and decreases site performance.
Reasons you should update PHP include:
- Security: Newer PHP versions receive regular security patches.
- Performance: PHP 8.1 and later are considerably faster than older versions.
- Compatibility: Modern plugins and themes are designed for newer PHP versions.
- Support: Hosting providers often deprecate support for old PHP versions.
Failing to keep PHP updated can eventually result in a broken or vulnerable website.
Check Your Current PHP Version
Before you update, you need to know what version of PHP your site currently uses. There are a few different methods for finding this information:
- Inside WordPress: Go to Tools > Site Health > Info tab and expand the Server section.
- cPanel or Hosting Dashboard: Most hosting companies list the current PHP version under a section like “PHP Settings” or “Software.”
- Using a Plugin: Tools like Display PHP Version can show your current version right in the WordPress dashboard.
Evaluate Compatibility with Themes and Plugins
This is one of the most critical steps before updating. Incompatibility with a plugin or theme can take your site offline.
Here’s how to assess compatibility:
- Update all plugins and themes: This ensures you’re using the latest versions that are more likely to be compatible with newer PHP releases.
- Review plugin documentation: Plugin developers usually list supported PHP versions.
- Look for errors in a staging environment: If your site throws PHP errors in a staging test, those plugins need to be replaced or patched.
Create a Full Site Backup
Never make a PHP version change without first creating a complete backup of your website. This gives you an insurance policy in case something fails after the update.
Recommended backup components:
- WordPress core files
- Plugins and themes
- Uploads folder
- Database
You can use plugins like UpdraftPlus, BlogVault, or manual methods such as downloading files via FTP and exporting the database via phpMyAdmin.
Create a Staging Version of Your Site
A staging site is a clone of your website that you can use to test changes without affecting the live version. This is particularly helpful for PHP upgrades.
How to create a staging site:
- Most managed hosting providers (such as WP Engine or SiteGround) offer 1-click staging environments.
- Use a plugin like WP Staging if your host doesn’t provide built-in support.
Once your staging environment is set up, update PHP on the staging environment first. Monitor for errors, broken layouts, or functionality issues.
Update PHP via Hosting Provider
You can’t update PHP from within WordPress. The process is handled at the server level through your hosting control panel (such as cPanel, Plesk, or custom dashboards).
Common steps to update PHP:
- Log in to your hosting control panel.
- Find the PHP Version Manager or equivalent section.
- Choose the domain and select a newer, stable version of PHP (e.g., PHP 8.1).
- Apply the changes and restart any services if prompted.
Double-check by refreshing your staging site and visiting the admin dashboard. Carefully browse through the site front-end and admin interface to make sure everything loads as expected.
Review Site Logs and Error Reports
After updating PHP, it’s wise to check the error logs for signs of trouble. Error logs can reveal deprecated function warnings, compatibility issues, or outright crashes.
You can usually locate error logs in:
- Your hosting dashboard, under Logs
- A/downloadable error_log file in your WordPress directory
- The WP_DEBUG feature in wp-config.php if enabled
If plugins or themes reveal warnings in the logs, consider disabling them temporarily or replacing them.
Push Changes to Production (Live) Site
If everything functions correctly in staging, you can now mirror those changes on the live site. Make sure to:
- Clear all site caches (including Object Cache and CDN).
- Retest all forms, custom scripts, and features.
- Verify that checkout processes or memberships still work if using eCommerce plugins.
Some hosting providers let you “promote” your staging environment to production without rebuilding from scratch, simplifying deployment.
How to Roll Back PHP Safely
Even when you’ve followed all precautions, some issues don’t appear until your site runs with real traffic and usage. If errors emerge, you may need to roll PHP back to its prior version.
To revert PHP:
- Go to your hosting control panel again.
- Find the PHP Version section and select the previously working version (e.g., PHP 7.4).
- Save changes and refresh your site.
You should also restore the backup you created earlier if plugin data or core files were altered during testing. It’s always easier to drop back to a known good state than debug a broken live site under pressure.
Closing Thoughts
Updating PHP for your WordPress site may not be glamorous, but it’s essential. Done correctly, it enhances security, improves speed, and future-proofs your website. The steps may seem extensive, but they’re necessary for a smooth transition with minimal risk.
Always remember: Backup, test, update, and verify. And when in doubt, lean on professional support or staging environments to avoid costly downtime.
Stay proactive, not reactive—your website’s stability, speed, and safety depend on it.