PHP is the programming language that WordPress runs on. Your PHP version affects your site’s speed, security, and compatibility with plugins and themes. Yet most WordPress site owners have no idea what PHP version they’re running or why it matters. Here’s the plain-language explanation.
What Is PHP?
PHP is a server-side programming language that processes WordPress’s code and generates the HTML your visitors see in their browsers. When someone visits your WordPress site, your server runs PHP to execute WordPress, query the database, and build the page. The version of PHP your server runs affects how efficiently that process happens.
Why PHP Versions Matter
Performance
Each major PHP version brings performance improvements. PHP 8.x is significantly faster than PHP 7.x for WordPress workloads — independent benchmarks show PHP 8.2 and 8.3 delivering 15-20% better performance than PHP 7.4 for typical WordPress operations. Running an older PHP version means your site is slower than it needs to be, independent of your hosting infrastructure.
Security
PHP versions have defined support lifecycles. Once a version reaches end-of-life, it no longer receives security patches. Running an end-of-life PHP version means known security vulnerabilities are never fixed — you’re permanently exposed to exploits that have been publicly documented. PHP 7.4, for example, reached end-of-life in November 2022. Sites still running it are operating on unsupported, unpatched software.
Plugin and Theme Compatibility
Plugin and theme developers build for current PHP versions. As PHP advances, older PHP versions may not support new language features that modern plugins require. Conversely, very new PHP versions may have compatibility issues with older plugins that haven’t been updated. Staying on a current, supported PHP version keeps your compatibility options open.
What PHP Version Should You Be Running?
As of 2026, PHP 8.2 and 8.3 are the actively supported versions. PHP 8.1 reaches end-of-life in December 2025. If you’re running anything below 8.1, you’re on unsupported software and should update immediately.
WordPress itself requires PHP 7.4 or higher but recommends PHP 8.0 or higher. Most reputable plugin developers now test against PHP 8.2 as a baseline.
How to Check Your PHP Version
In WordPress, go to Tools → Site Health → Info → Server. Your current PHP version is listed there. Alternatively, your hosting control panel typically shows your PHP version in the hosting settings.
How to Update Your PHP Version
On standard shared hosting, PHP version management is done through your hosting control panel — usually cPanel or a similar interface. Before updating, test on a staging site to confirm your plugins and theme are compatible with the new version.
On WP Engine, PHP version management is available through the User Portal. WP Engine also manages PHP updates as part of its platform maintenance, keeping sites on supported versions automatically. If you need a specific PHP version for a plugin compatibility reason, you can set it manually through the portal.
PHP Management on WP Engine
WP Engine handles PHP version management as part of its managed hosting service. You don’t need to manually configure PHP or worry about running an end-of-life version — the platform keeps sites on supported, performant PHP versions by default. See WP Engine plans through Screenwalker for exclusive first-year pricing, or learn more about what WP Engine managed hosting includes.
