If you’ve ever had a WordPress site running on a cheap server, then you’ve more than likely come across this message…
“This plugin cannot be updated because your PHP version is outdated.”
Even if you haven’t seen that exact message, you could have come across other issues that stem from outdated PHP versions. Like your website just up and vanishing, and all your visitors get this nice message when they come to learn more about your company.
It’s clear outdated PHP versions can cause issues. But what is it and why can it cause problems?
What is PHP?
PHP is a programming language. One of the most widely used languages for the web, actually. It powers the logic behind dynamic websites – handling tasks like pulling data from databases, processing form submissions and managing content behind the scenes.
It’s been around since the ‘90s, and while newer languages have cropped up over the years, PHP remains incredibly popular. Some massive websites still rely on PHP to this day – including WordPress, Wikipedia, Facebook and Spotify.
In fact, over 75% of all websites still use PHP in some form. If you’re running WordPress, your site is using PHP whether you realise it or not.
Why is PHP versioning such a big deal?
Just like your phone needs regular iOS or Android updates, PHP also needs occasional version upgrades. These updates come with better performance, improved security and newer features.
The developers behind PHP release a new major version every year, and each version stays actively supported for two years, with security patches for four years total.
This means that even if you’re not on the latest version, your site is still okay for a while – as long as you’re not running something ancient.
When a PHP version reaches its end-of-life and stops receiving any updates, that’s when sites start to break and plugins stop working – not to mention the impact on performance and how vulnerable your site becomes, which can be an issue if you’re also dealing with client data.
How can you tell if you need to update?
If you’re on a WordPress site, then you’re in luck, as most of the popular plugins require you to use a more recent PHP version. If you find that you cannot install plugins because this message…
“This plugin requires PHP 8.1 or higher.”
…pops up, then you know you’re due an update.
As of now, 8.1 is the lowest version you should go, as it still gets security updates. If you see the message above, it means you’re running an older one that can potentially break your site.
In some rare cases, you can also see the message below on older plugins. This usually only happens if your web host decided to update your PHP version without checking for issues.
Okay, I need to update PHP. How do I actually do that?
Updating PHP depends on your host. If you’re using a hosting provider that gives you access to a control panel like WHM (Web Host Manager) or cPanel, you can often update PHP yourself with just a few clicks on the screen that looks like this:
By opening the dropdown menu, you can select any pre-installed version that is available on your server. If you don’t see the latest ones, then you will want to reach out to your hosting provider. They should be able to enable it for you.
That was easy. Now your site’s broken.
Let’s say you hit “update,” the server restarts PHP in seconds… and now your site throws a “critical error” screen.
Don’t worry – thankfully, changing the PHP version back to what it was fixes this issue.
Once your site is back online though, you will want to investigate what caused the error. Most of the time, it is either a plugin that has not been maintained in the last couple of years or the custom theme that is no longer compatible with the latest PHP versions.
To make finding the issue a bit easier, you can:
- Disable plugins one by one to find the problem. Aim to start with smaller plugins, as more popular ones are usually compatible with the latest PHP versions
- If you find the plugin causing the issue, you might want to search for alternatives that offer the same functionality
- Bring in a developer to patch/update the plugins or investigate on your behalf
Bottom line
Keeping PHP updated isn’t just about performance – it’s about security, compatibility and peace of mind. While it’s tempting to ignore these kinds of server-level tasks, they’re crucial to keeping your site healthy and your visitors safe.
Next time you see that warning pop up in your dashboard, take a few minutes to check your PHP version. A quick update could save you hours of frustration down the road. If you find that your website is running an old PHP version and you are unsure how to proceed to keep your visitors safe, get in touch with the team at Engage Web today.
- Why you NEED to keep your PHP version updated - April 23, 2025
