How-To Update PHP in WordPress
Updating your PHP version in WordPress can feel daunting, but if you have cPanel access through your hosting provider, and they do not provide PHP updates for you, use these step-by-step instructions to check your current version of PHP, and update it if needed. With cPanel access, it takes just a few clicks to make the update, but first, be sure to check with your current hosting provider as most of them provide PHP updates automatically.
Why should you keep your PHP updated in WordPress? Security. Newer versions of PHP fill in vulnerabilities that hackers may use to exploit your site and gain access to user data and control. Newer versions of PHP also have fewer bugs and run your website’s scripts more quickly, which will in and of itself improve not only the speed of your WordPress website, but the overall user experience as well.
How-To check your current PHP version
To find out what version of PHP your WordPress site is using, first you’ll want to find out what the most current version of PHP is. You can find that out here. *Note, you want to update your site only to the most current stable version of PHP. Once you’ve identified what version of PHP your WordPress site should be running, you can move on to finding out what version you are currently using.
1) Log into your Web Hosting Account’s Control Panel “cPanel”
2) Go to “Software”
3) Click “MultiPHP Manager”
*At the top of the page in “MultiPHP Manager” (see below) you will see the current PHP version running on your website.
Don’t want to update your own PHP? We’ll do it for you!
Included in all our hosting plans.
Updating Your PHP Version in WordPress
Once you’ve determined you need to update your PHP version to the current, stable version, it is fairly simple. Because most WordPress website owners usually have some kind of self-hosting plan through a web hosting provider and because most web hosting providers use cPanel dashboards for their web hosting clients, we will explain how to update your PHP version through cPanel.
Follow these steps to update your PHP –
1) Login to your hosting provider and navigate to your cPanel
2) Under cPanel, access MultiPHP Manager
3) Scroll down and view the domain(s) you want to update PHP for
Next Steps –
1) Select the latest version of PHP your hosting provider supports
2) Check the box next to the domain(s) you want to update
3) Click the Apply button and make sure you see the Success message
Congrats! You’ve just updated your PHP and increased your site security!
Let’s get started working together!
