Your site is running an outdated version of PHP, WordPress PHP Upgrade Tutorial

Recently, websites using PHP versions below 8.3 have seen a prompt in the WordPress admin interface: „Your site is running an outdated version of PHP (7.4.33), which does not receive security updates and should be updated.“

This is because WordPress officially recommends using PHP version 8.3 as the minimum. Any version below 8.3 will trigger this update suggestion.

Impact of Not Upgrading to PHP 8.3

There are three main impacts of not upgrading your PHP version to 8.3:

1. Security

Official security support for PHP versions below 8.3 has ended, so you won't receive security patches, potentially exposing you to security risks.

2. Compatibility

Some plugins may follow WordPress's official lead and no longer be compatible with PHP versions below 8.3.

3. Performance

PHP 8.3 offers significant performance improvements compared to PHP 7.4, though the improvement over PHP 8.0 is not as substantial.

Should You Upgrade to PHP 8.3?

Whether you need to upgrade to PHP 8.3 depends on your current version, project status, maintenance needs, and desire for new features.

If some of the Themes or Plugins you are currently using are not yet compatible with PHP 8.3, upgrading to a higher PHP version could likely affect your website's normal operation. (If a plugin requires PHP 8.3, WordPress will also alert you.)

If your website is currently functioning normally and you are either too lazy or unsure how to handle this PHP upgrade, Naibabiji's advice is tobackup your websiteonce, then ignore this prompt. If issues arise later, restore from the backup and then figure out the upgrade.

How to Upgrade to PHP 8.3?

Upgrading the PHP version requires server support. For shared hosting providers we recommend, such as SiteGround and Hostinger, they support upgrading to PHP 8.3. However, if you are using some smaller providers, you may not be able to upgrade to the latest PHP 8.3.

Upgrading to PHP 8.3 on SiteGround

By default, SiteGround websites are set to use „Managed PHP,“ meaning SiteGround is responsible for selecting which PHP version to use. To manually switch the PHP version, follow these steps:

In the SiteGround Admin Dashboard, go to your website details page: Site Tools > Devs > PHP Manager > PHP Version

Click the pencil button next to it to open the PHP switching panel.

This completes the PHP version switch.

Upgrading PHP to 8.3 on Hostinger

First, go to the product website details page of your Hostinger purchase, and select PHP Configuration in the Dashboard.

On the PHP Configuration interface, select the PHP version you need to use, then click update.

Upgrading PHP to 8.3 on Baota Panel

If you built your website on a VPS you purchased yourself, you most likely have Baota Panel installed. You can use the following steps to upgrade to PHP 8.3.

First, go to the Software Store in the Baota Panel Admin Dashboard and install PHP 8.3.

After installation is complete, go to the website list, click on website settings, and switch to the PHP section.

Select the PHP 8.3 you just installed. (Why is there no 8.3 in the screenshot? Because Naiba is too lazy to upgrade now 🤣)

Note:Based on Naiba's experience, after switching PHP here, your website might become inaccessible or display incorrectly. If you encounter this issue and cannot resolve it, you cancontact Naiba for paid assistance。