How to Update PHP Version of WordPress Website Through cPanel (Step by Step)

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Is your WordPress website still running on an old PHP version? PHP is the programming language that runs WordPress, and every new version makes your site faster and more secure. The good news is that you can update PHP version in WordPress cPanel in just a few clicks, without touching any code.

Quick answer: Log in to cPanel, go to Software > MultiPHP Manager, tick the checkbox next to your domain, choose the new version from the PHP Version dropdown and click Apply. Then go to Tools > Site Health > Info > Server in WordPress to confirm the new version.

In this guide, we will walk you through the whole process with screenshots, from checking your current version and taking a backup to rolling back if something goes wrong.

Why Should You Update PHP Version of Your WordPress Website?

Every PHP version gets security fixes for a limited time only. Once a version reaches its end of life, no more security patches are released, and hackers can use known flaws to attack your website. A recent example is the PHP2Shell vulnerability, which affected sites running unpatched PHP versions.

Apart from security, newer PHP versions are faster, use less memory and are needed by the latest plugins and themes. So, keeping PHP up to date is just as important as keeping WordPress itself updated.

Which PHP Version Should WordPress Use?

According to the official WordPress requirements, WordPress recommends PHP 8.3 or higher. WordPress still works on PHP 7.4, but that version no longer gets any security updates.

Here are the current support dates for each PHP version from PHP.net supported versions.

PHP Version	Active Support Until	Security Fixes Until	Status
PHP 8.5	31 Dec 2027	31 Dec 2029	Supported (latest)
PHP 8.4	31 Dec 2026	31 Dec 2028	Supported
PHP 8.3	31 Dec 2025	31 Dec 2027	Security fixes only
PHP 8.2	Ended	31 Dec 2026	Security fixes only, ending soon
PHP 8.1 and older	Ended	Ended	End of life, do not use

For most WordPress websites, PHP 8.3 or PHP 8.4 is the safest choice. You can use PHP 8.5 if your theme and all your plugins support it.

How to Check Your Current PHP Version in WordPress

Before you change anything, note down the PHP version your site is using right now. This helps if you ever need to switch back.

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Hover over Tools and click on Site Health.
3. Click on the Info tab and open the Server section.
4. Look for the PHP version row.

You can read more about this screen in the WordPress Site Health documentation.

Things to Do Before You Update PHP

Before you switch to a new PHP version, take these simple precautions so your website does not break.

1. Create a Backup of Your Website

Create a complete backup of your files and database. You can use a backup plugin or the Backup tool in cPanel. In case something goes wrong, you can restore your website using that backup. If you are new to plugins, see our guide on how to add a plugin to WordPress website.

2. Update WordPress, Themes and Plugins

Older plugins and themes are the most common reason a site breaks after a PHP update. So, first update WordPress to the latest version and then update all your themes and plugins. You can also enable auto updates for themes and plugins so they stay up to date.

3. Check Plugin and Theme Compatibility

Open each plugin page on WordPress.org and check the Requires PHP field. The PHP Compatibility Checker plugin is no longer maintained, so use it only as a rough check and don’t fully rely on it.

4. Test on a Staging Site (Recommended)

If your host offers a staging site, change the PHP version there first and test your site. The WordPress Update PHP guide also recommends this step.

How to Update PHP Version in WordPress Through cPanel (MultiPHP Manager)

Now comes the main part. Most cPanel hosts use MultiPHP Manager, which lets you set the PHP version for each domain separately.

Step 1: Log in to cPanel

Log in to your hosting cPanel account. Usually you can open it at yourdomain.com/cpanel or from your hosting account dashboard. GoDaddy users can follow our guide on how to access cPanel in GoDaddy.

Step 2: Open MultiPHP Manager

Scroll down to the Software section and click on MultiPHP Manager.

Step 3: Select Your Domain

You will see a list of all domains on your account with their current PHP version. Tick the checkbox next to the domain where your WordPress website is installed.

Note: If a domain shows inherit, it is using the server default PHP version. Selecting a version yourself makes sure your site does not change when the host updates the default.

Step 4: Choose the New PHP Version

On the top right, open the PHP Version dropdown and select the version you want, for example PHP 8.4 (ea-php84) or PHP 8.5 (ea-php85).

If the version you want is not in the list, it is not installed on your server. In that case, contact your hosting provider.

Step 5: Click Apply

Click on the Apply button. cPanel will show a success message and the new PHP version will appear next to your domain. The change takes effect right away.

That’s it. You have updated the PHP version of your WordPress website through cPanel. For more details, see the official cPanel MultiPHP Manager documentation.

How to Change PHP Version Using Select PHP Version

Some hosts that use CloudLinux show Select PHP Version in the Software section instead of, or along with, MultiPHP Manager. Here’s how to use it.

1. Log in to cPanel and click on Select PHP Version under Software.
2. Your current version is marked as (current). Choose the new version from the dropdown.
3. Click Apply (or Set as current on some hosts).
4. Check the Extensions tab and make sure the extensions WordPress needs, like mysqli, curl, gd, mbstring and zip, are ticked.

Note: Select PHP Version changes PHP for your whole account, while MultiPHP Manager works per domain. Avoid the native option, as it is usually an old version. You can read more in this PHP Selector guide by WHC.

Check PHP Settings in MultiPHP INI Editor (Optional)

After a PHP update, some settings like memory_limit and upload_max_filesize can go back to default values. To check them, go to Software > MultiPHP INI Editor, select your domain and review the values. If uploads stop working, see our guide on how to increase the maximum upload file size.

How to Confirm the New PHP Version in WordPress

Now go back to your WordPress dashboard, open Tools > Site Health > Info > Server and check the PHP version row again. It should show the new version.

Also open your website in a private browser window and click through a few pages, your contact form and checkout (if you have one) to make sure everything works.

Troubleshooting After a PHP Update

White Screen or “There Has Been a Critical Error”

This usually means a plugin or theme is not compatible with the new PHP version. WordPress will send a recovery mode link to your admin email. Open that link, deactivate the plugin or theme causing the error, and then look for an update or replacement.

How to Roll Back to the Previous PHP Version

Go back to MultiPHP Manager, tick your domain, select the PHP version you noted earlier and click Apply. Your site will switch back immediately.

Site Still Shows the Old Version

Clear your cache plugin, Cloudflare cache (if you use it) and your browser cache, then check Site Health again.

MultiPHP Manager Is Missing in cPanel

If you can’t find MultiPHP Manager or Select PHP Version, your host has turned it off for your account. Contact your hosting support and ask them to update the PHP version for you.

Conclusion

Updating PHP version in WordPress through cPanel takes only a few minutes. Take a backup, update your plugins and themes, then use MultiPHP Manager to select the new version and click Apply. Finally, confirm it in Site Health. Running a supported PHP version keeps your website fast, secure and compatible with the latest plugins.

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