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How to Change Your PHP Version

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Every website on HubSeek can run its own PHP version, and you can switch it yourself from the control panel in about a minute. This guide covers which version to choose, how to change it, and what to do if something breaks.

What Is PHP?

PHP is the programming language that WordPress (and most websites) is built on. Think of it as the engine under the hood: your theme and plugins are the car, and PHP is what makes it move.

Like any engine, PHP gets upgraded over time. Newer versions are faster and get security fixes. Older versions eventually stop getting those fixes, which leaves your site exposed to problems that will never be patched.

Which Version Should I Use?

Use PHP 8.5. It’s been out for nearly a year, WordPress fully supports it, and it gets security fixes through 2029. If your theme or one of your plugins isn’t ready for 8.5 yet, use 8.4 until it is.

Why Newer Is Better

Each PHP version is supported for about four years: two years of improvements and bug fixes, then two years of security fixes only. After that, it reaches end of life (EOL), which means no more updates of any kind, even when a security hole is discovered.

Picking the newest version you can gives you:

  • Faster page loads. Each release makes PHP a little quicker.
  • Security fixes for longer. Your site stays protected years further out.
  • Fewer upgrades. You won’t need to come back and do this again for a while.
VersionSupported UntilWhat It Means
8.5Dec 31, 2029Recommended. The best choice for almost every site.
8.4Dec 31, 2028Fallback if your site isn’t ready for 8.5. Security fixes only after Dec 31, 2026.
8.3Dec 31, 2027Security fixes only. Upgrade away from this one.
8.2Dec 31, 2026Ending soon. Upgrade before then.
8.1 and olderAlready endedNo longer safe. Upgrade as soon as you can.

What about PHP 8.6? PHP 8.6 comes out November 19, 2026. We’ll add it to the control panel once it’s had a few updates to iron out early bugs, so for now 8.5 is the one to pick.

What Do “Latest” and “LTS” Mean?

In the control panel, you’ll see labels next to some versions. Latest marks the newest release. LTS (long-term support) marks versions that still receive updates, but it doesn’t tell you how much longer. PHP 8.2 is labeled LTS, for example, even though its support ends December 31, 2026. Use the table above to see where each version stands.

If your site was set up a while ago, it may still be on an older version. That’s common, and it’s exactly why this setting exists.

Before You Start

  • Make sure you have a recent backup. HubSeek backs up your site automatically every day, but it’s smart to make a manual backup right before a change like this. (See: Stay Safe: How to Back Up and Restore Your Website)
  • Update WordPress, your theme, and your plugins first. Most problems with newer PHP versions come from outdated plugins or themes, and updating them usually prevents the problem entirely.
  • Want to be extra careful? Clone your site to a staging copy, switch PHP there first, and make sure everything works before touching your live site. (See: Website Cloning and Staging)

How to Check Your Current Version

The quickest way is from inside WordPress:

  1. Log into your WordPress admin (usually yourdomain.com/wp-admin).
  2. Go to Tools → Site Health, then click the Info tab.
  3. Open the Server section and look for PHP version.

You can also see it in your control panel under Advanced → Developer tools, the same screen you’ll use to change it below.

How to Change Your PHP Version

  1. Log into your HubSeek control panel. Go to your client portal and open the control panel from there, or go directly to panel.hubseek.com.
  2. Click Websites in the left sidebar, then click the website you want to change.
  3. Click Advanced → Developer tools in the menu across the top of the page.
  4. Find the PHP section. Next to “Change the PHP version for your website,” the dropdown shows the version your site is using now.
  5. Choose the version you want from the dropdown (8.5, or 8.4 if your site isn’t ready for 8.5).
  6. Click Update in the confirmation box that pops up.

That’s it. The change applies on its own, so there’s no need to restart anything.

Tip: The Restart button in the PHP section is only needed if your site doesn’t seem to pick up a change. Restarting takes your site offline for a few seconds.

Check Your Site Afterward

Once the switch is done, take a few minutes to click around:

  • Visit your homepage and a few other pages.
  • Log into your WordPress admin and make sure the dashboard loads.
  • Test anything important, like contact forms, checkout, or member logins.

If everything looks normal, you’re done.

What If Something Breaks?

If you see a blank white page, or a message like “There has been a critical error on this website,” a plugin or theme probably isn’t compatible with the new version yet.

  1. Switch back to the version you had before, using the same steps above. Your site should come right back.
  2. Update the plugin or theme that’s causing the problem, if an update is available. Check your plugins page for anything marked out of date.
  3. Try the newer version again once everything is updated.

If you can’t tell which plugin is the culprit, open a support ticket and we’ll help you track it down.

What’s Next?

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