PHP is the software that runs WordPress. Newer PHP versions are faster and more secure, but a very old plugin or theme may not support the newest one. You can change an environment’s PHP version from the Settings tab.
Before you start
– Your environment must be Active.
– Test on staging first if you can. If you have a Create a staging environment, change its PHP version and check your site there before doing the same on production. (You don’t need a backup for this — backups capture your files and database, not the PHP setting, so switching versions doesn’t put your content at risk. If a page misbehaves, just switch the version back.)
Steps to change your site’s PHP version
- Go to the Settings tab.
2. Open the Container drop-down and choose your PHP version — for example, PHP 8.3.
3. Click Save.
“Container” = your PHP runtime. The dashboard calls the PHP version a Container. Choosing a different container swaps the PHP version your site runs on.
What happens next
When you save, the environment briefly re-provisions onto the new version. The status shows Processing… and then returns to Active. Your site stays available throughout; the switch takes effect as the change is applied.
Once it’s back to Active, browse a few pages — especially your most complex ones — to confirm everything still works on the new version.
