Why PHP Matters To You
PHP is the language WordPress is built on, and its version is set at the server-level by your hosting company. Keeping PHP up-to-date matters as much as keeping WordPress and your plugins up-to-date.
The two main benefits:
- Your website will be faster. Newer versions of PHP are significantly more efficient. Upgrading from an old version can deliver a major performance increase (up to several times faster for older releases).
- Your website will be more secure. PHP, like WordPress, is maintained by its community. Old PHP versions no longer receive security updates, leaving known vulnerabilities unpatched.
Secondary benefits:
- Faster sites are rewarded by search engines, so you rank higher in search.
- Faster sites retain visitors better, making them more effective.
- A more secure site is better protected against hackers, and the cost and reputational damage of a compromised site.
PHP version requirements for WP Cloud Plugins
The current versions of the WP Cloud Plugins require PHP 8.0 or higher and support up to PHP 8.4. Later PHP versions may work but haven't been fully tested.
If your hosting still runs PHP 7.4 or lower, you'll need to upgrade before you can install or update the plugin. PHP 7.4 itself reached end-of-life in November 2022, so upgrading is recommended for security reasons regardless of this plugin.
How to update your website's PHP version
Switching to a supported PHP version is usually a one-click action in your hosting control panel. A list of hosts with PHP update instructions is available here. Once your server runs PHP 8.0 or higher, you can install or update the plugin from your WordPress Plugin Dashboard.
Before you update your PHP version
Upgrading PHP is usually smooth, but not guaranteed. Some old themes or plugins may break on newer PHP versions. Before upgrading, check the official WordPress guide: wordpress.org/documentation/article/update-php.
If you're not sure which PHP version your server currently runs, see How do I check which PHP version I have?