Cloudways has recently added support for PHP 8.3. Using PHP 8.3 can lead to slight performance improvements compared to version 8.2. Sites that work well with PHP 8.2 should generally function without issues when upgraded to 8.3. However, if your PHP version is 7.4 or lower, upgrading to the latest version might cause compatibility issues due to outdated themes or plugins. Most problems can be resolved by updating WordPress, themes, and plugins to their latest versions.
FastComet, a cost-effective web hosting service, also supports PHP 8.3.
PHP Versions with Security Support
As of July 2024, PHP versions 8.1, 8.2, and 8.3 are currently receiving security support (refer to Supported Versions).
For WordPress sites, it's advisable to use PHP 8.0 or higher, with a minimum of 7.4 required for proper site functionality. Some themes or plugins may have minimum PHP requirements. For example, Contact Form 7, a popular WordPress contact form plugin, only works with PHP 7.4 or higher and does not function with PHP 7.3 or lower.
Reasons to Use and Not Use the Latest PHP Version
Using the latest PHP version helps enhance security and improve performance (speed). Additionally, newer versions provide new features and improved code compatibility, increasing development efficiency.
Therefore, it's generally desirable to use the latest PHP version for speed and security.
However, in the following cases, using the latest PHP version might cause your site to malfunction:
- If you're using an older WordPress version
- If you're using themes or plugins that haven't been updated for a long time
I've recently been working on migrating WordPress sites running on PHP 5.6 or PHP 7.4 and below to hosts like SiteGround or Cloudways.
Sites with outdated PHP versions typically have lower versions of WordPress, themes, and plugins. Applying PHP 8.2 or PHP 8.3 to such sites is likely to cause them to stop functioning. In these cases, two options can be considered:
- Apply PHP 7.4 while maintaining the current versions of WordPress core, themes, and plugins, or
- Update WordPress, themes, and plugins to their latest versions and apply PHP 8.2 or 8.3.
For long-term safe operation of the site, the second method is preferable. However, there might be situations where updating the site to the latest version isn't possible. In such cases, you may have to continue using the site without updates, accepting the security risks involved.
PHP 8.3 Now Available on Cloudways: Version Upgrade Guide
Cloudways added support for PHP 8.3 on July 3, 2024.
I had contacted Cloudways at the end of last year to inquire about adding support for PHP 8.3. At that time, I received a general response stating that they were working diligently on it and would add PHP 8.3 support once testing was completed. It actually took more than half a year for it to be implemented.
Switching to PHP 8.3 can be advantageous for security and site speed. However, if WordPress core, themes, and plugins haven't been updated for a long time, there's a risk of site errors occurring after changing to the latest PHP version.
How to Change PHP Version
You can change the PHP version by following these steps:
1 Before changing the PHP version, it's reassuring to back up your site. You can perform a backup at the server level, or if you have a single site, you can use a WordPress plugin for backup.
2 Log in to Cloudways, then select the server for which you want to change the PHP version from the server list.
3 When the Server Management page is displayed, click on Settings & Packages and select the Packages tab. You can then select the PHP version in the PHP section.
Unlike some web hosting services that require server changes and site backup/restoration when changing the PHP version, Cloudways allows you to change the PHP version directly without server changes, eliminating the need for restoration.
Please select your desired PHP version from the Modify dropdown. The following PHP versions are supported:
- PHP 7.4
- PHP 8.0
- PHP 8.1
- PHP 8.2
- PHP 8.3
If PHP 8.3 is not displayed, try restarting the server and attempt again.
4 After selecting the PHP version, a Warning popup will appear.
It recommends checking if all plugins on the server are compatible with the selected PHP version and suggests taking an on-demand server-level backup before upgrading. The ionCube component is reportedly not yet compatible with PHP 8.3 and above.
Click Continue to start the PHP change process. This may take some time, so please be patient.
5 Once the PHP version change is complete, the updated PHP version will be displayed.
If you're using WordPress, you can check the PHP version in the WordPress admin page » Tools » Site Health » Info tab » Server section.
For sites using the latest versions of WordPress, themes, and plugins, upgrading to PHP 8.3 should work without issues in most cases. I've applied PHP 8.3 to several sites, including this WordPress blog, and encountered no problems.
If Errors Occur After Changing PHP Version
If errors occur on your site after changing the PHP version, first check the error messages or symptoms to address them appropriately.
In many cases, plugin conflicts can be the cause. You can update or delete the problematic plugins.
If a less important plugin is causing conflicts, you can delete it or replace it with an alternative plugin. However, if an important plugin or theme is causing issues, you may need to contact the plugin developer or theme developer to attempt to resolve the problem. If the issue cannot be resolved through various methods, you may need to revert to the previous PHP version.