How to Check Your PHP Version in WordPress (3 Methods)

The Significance of PHP for WordPress Websites

PHP, the scripting language that powers WordPress, is an indispensable component of your website’s functionality. This dynamic language undergoes frequent updates to enhance its capabilities, making it imperative for website owners to stay up-to-date with these releases. To ensure your website operates smoothly, it’s essential to determine your current PHP version.

Understanding PHP and its Relevance

PHP, a robust server-side scripting and programming language, is the backbone of your WordPress website. It seamlessly retrieves information from your database and serves it as HTML pages to visitors, displaying your content. Without PHP, your site simply won’t function as intended.

However, PHP is far from static; it undergoes constant evolution. These updates encompass critical elements like security patches, bug fixes, and performance enhancements. Neglecting to keep your PHP version current can potentially hamper your website’s performance, expose it to security vulnerabilities, and lead to occasional errors caused by bugs. Therefore, maintaining an up-to-date PHP version is paramount for your website’s health.

Before embarking on the journey to update your PHP, it’s crucial to assess whether your current version necessitates an upgrade. This evaluation begins with identifying your PHP version, a process that can be accomplished through various methods.

Checking Your PHP Version in WordPress: Three Approaches

Prior to verifying your PHP version, it’s beneficial to ascertain the latest PHP release to have a reference point. This knowledge will empower you to gauge the urgency of updating your PHP version. Let’s explore three accessible methods for checking your PHP version within the WordPress environment.

Method 1: Leveraging the Site Health Tool

The WordPress dashboard serves as your command center, granting you control over virtually all aspects of your website. Conveniently, you can ascertain your PHP version directly from your admin area, making this one of the simplest methods, ideal for newcomers to WordPress.

1. Begin by navigating to Tools > Site Health in your WordPress dashboard. Here, you will find a comprehensive report summarizing any issues related to your website’s status and performance.
2. As you scroll down the report, it may even alert you if your PHP version is outdated, prompting you to consider an update.
3. However, if your PHP version is up-to-date, this message might not appear. In this case, you can verify the release by clicking on Info and accessing the drop-down menu within the Server section.

Method 2: Accessing Your Hosting Control Panel

If, for any reason, you cannot access your WordPress dashboard, the previously mentioned method becomes inaccessible. In such situations, your web hosting provider’s control panel can provide an alternative solution. The process is relatively straightforward, although it may vary slightly depending on your hosting provider.

1. Locate your hosting provider’s control panel, which may be labeled as Software > MultiPHP Manager or Select PHP Version if your host uses cPanel.
2. Upon clicking the appropriate icon, you will be able to view your website’s current PHP version.
3. Additionally, you may have the option to update your PHP version to the latest release by selecting it from the drop-down menu.

Method 3: Utilizing a PHP File

The final method for determining your PHP version within the WordPress environment is slightly more technical and suitable for situations where access to the WordPress dashboard is restricted. We recommend pursuing this method only if the previous options are unavailable.

1. Begin by establishing an FTP connection to your website. If you’re new to FTP, consider using a user-friendly program like FileZilla.
2. Create a PHP file named phpversion.php using a text editor such as Notepad. Insert the following code and save the file:
3. Upload the newly created PHP file to the root directory of your WordPress website using FTP.
4. Access your PHP version by entering the URL “yourwebsite.com/phpversion.php” in your web browser. Replace “yourwebsite.com” with your actual domain name.

It’s important to note that after obtaining the necessary information, it’s advisable to delete the PHP file you created to prevent unauthorized access to your website’s details.

Conclusion: The Crucial Role of PHP in WordPress

In summary, PHP is the lifeblood of any WordPress website, driving its core functionality. Despite being an integral part of WordPress, PHP requires periodic maintenance to ensure optimal performance and security. Therefore, it’s imperative to stay informed about your website’s PHP version and consider an update if necessary.

To recap, you can easily check your PHP version in WordPress using any of the following methods:

1. Utilize the Site Health tool in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Access your hosting provider’s control panel.
3. Deploy a PHP file via FTP to uncover your PHP version.

By following these simple steps, you can ensure that your WordPress website operates smoothly and securely with the latest PHP version.