Do you want to know how to update the PHP version in Cloudways hosting? Recently, I received an email from the Cloudways team stating that I need to upgrade my Server’s PHP version to prevent potential vulnerabilities.
You can see the notification email here!
After receiving this email notification, I immediately updated the PHP version of my Cloudways server. While implementing the PHP upgradation process, I wrote the step-by-step procedure and prepared a video tutorial for my blog readers.
Before getting into the detailed guidelines, let me explain why you need the latest PHP version on your hosting server so you can react instantly and take advantage.
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Table Of Contents
Reasons To Upgrade PHP Of Your Hosting Server
PHP is a well-known, server-side scripting language that serves over 75% of websites. You should use the latest version because,
1. To Block Security Loopholes
Older PHP versions have several security backdoors that would attract hackers to your site. Look at the stats of PHP vulnerabilities. Newer versions are encrypted for sensitive data.
2. To Improve Site Loading Speed
As you know, page load speed is one of the Google ranking factors. Recent PHP versions have reduced memory usage and low latency, improving your site speed.
3. To Utilize New Features
New features like Preloading, Spread operator in arrays, Weak references, Covariant returns & Parameters, and much more have been introduced for developers to build interactive web applications.
Step-by-Step Process To Update PHP Version In Cloudways
Cloudways is a simplified hosting service that offers lightning-fast cloud servers. It supports PHP 7.0 and the recent versions of PHP 8.0. Here are the comprehensive guidelines to change your Cloudways server’s PHP version.
Step 1: Log in to your Cloudways account by entering your registered email and password. Go to your server (refer to the image below).
Ensure your WordPress version is up to date so that we can avoid errors during the process, and your site will be visible without any issues.
Step 2: Now, click your server, then go to the “Settings & Packages” option.
Step 3: Once this is selected, we can change settings in Basic and Advanced, but we must select “Packages.” You can see that we are able to change the PHP version here!
Click the edit button (In the above image) to show the available PHP versions. You may pick the latest version!
Step 4: After selecting the version, you will get a warning message asking you to back up your site to avoid data loss.
Some of your applications might not be updated to the latest PHP version. So, take a copy of your site, and click “OK.“
Step 5: The process gets started! And during this time, if you check your site, you will get the message “Service Unavailable.”
Once the PHP update is complete, your site will be back up. This process will take some time, so you must wait for it to complete .
After the PHP version changes, you will get the “Package Updated” message at the top right.
Now, you can refresh your site and check whether it works fine after the PHP update, including the WordPress dashboard section.
If you are getting an error, contact the support team to resolve it. You may also try implementing the following fixes!
Common Issues After Updating PHP (And Fixes)
Here are common problems users face!
1. White Screen of Death
Cause – Incompatible plugin or theme
Fix:
- Disable plugins via File Manager or SFTP
- Enable them one by one
- Identify the incompatible plugin
2. Deprecated Function Errors
Cause – Plugin not compatible with PHP 8.x
Fix:
- Update the plugin
- Replace it with an alternative
- Contact the developer
3. Website Not Loading After Update
Fix:
- Restore backup
- Downgrade PHP temporarily
- Test plugins individually
Video Tutorial To Update Cloudways PHP Version
For easy and quick understanding, here is the video explanation on how to update the PHP version in Cloudways Server.
Cloudways PHP Update – Frequently Asked Questions
Will updating PHP In Cloudways Hosting break my site?
Yes, fewer chances are there! Your site may break due to compatibility issues, as we use several third-party plugins. So, taking a backup before changing your hosting server’s PHP version is better.
What happens if you don’t update the PHP version of your hosting server?
Getting top search engine rankings is challenging because of slow-loading web pages and a bad user experience. You will also open the door for intruders and malware through weak security.
How to Verify the PHP Update Was Successful
After upgrading:
1. Refresh Settings & Packages
2. Confirm the new PHP version is selected
3. Check your website front-end
4. Test login, checkout, contact forms
5. Run WordPress Site Health check
Wrapping Up
After WordPress 5.6 announced compatibility with PHP 8.0 in 2020, the Cloudways engineering team made the same availability available for optimal server performance and stability. The default version of their managed servers is 7.3; however, you can change it to 8.0 version!
So, you have learned how to update the PHP version in cPanel of Cloudways hosting for better security and superfast site performance. It’s a simple process; a single click completes the work in seconds. Spend a few minutes updating your server’s PHP version for better results.
