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This article covers how to check and manage PHP on OpenSRS Cloud Hosting.
You can check your site's PHP version at any time, change it to another supported version from Hosting Manager, and go back if the new version causes problems. Newer PHP versions generally run faster and receive security fixes for longer, while an older version can be the safer choice when a plugin or theme has not been updated for the newest release.
How PHP versions work on Cloud Hosting
Hosting Manager shows PHP versions as a major.minor number, such as 8.4. You never need to track the patch number (the last digit in a full version like 8.4.24). Tucows Cloud Hosting applies patch updates for you automatically, so the site stays on the latest security and maintenance release of whichever version you choose. This also means that changing your PHP version is a decision about the major.minor release only.
Check your PHP version
Hosting Manager
- Log in to your Hosting Manager.
- Open the Overview tab to see PHP Version, or open the Settings tab and find PHP Version in the Site Information card.
If Hosting Manager shows Unknown with a warning icon, it could not detect your PHP version. This happens when the site's application is not detected. Hover over the icon to see the message. Contact support if the version does not appear after the site finishes loading.
WordPress Site Health
- In your WordPress dashboard, go to Tools -> Site Health.
- Click the Info tab.
- Expand Server. Your PHP version is listed there.
Change your PHP version
Before you start, read the notes in the next section. The change takes your site briefly offline, and some plugins or themes may not work on the new version.
- Log in to your Hosting Manager and open your site.
- Go to Settings.
- In the Site Information card, find PHP Version and click Change.
- In the Change PHP Version window, check that Current Version shows the version you expect.
- Open the New Version list and select the version you want.
- Leave Back up my site before changing PHP version selected. It is selected by default.
- Click Change PHP Version.
What to expect during and after the change
Your site is briefly unavailable while the change takes place, so visitors may see errors or a loading delay for a short time. Choose a quiet period for the change if your site gets steady traffic. Progress appears in the queue as a card titled PHP version change, which shows In Progress, Completed, or Failed. Every change is recorded in your Event Log.
Test your site after the change
Open your site and check the pages that matter most: the home page, any forms, checkout or login pages, and your WordPress admin dashboard. Plugin and theme problems are the most common result of a version change, and they usually show up as a blank white page, a critical error message, or a plugin that stops working. Tucows Cloud Hosting does not scan your plugins or themes for compatibility before the change, so testing afterward is the only check.
Roll back to your previous version
If your site misbehaves after a change, switch back to the version it ran on before:
- Go to Settings and click Change next to PHP Version.
- Select your previous version in New Version.
- Click Change PHP Version.
Troubleshooting
My site shows a white screen or critical error after I changed PHP. A plugin, theme, or custom code is not compatible with the new version. Change PHP back to your previous version, then update or replace the plugin or theme before trying again. If you cannot reach your WordPress dashboard, rename the plugin's folder over SFTP (see the SFTP Guide) to turn it off.
The Change button is missing or I can't open the form. A restore, import, or another PHP version change may be running on the site. Wait for it to finish, then try again. If the button is still missing, contact support.
My PHP version change says Failed. Your site stays on its previous version. Click Go to Settings in the queue card and try the change again. If it fails a second time, contact support and include the error message shown in the notification.
The version I want isn't in the list. Older PHP versions might have reached EOL and are currently not offered.
Can I schedule the change for later? Not at this time. The change starts when you click Change PHP Version.
Can I choose the PHP version when I first create my site? Not at this time. New sites start on a platform-selected version, and you can change it afterward.
Does the PHP version change when Tucows installs patch updates? No. Patch updates apply to the version you chose and do not change its major.minor number.
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