Your hosting runs a specific version of PHP, and that version matters more than it sounds: it affects your site's speed, security and whether your software keeps working at all.
Why the version matters
- Speed: each major PHP release makes common websites run faster with no effort on your part.
- Security: PHP releases get security patches for a limited window ("active support", then "security-only"). Once a version reaches end of life, it's no longer patched — running it is a growing risk.
- Compatibility: new WordPress and plugin versions drop support for old PHP versions, so staying behind eventually bricks updates.
Which version should you run?
Run the newest PHP version your site's software supports. For a WordPress site:
- Check WordPress recommends PHP
7.4or later (newer is better). - Confirm your theme and active plugins are compatible — most are, but a niche plugin may lag.
- Prefer a release still receiving security support over an "end of life" one.
Changing your PHP version in cPanel
- Log into cPanel.
- Open Select PHP Version (under Software).
- Choose the new version from the dropdown and click Set as current. You can also enable/disable PHP extensions here (for example, to turn on an extension a plugin needs).
Before you switch: back up first (manual backup), then test the site after the change. If something errors, switch back to the previous version — it's instantly reversible. Errors to look for are in Common PHP Errors.
Whole account or single site?
Select PHP Version sets it for the whole account. If you host several sites needing different versions, mention it to support — per-domain PHP can often be arranged so one domain moves forward without disturbing the others.