How to Change Your PHP Version on WP Engine and Pressable

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A PHP upgrade is one of the cheapest speed boosts a WordPress site can get, and on managed hosts like WP Engine and Pressable it is a dropdown, not a server rebuild. The risky part is not the switch. It is the old plugin that throws a fatal error on the new version. Here is how to change PHP on both hosts and how to test first.

Why bother upgrading PHP

Newer PHP versions run WordPress faster with no code changes.
Old versions stop getting security fixes.
Your host will eventually move you anyway, on its schedule, not yours.

Changing PHP on WP Engine

WP Engine currently lists PHP 7.4, 8.2, and 8.4 (8.4 in beta for WordPress 6.7 and newer). 7.4 is on a temporary extended support period.

Open Sites in the User Portal and select the environment.
In the Updates section, click the PHP version number.
Choose the new version and click Confirm.

The change happens in place, with no downtime and no DNS changes. Each environment has its own PHP setting, and copying an environment does not copy its PHP version, so check staging separately.

Test drive before you switch

WP Engine’s PHP Test Driver lets you preview a different version without changing it for visitors. Click Preview PHP on the environment, log in to WP Admin, and a Test Drive banner confirms you are on the alternate version. Only your browser sees it. On multisite subsites you can add ?wpengine_php=8.2 to the URL while logged in as an admin.

Changing PHP on Pressable

Log in to MyPressable and open the site.
Choose the version from the PHP Version dropdown.
The change takes effect right away.

Pressable also lets you set a default PHP version for every new site on the account, and change PHP on many sites at once with Bulk Operations. That second one is handy for agencies, but only after each site has been tested.

A safe upgrade routine for either host

Copy production to staging (WP Engine, Pressable).
Update WordPress core, plugins, and themes on staging. Premium plugins often hide updates in WP Admin, so check with their vendors.
Switch staging to the new PHP version.
Click through the front end, checkout, forms, and the admin. Watch the error log.
If it is clean, switch production and repeat the quick check.

What if something breaks?

On WP Engine you can flip back to the previous version while it still exists on the server, but treat that as a stopgap. On Pressable, pick the old version from the same dropdown. Either way, the real fix is updating or replacing the plugin or theme that failed.

Forced upgrades

WP Engine supports each PHP version for about two years of full support, then critical security fixes only, and removes it after roughly three years. Sites still on a retired version get upgraded automatically, and that cannot be deferred. They email your technical contacts first, so keep those contacts current. Pressable offers current PHP releases too, so there is little reason to sit on an old one. Upgrading on your own timeline is less stressful.

Want PHP updates without the server work? Both of these hosts let you switch PHP versions from a dropdown and test on free staging first.

See WP Engine plans

FAQ

Does changing the PHP version cause downtime?

No. On both WP Engine and Pressable the switch happens in place. A plugin that is not compatible can still break the site, which is why testing on staging first matters.

Which PHP versions does WP Engine support?

WP Engine lists PHP 7.4 (on temporary extended support), 8.2, and 8.4 (beta, for WordPress 6.7 and newer).

Can I change PHP on many Pressable sites at once?

Yes. Pressable’s Bulk Operations feature can update the PHP version across multiple sites, and you can set a default version for new sites.