From 30 October 2026, only PHP 8.2 and later versions will be available on our web servers. Any domains still using PHP 5.x, 7.x, 8.0 or 8.1 at that time will be automatically upgraded to PHP 8.4 on that date. You can find more information in our blog post ‘PHP versions below 8.2 will be phased out on 30 October 2026’.
Use these instructions to check for yourself which version your domains are using and to make the switch at your leisure - at a time of your choosing. We recommend PHP 8.4; if PHP 8.5 is quoted in your Control Panel and your application supports this version, you may also choose PHP 8.5.
Before making the switch: Backups and compatibility
Upgrading to a new version of PHP is usually straightforward for most current applications. However, older themes, plugins or code you have written yourself may cause errors. You should therefore proceed as follows:
- Create a backup: Back up your files and database before upgrading - using the Control Panel’s backup function or your application’s backup plugin.
- Update your application: Update WordPress, Shopware, TYPO3, Joomla and similar platforms, including themes, plugins and extensions, to the latest versions. Check the manufacturer’s system requirements to see from which version PHP 8.4 is supported.
- Switch over and test: Switch to the new PHP version and check the homepage, login page, forms and - for online shops - the checkout process.
Step 1: Perform the login to the Control Panel
In the customer area, under Web Hosting, open the hosting details and click on ‘Open Panel’. You’ll be taken to KeyHelp without having to perform another login. Find out more in ‘Your Web Hosting at a Glance’.
Step 2: Check the current PHP version
In the menu on the left, under ‘Domains’, click on ‘Domains’. The ‘PHP version’ column shows the version set for each domain. If ‘Standard’ is also shown there, the domain is using the server’s default version. Check all domains and subdomains: each one may have its own version.
Step 3: Edit the domain and open the ‘Interpreter’ tab
Click on the pencil icon (Edit) in the domain’s row. Switch to the ‘Interpreter’ tab at the top. The ‘PHP Interpreter’ field shows the currently selected version.
Step 4: Select a new version and save
Open the drop-down menu and select Default - PHP 8.4 or, if available and supported by your application, PHP 8.5. The exact sub-version (for example, 8.4.27) may vary - we keep it up to date with security updates.
If you have subdomains, tick the box to perform the PHP interpreter transfer to all subdomains. This applies once to all existing subdomains. Then click Save.
KeyHelp confirms the change with the message “The domain … has been updated”. As long as the tool icon (“In progress”) appears in the row, the server is setting up the new version. This usually takes less than a minute.
Step 5: Check whether the new version is active
Refresh the domain list after a short while. If the status icon is green again and the new version is shown in the ‘PHP version’ column, the upgrade is complete. Then visit your website and test the key functions.
Optional: Check using a test file
If you want to be absolutely sure, create a file with a random name in the File Manager within your domain’s directory (for example /www) a file with a random name, such as pruefung-7f3k.php, with the following content:
<?php phpinfo(); ?>Open the file in your browser (https://ihre-domain.de/pruefung-7f3k.php). The active PHP version is shown at the top.
Delete the test file straight away
The phpinfo output reveals a great deal of information about your environment. Delete the file in the File Manager immediately after checking it.
Common errors after switching
- A blank page or a ‘500 Internal Server Error’: This is usually caused by an out-of-date plugin or theme. Update or deactivate it; in WordPress, renaming the plugin folder via FTP can help you regain access to the admin panel.
- ‘Deprecated’ notices on the page: These are warnings, not errors. They disappear once the extensions are updated; in a live environment, error display should be disabled.
- ‘Call to undefined function’: The code uses functions that no longer exist in newer versions of PHP (for example
mysql_*oreach()). The only solution here is to update the application or modify the code. - Shop or CMS reports “PHP version not supported”: The installed application is too old for PHP 8.4. Update the application first and then switch over.
If you get stuck, temporarily set PHP to version 8.2 or 8.3 and contact our support team. Please use this time to update your application: PHP 8.2 will only receive security updates until 31 December 2026.