From 30 October 2026, only PHP 8.2 and later versions will be available on our web servers. Any websites 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 further details in our blog post ‘PHP versions below 8.2 will be phased out on 30 October 2026’.
These instructions apply to web hosting packages using the Plesk control panel. If you use KeyHelp, please follow the illustrated guide ‘View and change the PHP version in KeyHelp’. We recommend PHP 8.4.
Before making the switch: Back-up 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: Login to Plesk
In the customer area, under Web Hosting, open the hosting details and click on ‘Open Panel’. You will be taken to Plesk without having to perform another login.
Step 2: Check the current PHP version
Click on ‘Websites & Domains’ on the left-hand side. For each domain, the ‘PHP’ entry in the Dashboard section will show the version that is currently set (for example, ‘PHP 8.1’). Check all the domains and subdomains in your package: each one may have its own version.
Step 3: Open the PHP settings
Click on PHP or PHP settings for the relevant domain. At the top of the page, you will see the PHP Version field.
Step 4: Select a new version and apply it
In the ‘PHP version’ field, select version 8.4. If there is a suffix such as ‘Secured’ after the version number, this is irrelevant to you - the version number is what matters. Leave the execution type (for example, ‘FPM application’) unchanged. Click OK or Apply at the bottom.
Depending on your version of Plesk, the labels may vary slightly.
Step 5: Check whether the new version is active
Under ‘Websites & Domains’, the PHP entry will now show the new version. Then visit your website and test the key functions. You can also check the version using a test file, as described in the KeyHelp guide under ‘Optional: Check the version using a test file’ - to do this, place the file in the httpdocs and delete it again immediately afterwards.
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 will help you regain access to the admin panel.
- ‘Deprecated’ notices on the page: These are warnings, not errors. They disappear once the extensions have been 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.