In this article, we assume you have a PHP version older than 7.4 running on your existing server, which you would like to upgrade. Downgrading the PHP version has some limitations, so you can view which PHP versions you can upgrade or downgrade to currently.
Important Announcement for PHP Older Versions
Available versions of PHP include PHP 5.6, 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 8.0, and 8.1 but 5.6, 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3 versions are deprecated as of August 15th, 2022. As a result, new and existing servers with default PHP 7.4 or newer versions can upgrade or downgrade to non-deprecated versions (PHP 7.4, 8.0, and 8.1) but can not downgrade to deprecated versions (PHP 5.6, 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3).
Existing servers with deprecated versions will continue to work for the time being. The deprecated versions will reach the end of life on February 28th, 2023; therefore, you are requested to upgrade to the latest version. Please refer to Cloudways deprecation process and policy for more details.
Please note that PHP 7 requires Debian 8 or greater, and it does not work with the older Debian versions such as Debian 7.
Important
When upgrading to PHP 7.x, your application packages will not be updated automatically, so please ensure that your application/code is fully compatible with your selected PHP version.
Also, take server backup before updating the PHP version, so if your application(s) run into any issues, you can always restore your application(s) and revert to the previous PHP version.
Supported PHP Versions
Cloudways currently only supports PHP 7.4, 8.0, and 8.1, and the rest of the versions are deprecated, as explained in the earlier announcement.
If you use a PHP version older than PHP 7.4, you can only upgrade to the on-deprecated versions, e.g., PHP 7.4, 8.0, and 8.1. We have explained the same in the below table.
PHP Version | Upgradable to |
PHP 5.6 | PHP 7.4 and higher |
PHP 7.0 | PHP 7.4 and higher |
PHP 7.1 | PHP 7.4 and higher |
PHP 7.2 | PHP 7.4 and higher |
PHP 7.3 | PHP 7.4 and higher |
PHP 7.4 | PHP 8.0 and higher |
PHP 8.0 | Can be downgraded to PHP 7.4 |
PHP 8.1 | Can be downgraded to PHP 8.0 or lower |
How to Upgrade PHP Version
Step #1 — Navigate to Server Packages
Log in to your Cloudways Platform using your email address and password.
From the top menu bar, open Servers.
Then, choose your desired server.
3. Under Server Management, select Settings & Packages.
4. Choose the Packages tab.
Step #2 — Upgrading to PHP 7.x
Edit the PHP version.
2. Choose your desired PHP version.
3. Next, click Save.
4. You will be shown a warning to check if all your web applications are compatible with your selected PHP version. If you have followed all the required steps and want to pursue them, click Ok.
You have successfully upgraded the PHP version. Similarly, you can also downgrade to a different PHP version as well. Also, see the PHP modules of your chosen PHP version.
That’s it! We hope this article was helpful. If you need any help, then feel free to search your query on Cloudways Support Center or contact us via chat (Need a Hand > Send us a Message). Alternatively, you can also create a support ticket.