How to Downgrade PHP Version In WordPress: 2 Quick Methods

A PHP version change is supposed to improve your site. Not break it. But here you are, dealing with unexpected errors and security issues. Your once-reliable plugins are suddenly acting up.

The root cause is a PHP version conflict. You’ve tried troubleshooting, but you haven’t solved the core issue.

We created our guide for this exact situation. We’ll show you how to downgrade PHP version in WordPress correctly and get your site running smoothly again.

TL;DR: Downgrading your PHP version in WordPress can fix issues from recent updates but comes with risks like security vulnerabilities and compatibility problems. Always backup your site and check plugin and theme compatibility on a staging site before making changes.

☄️ Note: A complete WordPress backup is non-negotiable before you touch any server settings. This is your safety net if something goes wrong.

Before we start, let’s be clear on a few things. Your site runs on PHP, and downgrading is a last-resort fix for plugin or theme issues. We see it as a temporary patch, not a long-term solution, because older versions are less secure. Crucially, PHP is a server setting controlled by your host, limiting you to the versions they provide.

The hidden risks of downgrading PHP version in WordPress

Your site is broken, and you just want it fixed now. While downgrading your PHP version seems like the quickest solution, it comes with some serious strings attached. Here’s why you need to be careful.

The time and effort needed to fix all these new problems can be huge. Think of this as a temporary patch. Your real goal is to get your site stable so you can find and fix the root cause, which is almost always an outdated theme or plugin.

Prerequisites

Before you touch any server settings, we need to do a little prep work. Honestly, skipping these steps is how a small problem turns into a big one:

How to downgrade PHP version in WordPress

Downgrading your site’s PHP version happens in your hosting account, not in WordPress. The specific steps will look a little different depending on your provider. But the idea is always the same.

We’ll walk you through two of the most common methods. Just remember, some hosts might not let you change this at all. If you don’t see these options, you’ll need to contact their support.

A) Via hosting control panel

We’ll use Cloudways for this example, though the process is similar on most modern hosts. This is a perfect example of why choosing your WordPress host carefully is so important. The right provider makes tasks like this simple and safe.

Log in and select your server. First, log into your Cloudways account. Go to the Servers section at the top. Find the server where your WordPress site is hosted and click on it.

Find your server’s settings. On the server management screen, look for Settings & Packages. Inside that area, click on the Packages tab to see your software versions.

Change to your desired PHP version. You will see a dropdown menu for PHP. Click it and select the older version you need. Be careful here. Don’t go back further than you have to. Once you’ve chosen it, click Save.

Verify the change and test your website. The server needs a few minutes to apply the change. After that, open your website. Click through a few pages and test key functions to make sure everything works. Keep an eye on your site for any new WordPress errors.

B) Via cPanel

Now let’s look at a more common method. Many hosts use a popular tool called cPanel. Even if your host uses something else, like Plesk, the steps will be very similar.

Go to the MultiPHP Manager. Log into your cPanel dashboard. Scroll down until you see the Software section. Look for an icon named MultiPHP Manager and click it.

Choose the correct domain. You’ll see a list of all the domains on your account. Use the checkbox to select the specific website you’re fixing. A quick tip: if you have multiple sites, double check that you’ve selected the right one.

Select the new PHP version and apply it. On the right, you’ll see a dropdown menu labeled PHP Version. Select the version you need from the list. Then, click the Apply button to save your change.

Test your website thoroughly. Just like before, give it a minute and then check your site. Make sure your plugins and theme are all working as expected. Test any forms or special features you have.

When should you downgrade your PHP version

Normally, we’d tell you to always use the latest stable PHP version. It’s faster and more secure. But we also know that sometimes, things just break. Here are the few situations where it might make sense.

Even in these cases, remember the risks we talked about. This is a short-term fix. Always have a full backup before you make any changes. Your long-term goal should be to update the incompatible part of your site so you can use modern, secure PHP.

Troubleshooting common issues

The whole point of downgrading your PHP version is to get something to work. But sometimes, you might run into a few issues. Don’t worry; here’s how you can troubleshoot some common problems:

Site still shows errors after downgrade: If your site is still showing errors, like the white screen of death or the 500 internal server error, don’t panic. First, try clearing your site’s cache and your browser cache like you did in the pre-steps. 

This helps get rid of any old, stored versions of your site that might be causing trouble. Next, make sure your web server has successfully applied the downgrade. If needed, restart the server to ensure everything takes effect.

Plugins or themes not functioning correctly: If some plugins or themes aren’t working right, they might have gotten a bit messed up during the downgrade. Try deactivating and reactivating the affected plugins or themes. Alternatively, contact customer service to see how they can help with your compatibility issues.

Loss of custom code functionality: If custom code or scripts you added to your site aren’t working, review and test them to make sure they’re compatible with the downgraded PHP version. Sometimes, custom code needs a bit of tweaking to work with older PHP versions. If you’re not sure how to fix it, consult the developer who provided the custom code for assistance.

Performance issues: If your site is running slowly, monitor its performance closely. Consider optimizing your database, enabling a caching plugin, and using a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to improve load times. Also, check for any resource-intensive scripts or plugins that might be causing slowdowns and address those issues.

Parting thoughts

Ensuring PHP compatibility is crucial for maintaining your WordPress site’s performance and security. Downgrading PHP can often resolve issues that arise from incompatibility after an update.You Could also consider adjusting your PHP time limit if you encounter persistent issues.

Always remember to back up your site and check theme and plugin compatibility to minimize risks. These steps are essential in preventing potential problems.

After downgrading PHP, it’s critical to test your site thoroughly. Make sure that all functionalities, themes, and plugins work as expected. This way, you can be sure that the downgrade has fixed the problems without introducing new ones.

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