This guide explains how to access cPanel through the Domains.co.za Customer Portal and change the PHP versions for your WordPress Hosting package.
PHP is the programming language that powers much of WordPress and is an important part of how your website processes content and functionality. Keeping PHP updated can improve your website’s performance, security and compatibility with newer versions of WordPress, themes and plugins.
Domains.co.za WordPress Hosting allows you to manage the PHP version used by your hosting environment through the hosting control panel. Changing the PHP version can be useful when a WordPress installation, plugin or theme requires a specific PHP version, or when you wish to move to a newer supported version.
Before changing the PHP version on a live website, it is important to check that your WordPress installation, themes and plugins are compatible with the version you intend to use. An incompatible theme or plugin can cause errors or prevent parts of your website from working correctly.
WordPress relies on PHP to run many of the processes behind your website. The PHP version selected for your hosting account determines which version of PHP is used to process your WordPress website.
Using an older PHP version can eventually result in issues with compatibility, security and performance, particularly when WordPress, plugins and themes are updated to support newer PHP releases. Using a current, supported PHP version is therefore recommended where your website is compatible with it.
If you are changing PHP versions because of a specific WordPress plugin or theme, check the developer’s requirements before making the change. It is also recommended that you create a backup of your website before making significant changes to its hosting environment.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
How to Change the PHP Version
1. Login to the Domains.co.za Customer Portal.
2. Open the Manage Services dropdown menu.
3. Choose Web Hosting if the domain is linked to a hosting service.
4. Click Manage next to the domain linked to your WordPress Hosting package.
5. Click Login next to Control Panel to access cPanel.
6. Locate Software in cPanel and choose Select PHP Version.
7. Select the domain for which you wish to change the PHP version.
8. Choose the required PHP version from the available PHP versions.
9. Click Apply to save the new PHP version.
10. Wait for the change to be applied to the selected domain.
11. Open your WordPress website in a new browser window and check that the website is working correctly.
12. Test important areas of the website, including the homepage, contact forms, login functionality and any ecommerce features.
13. If your website develops compatibility issues after changing the PHP version, return to MultiPHP Manager and select the previous PHP version while you investigate the cause.
How to Check Your PHP Version in WordPress
You can also check the PHP version being used by your WordPress website from the WordPress Dashboard.
1. Login to your WordPress Dashboard.
2. Open Tools and select Site Health.
3. Click Info.
4. Expand the Server section.
5. Locate PHP version information to see which version your website is currently using.
This can be useful when troubleshooting compatibility issues or checking whether your website is running the PHP version recommended by your hosting environment.
Additional Information
- PHP is an important component of WordPress because it processes the server-side code required to generate and display your website.
- Keeping PHP updated can provide security, performance and compatibility benefits when your WordPress website supports the newer version.
- You should check the PHP requirements of your WordPress version, plugins and themes before changing the PHP version.
- A PHP version change can affect website functionality if a plugin or theme contains code that is not compatible with the selected version.
- It is recommended that you create a current backup of your WordPress website before changing the PHP version.
- Testing the website after changing PHP is important because some compatibility problems may only become apparent when particular website functions are used.
- If your website stops working correctly after a PHP version change, reverting to the previous version can help determine whether PHP compatibility is responsible for the problem.
- WordPress plugins and themes should also be kept updated, because developers regularly release compatibility and security improvements.
- Avoid selecting an outdated PHP version simply because an older plugin or theme requires it. Instead, check whether the plugin or theme can be updated or replaced with a compatible alternative.
- PHP versions have different support lifecycles, so the versions available in cPanel may change as older versions reach end-of-life and newer versions become available.
- Changing the PHP version for one domain does not necessarily mean that the PHP version for every other domain on the hosting account will be changed. Ensure that you select the correct domain before applying the change.
- If you are unsure which PHP version your WordPress website should use, check the requirements of your WordPress installation and its active plugins and themes before making the change.
- If you experience errors after changing PHP and cannot resolve them by reverting the version, contact the Domains.co.za Support Team for assistance.
Login to Domains.co.za Account
1. Go to the Domains.co.za website Account Login page.
2. Enter your Email and Password and click the Sign In button.
3. You will see the Domains.co.za Dashboard, displaying the Manage Account menu on the left and your Account Information, Account Overview and Open Support Tickets on the right.
