# My web host is removing old PHP versions. What do I do? Source: https://dijituldns.co.uk/guides/host-removing-old-php-versions/ Updated: 2026-10-08 > When a host removes an old PHP version, check which version your site uses, take a full backup, then test it on a newer PHP. If it breaks, update the code or move to a host that still supports it. dijitul hosting runs older PHP versions where safely possible and moves your site for £1 a day + VAT. ## Key facts - PHP 5.6, 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3 and 7.4 no longer receive official security support from the PHP project. - Code written for PHP 5 often fails on PHP 7 or 8 because functions such as mysql_connect were removed. - Typical symptoms after a forced upgrade are a white page, a 500 error or deprecated function warnings. - Plesk allows a PHP version to be set per domain, so one old site does not hold back others. - dijitul Complete Hosting is £1 a day + VAT and includes migration and older PHP versions where safely possible. ## Why hosts remove old PHP versions PHP is the programming language behind WordPress, Joomla, Magento, OpenCart and many custom sites. Each PHP version gets security fixes for a limited time. After that, the PHP project stops patching it. Hosts remove old versions to keep shared servers simple and secure. That is reasonable, but it means any site that relies on an old version can break on the day of the switch. You usually get an email with a deadline, and sometimes very little notice. ## Step 1: find out what your site actually uses - Log in to your hosting control panel and look for "PHP version", "PHP settings" or "Select PHP version". - Note the version for each domain, for example PHP 5.6 or PHP 7.4. - Check which software and version the site runs: WordPress 4.x, Joomla 3, an old shop or custom code. - Write down any PHP extensions that are switched on, especially ionCube Loader, mysqli, soap and gd. If you have no access to the panel, your host can tell you. If you have lost track of the person who built the site, see our guide on [what to do when your web developer disappears](https://dijituldns.co.uk/guides/web-developer-disappeared/). ## Step 2: back up and test on a newer PHP - Take a full backup: files and database. Download a copy to your own computer. - If your host offers a staging copy, create one. Otherwise test on a quiet day. - Switch to the next PHP version up, not straight to the newest. For example, 5.6 to 7.4 before 8.x. - Click through the site: home page, contact form, login, checkout and admin area. - If anything fails, switch back and note the error message. Common fixes include updating the CMS core, updating or replacing old plugins and themes, and replacing removed functions in custom code. A developer can often fix small issues in a few hours. ## Common errors after a PHP upgrade - **"Call to undefined function mysql_connect()"**: the old mysql extension was removed in PHP 7. The code needs updating to mysqli or PDO. - **"each() is deprecated" or "create_function() is deprecated"**: these functions were removed in PHP 8. Plugins or themes that use them need updating. - **A white page with no message**: a fatal error is being hidden. Turn on error logging in your control panel and check the log. - **"ionCube Loader needs to be installed"**: encoded software needs a Loader that matches the PHP version. Some old encoded files only run on older PHP. - **Memory errors**: raise memory_limit in php.ini or the panel's PHP settings, for example to 256M. ## Step 3: choose your route | Situation | Sensible route | | Site works on the newer PHP | Stay put and keep the CMS updated. | | Small errors, code is fixable | Pay a developer to update it, then upgrade PHP. | | Too old or costly to fix now | Move to a host that still runs the older PHP version safely, and plan a rebuild. | | Site is no longer needed | Archive a backup and close it down. | Moving to keep an old PHP version is not giving up. It buys you time to rebuild properly instead of in a panic. ## How dijitul helps dijitul runs Plesk servers where the PHP version can be set per domain, including older versions where safely possible. Your site sits on the version it needs while we keep the server around it updated, backed up and monitored. [Complete Hosting](https://dijituldns.co.uk/complete-hosting/) is **£1 a day + VAT** and includes migration, daily backups, free SSL, Cloudflare DNS and one domain registration or renewal a year. If the site needs a code fix to get going, we can quote for that too. See [legacy PHP hosting](https://dijituldns.co.uk/legacy-php-hosting/) and [PHP 5 hosting](https://dijituldns.co.uk/php-5-hosting/), or [order now](https://clients.dijitul.uk/order). ## FAQs ### What happens to my website when my host removes PHP 7.4? Your site will be moved to a newer version, usually PHP 8.x. Sites with up-to-date code keep working. Older themes, plugins or custom scripts may show errors, a blank page or a 500 error. Test on PHP 8 before the deadline so you know what will happen and can fix it in advance. ### How do I check which PHP version my website uses? Look in your hosting control panel under PHP settings or PHP version. In WordPress, go to Tools, then Site Health, then Info, then Server. You can also upload a small file containing phpinfo() and open it in a browser, but delete it straight afterwards because it reveals server details. ### Is it safe to run a website on an old PHP version? It carries more risk, because old versions no longer get security patches. The risk can be reduced by keeping the site isolated on its own PHP handler, running daily backups, using a web application firewall such as Cloudflare, and keeping the site's own software as up to date as the PHP version allows. ### Which UK host still supports old PHP versions? dijitul hosting supports older PHP versions where safely possible on managed Plesk servers. Complete Hosting costs £1 a day + VAT and includes moving your site, daily backups, free SSL and UK support. It is run by DIJITUL LTD, a UK company trading since 2006. ### Can I upgrade PHP without breaking my site? Often, yes. Back up first, update your CMS, plugins and themes, then move up one PHP version at a time and test the key pages. If something breaks, switch back and fix the specific error. Plesk lets you change the PHP version per domain in a few clicks, which makes testing easy. ### How long does it take to fix a site for PHP 8? A well-maintained WordPress or Joomla site may need only updates and an hour of testing. Custom code or old shops can take a day or more, depending on how many removed functions are used. A developer can usually estimate after looking at the error log on a test copy. ## Pricing and ordering dijitul Complete Hosting is £1 a day + VAT (£365 a year + VAT). Order at https://clients.dijitul.uk/order?product=complete-hosting&ref=dijituldns&src=host-removing-old-php-versions or call 01623 650333.