{"id":19837,"date":"2011-07-04T23:43:05","date_gmt":"2011-07-04T18:13:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/?p=19837"},"modified":"2026-10-15T19:12:58","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T13:42:58","slug":"find-wordpress-php-mysql-versions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/07\/find-wordpress-php-mysql-versions\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Check Your PHP and MySQL Version in WordPress (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In 2011, WordPress 3.2 raised its minimum requirements to PHP 5.2.4 and MySQL 5.0, and we used the Health Check plugin to confirm our server was ready (it was running PHP 5.2.16). That plugin&#8217;s checks are now built into WordPress as <strong>Site Health<\/strong>, so finding your <strong>PHP and MySQL version in WordPress<\/strong> takes seconds. Here&#8217;s how, and what versions you should run in 2026.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-64741\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/php-mysql-version-wordpress-1024x538.webp\" alt=\"Check PHP and MySQL version in WordPress\" width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/php-mysql-version-wordpress-1024x538.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/php-mysql-version-wordpress-300x158.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/php-mysql-version-wordpress-150x79.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/php-mysql-version-wordpress-768x403.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/php-mysql-version-wordpress.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> In your WordPress dashboard go to <strong>Tools &gt; Site Health &gt; Info<\/strong>. Open the <strong>Server<\/strong> section to see the PHP version and the <strong>Database<\/strong> section for the MySQL or MariaDB version. WordPress recommends a currently supported PHP 8.x release and MySQL 8.0+ or MariaDB 10.6+; if you&#8217;re on anything older, ask your host or switch versions in your hosting panel.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6adb05d482338\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6adb05d482338\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/07\/find-wordpress-php-mysql-versions\/#How_to_check_PHP_and_MySQL_versions\" >How to check PHP and MySQL versions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/07\/find-wordpress-php-mysql-versions\/#Method_1_Site_Health_easiest\" >Method 1: Site Health (easiest)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/07\/find-wordpress-php-mysql-versions\/#Method_2_Hosting_control_panel\" >Method 2: Hosting control panel<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/07\/find-wordpress-php-mysql-versions\/#Method_3_A_quick_PHP_file_advanced\" >Method 3: A quick PHP file (advanced)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/07\/find-wordpress-php-mysql-versions\/#Current_WordPress_requirements\" >Current WordPress requirements<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/07\/find-wordpress-php-mysql-versions\/#Before_upgrading_PHP\" >Before upgrading PHP<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/07\/find-wordpress-php-mysql-versions\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/07\/find-wordpress-php-mysql-versions\/#Which_PHP_version_is_best_for_WordPress\" >Which PHP version is best for WordPress?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/07\/find-wordpress-php-mysql-versions\/#Is_MariaDB_OK_instead_of_MySQL\" >Is MariaDB OK instead of MySQL?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/07\/find-wordpress-php-mysql-versions\/#Will_upgrading_PHP_break_my_site\" >Will upgrading PHP break my site?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_check_PHP_and_MySQL_versions\"><\/span>How to check PHP and MySQL versions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_1_Site_Health_easiest\"><\/span>Method 1: Site Health (easiest)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Go to <strong>Tools &gt; Site Health<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Click the <strong>Info<\/strong> tab.<\/li>\n<li>Expand <strong>Server<\/strong> for the PHP version, and <strong>Database<\/strong> for the server version (MySQL or MariaDB).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The Status tab also warns you if PHP is outdated.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_2_Hosting_control_panel\"><\/span>Method 2: Hosting control panel<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>cPanel (Select PHP Version \/ MultiPHP Manager), Hostinger hPanel (PHP Configuration) and Plesk all show and let you change the PHP version. phpMyAdmin shows the database server version on its home page.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_3_A_quick_PHP_file_advanced\"><\/span>Method 3: A quick PHP file (advanced)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Create a file with <code>&lt;?php phpinfo();<\/code>, open it in the browser, then delete it immediately, since it reveals server details.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Current_WordPress_requirements\"><\/span>Current WordPress requirements<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Check the official <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/about\/requirements\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">WordPress requirements page<\/a> for the latest numbers. In 2026 it recommends a supported PHP 8 release, MySQL 8.0 or MariaDB 10.6 or later, and HTTPS. Older versions may still run WordPress but miss security fixes and are slower.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Before_upgrading_PHP\"><\/span>Before upgrading PHP<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Take a full backup.<\/li>\n<li>Update WordPress core, themes and plugins first.<\/li>\n<li>Test on a staging site if your host offers one.<\/li>\n<li>After switching, check the site and look for errors; switch back if a plugin breaks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Running out of memory after an upgrade? See how to fix the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/06\/fix-allowed-memory-size-exhausted-errors-wordpress-3-upgrade\/\">allowed memory size exhausted error<\/a>. For the full process, see how to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/10\/upgrade-php-version-website\/\">upgrade PHP version in WordPress<\/a> safely.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_PHP_version_is_best_for_WordPress\"><\/span>Which PHP version is best for WordPress?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The newest PHP release your plugins support that is still receiving security updates.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_MariaDB_OK_instead_of_MySQL\"><\/span>Is MariaDB OK instead of MySQL?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes. MariaDB is a drop-in replacement and fully supported.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Will_upgrading_PHP_break_my_site\"><\/span>Will upgrading PHP break my site?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Usually not if everything is updated, but old plugins can fail. Back up first.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In 2011, WordPress 3.2 raised its minimum requirements to PHP 5.2.4 and MySQL 5.0, and we used the Health Check&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":64741,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6,25],"tags":[17],"class_list":["post-19837","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blogging","category-domain-hosting","tag-wordpress"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19837","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19837"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19837\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67389,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19837\/revisions\/67389"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64741"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19837"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19837"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19837"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}