Change PHP Version in FlyWP Site

This guide explains how to update the PHP version for a site in FlyWP.

Navigate to Site Settings

1. Log in to your FlyWP dashboard
2. Go to Sites
3. Select the target site
4. Click on Settings from the left sidebar
5. Open the PHP Settings tab

Change PHP Version

1. Locate the PHP Version dropdown
2. Select the desired version (e.g., 8.1, 8.2, etc.) and click on Save.

FlyWP will automatically reconfigure PHP-FPM for the selected version.

Important Considerations

Compatibility

• Ensure your application (e.g., WordPress, plugins, themes) supports the selected PHP version
• Upgrading to PHP 8.x can break outdated plugins

Performance

• Newer PHP versions (8.3/8.4) offer better performance and lower memory usage
• Recommended for production unless compatibility issues exist

Downgrade Risks

• Downgrading PHP may cause fatal errors if code uses newer features
• Always test before switching in production

Recommended Workflow (Production)

1. Clone site to staging
2. Change PHP version on staging
3. Test critical functionality
4. Apply the same change to production

Verification

After switching:

• Check site loads correctly
• Review error logs (Logs tab in FlyWP)
• Verify WP Admin access
• Monitor performance

Troubleshooting

• White screen / 500 error → check PHP error logs
• Plugin errors → disable incompatible plugins
• Composer apps → run dependency updates if needed

Best Practice

• Use PHP 8.2 unless you have legacy constraints
• Keep PHP version aligned with your stack and framework requirements
• Periodically review and upgrade