Bluehost lets you switch PHP versions without any server access or technical expertise. The process differs slightly depending on whether your account uses Bluerock or the Legacy interface, but both take under two minutes.
PHP Versions Supported on Bluehost
Bluehost currently supports PHP 8.1, 8.2, and 8.3 on most hosting plans. PHP 7.x versions are still selectable on some accounts but are past their official end-of-life and no longer receive security patches. If your site is still running PHP 7.4 or earlier, upgrading to PHP 8.1 or 8.2 is strongly recommended.
Before switching, check that your plugins and theme are compatible with the target version. The WP Hosting Checker and WordPress PHP Compatibility Checker plugin both scan your WordPress installation for known issues. Updating plugins and your theme before changing PHP reduces the chance of errors after. If you have not yet set up WordPress on your account, see the guide on how to install WordPress on Bluehost before making PHP changes.
Take a full backup of your site before changing the PHP version. If the new version breaks something, you can restore and try an intermediate version instead.
How to Change PHP Version in Bluerock
Bluerock is the default interface for new Bluehost accounts. It uses MultiPHP Manager inside cPanel to switch versions. To access cPanel, you will need your login credentials; if you have forgotten them, see the guide on changing your Bluehost cPanel password.
Step 1 - Log In
Log into your Bluehost control panel with your account credentials.
Step 2 - Open Advanced Settings
Click Advanced in the left navigation menu. This opens cPanel.
Step 3 - Find MultiPHP Manager
Inside cPanel, scroll to the Software section and click MultiPHP Manager.
Step 4 - Select and Apply
Check the box next to the domain you want to update, then choose the PHP version from the dropdown. Click Apply. The change takes effect immediately.
How to Change PHP Version in Legacy Bluehost
Legacy accounts use PHP Config instead of MultiPHP Manager.
Step 1 - Log In
Log into your Bluehost control panel and navigate to cPanel through the Hosting tab.
Step 2 - PHP Config
Inside cPanel, scroll to the Programming section and click PHP Config. Select the version you want and save the change.
How to Verify the PHP Version Changed
After switching, confirm the change went through before testing your full site:
- PHP info page: create a file called
phpinfo.phpin your public web root containing<?php phpinfo(); ?>, visit it in a browser, and the version number appears at the top. Delete the file immediately after checking, as leaving it accessible exposes server configuration details. - cPanel PHP Version tool: in MultiPHP Manager, the domain row will show the currently active PHP version after the change is applied.
What to Do If Your Site Breaks After a PHP Upgrade
If your site shows a white screen, error messages, or a broken layout after changing PHP versions, work through these steps:
- Revert immediately: go back to MultiPHP Manager or PHP Config and switch back to the previous version. This restores the site while you diagnose the problem.
- Check the error log: in cPanel, go to Metrics and then Errors to find the specific plugin, theme file, or function causing the failure.
- Update all plugins and theme: outdated plugins are the most common cause of PHP 8.x incompatibilities. Update everything to their latest versions and try the upgrade again.
- Deactivate plugins one at a time: if updating does not help, deactivate each plugin individually until the site loads. The last one deactivated is the likely problem.
- Try an intermediate version: if you jumped from PHP 7.4 to 8.2, try 8.1 first. Not all plugins support the latest release immediately after it ships.
Why PHP Version Matters for WordPress Performance and Security
PHP is the language WordPress runs on. Each major version release brings measurable performance improvements and security fixes. Running an older version has two practical costs:
- Speed: PHP 8.2 benchmarks consistently show 10-30% faster execution than PHP 7.4 on equivalent WordPress setups, which translates directly to lower server response times.
- Security: PHP versions past end-of-life no longer receive security patches. PHP 7.4 reached end-of-life in November 2022. Running it on a live site means unpatched vulnerabilities in the PHP engine itself, separate from any plugin or theme issues.
WordPress itself requires PHP 7.2.5 or higher, but the official recommendation is PHP 8.1 or 8.2. Most well-maintained plugins and themes support 8.1 and 8.2 fully. PHP 8.3 support is wider than it was at release but still has occasional edge cases with older plugin codebases.
How Often Should You Update PHP on Bluehost?
As a general rule, aim to be on a supported PHP version at all times. "Supported" means officially receiving security patches from the PHP development team. Check php.net/supported-versions for the current support windows. As of 2025, PHP 8.1 is in security-only support, 8.2 and 8.3 are actively supported.
In practice: when Bluehost adds a new PHP version to MultiPHP Manager, test your site on a staging copy first, then upgrade. You do not need to stay on the bleeding edge, but falling more than one major version behind creates compounding compatibility and security risk.
Final Word: Changing PHP Version on Bluehost
Switching PHP versions on Bluehost takes a few clicks in MultiPHP Manager (Bluerock) or PHP Config (Legacy). The most important steps are checking plugin compatibility beforehand, taking a backup, and verifying the version changed before putting the site under load. For a full breakdown of Bluehost’s plans and features, see the Bluehost review. or our Bluehost configuration guide for cPanel, email, SSL, and WooCommerce setup. If you need to update your cPanel login credentials after making changes to your account, see our guide on how to change your Bluehost cPanel password, which covers the Bluerock and Legacy interfaces and includes steps for updating email client settings after a webmail password change.
