How to Check Your PHP Version

What is the current PHP version?

Data from endoflife.date, fetched 2026-10-23T03:11:09.262Z. Status computed on 2026-10-23.

Command line: version and configuration

php -v
php --ini
php -m
# Debian / Ubuntu: list installed branch directories
ls /etc/php/
# On systemd servers: inspect PHP services
systemctl list-units 'php*'

The first command prints a PHP version and SAPI such as CLI. --ini reports the configuration files; -m lists modules. These PHP CLI options describe the shell installation, which may differ from FPM.

WordPress: Site Health

Sign in as an administrator, then open Tools → Site Health → Info → Server. Read the PHP version field. This checks the runtime serving WordPress. Follow the official Site Health documentation; a WP-CLI result still describes a CLI process.

cPanel: check each domain

Open Software → MultiPHP Manager and read the PHP version beside the domain. Inspect subdomains too. A system default is not necessarily applied to every site. cPanel documents the per-domain version selector.

Plesk: check the domain handler

Open Websites & Domains, find the domain and click PHP. Read the selected version and handler. The available choices depend on permissions and installed components; ask the administrator if the selector is absent. See Plesk's PHP settings instructions.

Docker: inspect the running container

docker ps --format '{{.Names}}	{{.Image}}'
docker exec <container> php -v
# For a Compose service named wordpress:
docker compose exec wordpress php -v

Replace the placeholder with your own container name. Check each web and background service. The downloaded image tag does not prove a running container was recreated.

Last resort: a temporary diagnostic endpoint

Prefer the authenticated panel or Site Health. If you administer the server and need a web check, restrict access to an authenticated administrator and return only PHP_VERSION. Remove the endpoint immediately. Avoid publishing a full phpinfo() page: it exposes configuration, paths and potentially environment values.

Why response headers are not proof

An X-Powered-By header may be disabled, altered or stale. It cannot establish the patch status of distribution backports. Use the actual runtime and package advisory.

I found my version — now what?

• Below a fixed release? Follow the environment-specific PHP2Shell patch guide.
• Patched? Plan the next branch change with PHP support and EOL dates.
• On an unsupported branch? Use the WordPress upgrade and rollback checklist.