PHP 7.4. End of Life

Seeing this warning? Your website is at risk.

If you’re seeing a PHP update warning in your WordPress dashboard, it means your website is running on outdated, unsupported software. It’s not just a notification. it’s a security risk.

What this means

It's not just a warning. It's a real problem.

PHP 7.4 reached end-of-life in November 2022. That means no more security patches, no more bug fixes and no more updates from the PHP team. Every day your site runs on it, you’re exposed.

And here’s the thing. you can’t just click a button and update PHP. If your website was built on PHP 7.4, the theme, plugins and custom code may not be compatible with newer versions. Updating PHP without checking compatibility first can break your entire site.

Security vulnerabilities

No security patches means known exploits remain open. Your site is a target for malware, injections and data breaches.

Plugin and theme incompatibility

Many plugins and themes now require PHP 8.0 or higher. Without updating, you'll lose access to critical updates and new features.

Poor performance

PHP 8.x is significantly faster than 7.4. Your site is likely slower than it needs to be, affecting user experience and search rankings.

It only gets worse

The longer you wait, the harder and more expensive the fix becomes. The gap between PHP 7.4 and current versions grows every year.

Your options

Two paths forward.

Depending on how your site was built and how old it is, one of these options will be the right fit.

Option A

PHP Compatibility Update

If your site is relatively modern and well-built, we may be able to update the PHP version, fix compatibility issues and get everything running on a supported version without a full rebuild.

Best for: newer sites with minor compatibility issues.

Recommended

Full Website Rebuild

If your site is several years old, built on outdated themes or page builders, or has accumulated technical debt, a rebuild is the smarter long-term investment. Start fresh on a modern, supported foundation.

Best for: sites older than 3–4 years or with significant technical debt.

How it works

From warning to sorted.

We start with a free assessment of your current site, then recommend the best path forward.

Free assessment

Send us your website URL. We review your current PHP version, theme, plugins and overall health, then let you know exactly where you stand.

Recommendation

We tell you honestly whether a compatibility update or a full rebuild makes more sense for your situation. No pressure, no upselling.

Clear quote

You get a fixed-price quote with a realistic timeline. You know exactly what you're getting and what it costs before any work begins.

We fix it

Whether it's a PHP update or a full rebuild, we handle everything. You don't need to worry about the technical details.

Managed hosting and support

Once it's done, your site moves to our managed hosting. We handle updates, backups, security and monitoring from that point on. No more PHP warnings.

After the fix

What you get going forward.

Once your site is updated or rebuilt, it moves to our managed environment with everything included.

Supported PHP version

Your site runs on a current, actively maintained version of PHP with regular security patches.

WordPress updates

Monthly WordPress core, theme and plugin updates handled by us. Tested before they go live.

Daily backups

Automatic daily backups so your site can be restored quickly if anything ever goes wrong.

Security monitoring

24/7 uptime monitoring, malware scanning and SSL certificate management.

Performance

NZ-based hosting optimised for speed. Your site loads fast for local visitors and search engines.

On-going support

Need changes down the track? We are here to help. Ad-hoc or on a monthly support plan.