How to check and update PHP on WP Engine

where PHP settings live

User Portal

newest PHP2Shell fix

8.5.12

How to see your PHP version on WP Engine

1. 1Open the Sites page in the User Portal.
2. 2Select the environment name.
3. 3Within the Updates section, locate PHP to see the current version.

How to change your PHP version on WP Engine

1. 1Open the Sites page in the User Portal.
2. 2Select the environment name.
3. 3Within the Updates section, locate PHP.
4. 4Click the PHP Version number.
5. 5Select a new PHP version.
6. 6Click Confirm.

Who updates PHP on WP Engine?

WP Engine says you pick each environment's PHP version, and that it removes PHP versions from its servers once they reach end of life and automatically upgrades those sites, which cannot be deferred. Ask WP Engine whether the latest PHP security release is applied.

Good to know

• WP Engine says the PHP Selector is in 2 places in the User Portal; its guide spells out only the Overview page path above.
• Before switching, WP Engine's PHP Test Driver (Preview PHP on the Sites page) shows the site on a new version in your browser only.
• PHP version is not copied when you copy an environment, so set it again on the copy.
• WP Engine rolls out new PHP versions gradually, so a new version may not appear for every environment right away.
• If you make a phpinfo page, WP Engine recommends a random file name and deleting it as soon as possible.

An email to send WP Engine

If you can't find the version, or you want written confirmation that the fix is in, send this to their support team:

Subject: Is our PHP patched for PHP2Shell?

Hi WP Engine support,

PHP released security fixes on October 21, 2026 for 2 critical flaws known as PHP2Shell (CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619).

Which exact PHP version does our site run on, and does it include the fix (8.2.35, 8.3.36, 8.4.27, 8.5.12 or later, or a patched package)? If not, when will it be applied?

Thanks,