Website PHP Upgrade

Description

What this service does:

This is a one–off “health upgrade” for your WordPress website.
If your site is still running on old PHP 7.4 engine it is no longer supported and is missing important security updates. php.net

I’ll safely bring your site up to date so it’s running on a modern, secure version of PHP and the latest stable WordPress.

What you will get:

I’ll take care of the technical work for you:

• Full site backup
  Complete backup of your website files and database before any changes are made, so we can roll back if anything unexpected happens.

• PHP upgrade from 7.4 to 8.4
  Your site’s “engine” will be upgraded to PHP 8.4, which is actively supported and receiving security updates through to the end of 2027. php.net+1
  This keeps your site much more secure, compatible with modern WordPress, and improves performance on many hosts. Bleech+1

• WordPress core update
  I’ll update WordPress itself to a current, stable version that fully supports PHP 8.4. Make WordPress

• Plugin tidy and updates

  • Update plugins to their latest compatible versions

  • Remove obviously unused or abandoned plugins

  • Recommend alternatives where something is clearly outdated or no longer maintained

Why this is essential

Running an older stack (like PHP 7.4 and outdated plugins) has some real risks:

• No security fixes for PHP 7.4, which makes sites a much easier target for attacks php.net+1

• Newer versions of WordPress and plugins are being built for PHP 8+, so things gradually break or behave oddly over time Make WordPress+1

• Hosts and control panels increasingly drop support for 7.4 entirely, which can lead to sudden outages when servers are upgraded behind the scenes cPanel Support+1

By upgrading now, you’re:

• Keeping your site within a supported PHP version through to at least the end of 2027, rather than running on an end–of–life version

• Reducing the risk of security issues and random breakages

• Making your site easier and safer to maintain in future

In short: pay once now, and your PHP “engine” should not need another urgent upgrade for several years.

How the upgrade works

1. We schedule a time
   I’ll agree a suitable window with you so any brief maintenance mode happens when it affects you the least.

2. Full backup first
   I take a complete backup of your files and database so we can roll back if anything doesn’t play nicely with the new setup.

3. Upgrade PHP, WordPress and plugins

   • Switch the site to PHP 8.4

   • Update WordPress core

   • Update and tidy your plugins

4. Basic post–upgrade testing
   I’ll do a sanity check of key pages and core features (home page, a few main pages, menu, contact form, and checkout if you have WooCommerce).

5. Handover notes
   You’ll get a short summary of what was done and anything I recommend looking at next (for example, replacing very old plugins or themes if they’re no longer supported).

   
   What’s not included

   These are outside the fixed £80 price but can be quoted separately if needed:

   • Fixing long–standing bugs or design issues unrelated to the upgrade

   • Full theme rebuilds or redesigns

   • Major code rewrites for custom plugins/themes that are not compatible with PHP 8.4

   • Ongoing support or future updates (that’s what your maintenance plan is for)

   If a plugin or theme is extremely old or abandoned and will not work on PHP 8.4, I’ll:

   • Let you know what’s affected

   • Recommend a replacement or workaround

   • Only proceed with extra work if you confirm you’re happy to go ahead at your normal hourly rate (for example £25 per hour)