PHP 5 is now a very old version of PHP and has been officially unsupported for many years. As a result, it no longer receives security updates or maintenance fixes from the PHP project. Continuing to run websites on PHP 5 can leave them exposed to serious security vulnerabilities, compatibility issues, and problems with modern software.
Most actively maintained websites should already be running a newer supported PHP version. However, some older WordPress, Joomla, bespoke PHP, and legacy database-driven websites may still depend on PHP 5-only functionality, including removed functions such as mysql_connect and other outdated code patterns.
If your website still requires PHP 5, it is important to review it before 1 August 2026. This may involve updating the website software, replacing outdated plugins or themes, or modernising custom PHP code so that the site can run on a supported PHP version.
We may contact customers directly where we know a specific site or hosting account is likely to be affected. However, we also recommend that anyone running older websites checks their PHP version and makes any required updates in good time.
After 1 August 2026, we will no longer be able to provide support for issues caused by PHP 5 or code that only works on PHP 5.
If you are unsure whether your website is affected, please contact us and we will be happy to advise.
