Are you trying to determine if your WordPress site is compatible with WP Mail SMTP? If you were linked to this page from your WordPress dashboard, then you’re running an outdated version of PHP or WordPress itself.
This tutorial shares the version requirements for WP Mail SMTP.
In This Article
What Is PHP?
PHP is the programming language that WordPress and WP Mail SMTP are built on.
Newer versions of PHP are both faster and more secure. We share a notice to alert users when they are running an outdated version of PHP because this means their website no longer receives security updates.
The easiest way to resolve this issue is to contact your web hosting provider and ask them to update the PHP version for your hosting account. This is actually quite easy, and something your web host should be doing proactively.
If your web hosting company is unwilling to upgrade your PHP version (or tell you how to do so yourself from your hosting control panel), then it clearly shows that your website’s security is not a priority to your host. In that case, we recommend switching to one of the recommended WordPress hosting companies listed in WPBeginner’s article.
At WP Mail SMTP, our favorites are Bluehost and SiteGround, both of which are officially recommended by WordPress as well. We host our site with SiteGround.
WP Mail SMTP PHP Version Requirements
In case your web hosting company asks, WP Mail SMTP currently requires PHP version 7.2 or higher.
However, we recommend upgrading your site to PHP version 8.0 or higher, as it is faster and more secure than version 7.2.
WP Mail SMTP WordPress Version Requirements
WP Mail SMTP currently requires your site to run on WordPress 5.2 or higher.
If you are using an older version of WordPress, you’ll see a message in your admin area telling you to update your site. Additionally, WP Mail SMTP will be disabled and you will not receive automatic plugin updates until you’ve upgraded to WordPress 5.2.
See our article on why it’s important to use the latest version of WP Mail SMTP (and WordPress and PHP) for more details on updating.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are the top questions we see regarding WP Mail SMTP’s PHP version requirements.
Which PHP version should I update to?
You should update your PHP version to 8.0 or higher. Ideally, you should upgrade to the latest version your web host offers. Most sites can upgrade to PHP 7+ without issues.
How do I update PHP?
Web hosts have the ability to update your PHP version. In most cases, you can upgrade within your web hosting control panel or by submitting a support ticket to your host.
That’s it! Now you know all about the PHP version requirements for WP Mail SMTP.
If your site is running a compatible version of PHP, then you’re ready to install WP Mail SMTP and start improving email delivery for your site. Check out our mailer options and setup tutorials for detailed step-by-step instructions.