On 29 September 2026 the WooCommerce team announced that WooCommerce 11.6, planned for February 2027, will require PHP 8.1 or newer. In the proposal of 8 September the requirement started with 11.5, but after feedback from the community it was moved to 11.6. Stores on PHP 7.4 or 8.0 will see a notice in the admin from version 11.3 on.
What changes in WooCommerce 11.6
The change comes in steps, by WooCommerce version.
- 11.3 adds a dismissible notice in the admin for stores on PHP 7.4 or 8.0 and keeps working with them.
- 11.5 is the last planned version that works with PHP 7.4 and 8.0.
- 11.6 will require PHP 8.1 or newer.
WordPress normally does not allow a plugin update if the server does not meet the declared PHP requirement. The change will not deactivate an existing WooCommerce installation. WooCommerce's figures come from opt-in tracking, so they are only a sample. They show about 7% of the tracked stores on PHP 7.4 and about 2% on PHP 8.0.
According to php.net, PHP 7.4 has been out of support since 28 November 2022, and 8.0 since 26 November 2023. Version 8.1, the minimum for 11.6, has been out of support since 31 December 2025. WooCommerce recommends PHP 8.3 or newer.
What to do
- Check the PHP version. In the admin open
WooCommerce > Statusand find PHP version in the Server environment section. - If it is 8.1 or newer, 11.6 will not get in your way. Still consider 8.3 or newer, because 8.1 is already out of support. PHP 8.2 also leaves support on 31 December 2026, as described in the PHP 8.2 news.
- If it is 7.4 or 8.0, plan the change before you update to 11.6. Until then you can stay on 11.5, but WooCommerce calls that a temporary option.
Make a backup, as described in the backup guide, and try the PHP change on a copy of the store. Check the cart and the payment methods, for example cash on delivery and cards, shipping with Econt and Speedy and the tax calculation. Also check order management, scheduled jobs, the theme, the extensions and any custom code. Fix the incompatibilities before you change PHP on the live store.
After the change, look at WooCommerce > Status again and repeat the store's most important steps before you update to 11.6. The PHP version is changed from cPanel, in the Software section.
What we do
With WordPress maintenance we update the system, PHP and the database and keep backups outside the server, so you have something to go back to if the PHP change breaks something. We do it on your store's server, wherever it is hosted. Describe your store in the inquiry form.
Frequently asked questions
From which version does WooCommerce require PHP 8.1?
From WooCommerce 11.6, planned for February 2027. The WooCommerce team announced it on 29 September 2026. In the proposal of 8 September the requirement started with 11.5, but after community feedback it was moved one version later.
What is the last WooCommerce version that works with PHP 7.4 and 8.0?
WooCommerce 11.5 is the last planned version that works with PHP 7.4 and 8.0. From 11.3 on, stores on those versions see a dismissible notice in the admin, and 11.6 will require PHP 8.1 or newer.
How do I see my store's PHP version?
In wp-admin open WooCommerce > Status and find the PHP version row in the Server environment section. If it is 8.1 or newer, WooCommerce 11.6 will not get in your way.
Will my store stop working if PHP is older than 8.1?
No. The change in WooCommerce 11.6 will not deactivate an existing installation. WordPress normally just refuses a plugin update when the server does not meet the declared PHP requirement, so the store stays on the older WooCommerce version.
Can I stay on WooCommerce 11.5?
For a while, and WooCommerce itself calls that a temporary option. Fixes for vulnerabilities rated CVSS 9 or higher are backported within the last 21 major release series, while other fixes generally ship only for the latest version. PHP 7.4 and 8.0 are out of support as well, so a WooCommerce patch does not cover the risks in PHP itself.
Is PHP 8.1 enough for WooCommerce?
PHP 8.1 is the minimum for WooCommerce 11.6, but according to php.net it has been out of support since 31 December 2025. WooCommerce recommends PHP 8.3 or newer. PHP 8.2 also leaves support on 31 December 2026.
How many stores still run an old PHP version?
WooCommerce's figures show about 7% of tracked stores on PHP 7.4 and about 2% on PHP 8.0. The data comes from opt-in tracking, so it is only a sample.
What should I test before changing my store's PHP version?
Make a backup and try the PHP change on a copy of the store. Test the cart, the payment methods, shipping with Econt and Speedy, the tax calculation, order management, scheduled jobs, the theme, the extensions and any custom code. Fix the incompatibilities before changing PHP on the live store, which you do from cPanel, in the Software section.