Active support is the phase in which a PHP version is fully looked after: both ordinary bugs and security problems get fixed, with regular updates. It is the first and best-looked-after stage in the life of a PHP version.
What is active support?
It is the first stage of a PHP versionA PHP version is a numbered edition of PHP, like 8.3. Each edition is looked after for a limited time, then gets security fixes only, then nothing., with regular releases, before the branch moves to security supportSecurity support is a phase in which a PHP version only gets fixes for security problems. Ordinary bugs are no longer repaired. and finally to end of lifeEnd of life (EOL) means the makers have stopped looking after a version of software. It still works, but it no longer gets updates, not even security fixes..
When the PHPPHP is a programming language that builds your web pages on the computer that hosts your site, just before they reach the visitor. WordPress runs on it. project publishes a new branch, such as 8.5, it commits to maintaining it for a defined period. In the first phase, active support, the project fixes bugs of all kinds and publishes patchA security patch is a software update that closes one known security weakness and adds nothing else, so installing it protects you against that problem. releases on a regular schedule. Security problems get fixed as well. After that period the branch becomes security-only.
Active support is also where most of the testing happens. PluginA WordPress plugin is an add-on you install in WordPress to give your site extra features, such as contact forms, SEO tools or a webshop. authors, themes and hostingWeb hosting is the service that keeps your website's files on a computer that is always online, so visitors can open your site at any time. providers focus on branches in active support, so that is where you will find the best compatibility.
The dates from php.net
As read on php.net on October 21, 2026, PHP 8.4 is in active support until December 31, 2026, and PHP 8.5 until December 31, 2027. PHP 8.3 left active support on December 31, 2025, and PHP 8.2 on December 31, 2024. Both now only receive security fixes, until December 31, 2027 and December 31, 2026.
What active support means for your site
Running a branch in active support means that if something in PHP breaks your site, there is a decent chance the project will fix it in the next patch release. It also gives you the longest period before you have to upgrade again: with PHP 8.5, security fixes run until December 31, 2029.
That does not mean you can leave the site alone. Patch releases have to be installed on your server, either by you or by your hosting provider. A site that runs a supported branch but never gets patch releases is still exposed to problems that were fixed upstream.
How to choose and check
Start with what your site needs. Check which PHP versions your WordPressWordPress is free software for building and editing a website in your browser. It is written in PHP, so it builds each page when someone visits. version, themeA WordPress theme is a ready-made package that decides how your WordPress site looks and how its pages are laid out. Change the theme and the design changes. and plugins say they support. Most plugin pages and changelogs state this. Then pick the newest branch in active support that all of them support, and test it on a copy of the site.
To see which version your site runs now, look in your hosting panel, or check your PHP version with the free tool to see what is visible from the outside.
When to act
Move when your branch has left active support and you are heading for the end of security support, or earlier when a plugin needs a newer branch. We update PHP in WordPress by taking your site to a branch with active support, with a backupA backup is a separate copy of your website's files and database, so you can bring the site back after a mistake, a hack or a failed update. and a stagingA staging environment is a private copy of your website where you try updates first, so any mistakes happen there and not on the live site. test. If you would rather not keep updating PHP at all, a move from WordPress to a static site removes the question for sites that do not need a database on every page view.
Frequently asked questions
How long does active support for a PHP branch last?
On php.net the active support period of the current branches runs roughly two years from release. PHP 8.4 is in active support until December 31, 2026 and PHP 8.5 until December 31, 2027.
Is active support the same as security support?
No. Active support covers bug fixes and security fixes. Security support, which follows it, covers only security fixes.
Do I have to run a branch in active support?
No. A branch in security support is still supported with security fixes. Active support is the safest place to be, and it gives you the longest road before you have to upgrade again.
Which PHP version should a new site use?
Pick a branch that is in active support and that your theme and plugins support. Today that means PHP 8.4 or 8.5, as long as your plugins have been tested on it.