Written by Admin on 2025-05-06

How to Download PHP 5.6 for WordPress: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you are using WordPress and want to install or upgrade to PHP 5.6, this article will guide you through the process. PHP 5.6 is an older version of PHP, but it is still used by many WordPress websites and plugins. It is important to note that PHP 5.6 is no longer supported by the PHP development team, so you will want to consider upgrading to a newer version of PHP once you can.

Here are the steps to download PHP 5.6 for WordPress:

1. Check your current PHP version

Before you start, you will need to check which version of PHP your WordPress site is currently running. This can be done by checking the System Information tab in your WordPress dashboard.

2. Download PHP 5.6

You can download the PHP 5.6 release on the official PHP website. It is important to make sure you are downloading the correct version for your operating system, whether it be Windows, Linux, or macOS.

3. Install PHP 5.6

Once you have downloaded the PHP 5.6 release, you will need to install it on your server. The installation process will differ depending on your operating system. For Windows, you can follow the installation wizard. For Linux and macOS, you can use the command line to install PHP 5.6.

4. Update WordPress

After you have successfully installed PHP 5.6 on your server, you will need to update your WordPress site to use the new version of PHP. This can be done by updating your site’s wp-config.php file.

In your wp-config.php file, you will need to add the following line of code:

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

This line of code will increase the memory limit for your site. You can adjust the value to suit your site’s needs.

Next, you will need to add the following line of code to specify the PHP version:

AddHandler application/x-httpd-php56 .php

This line of code will tell the server to use PHP 5.6 for your WordPress site.

5. Test Your Site

Once you have completed all of the above steps, your site should be running on PHP 5.6. To check that everything is working correctly, you can run a compatibility plugin such as PHP Compatibility Checker or Test PHP Compatibility. These plugins will scan your site for compatibility issues with PHP 5.6 and provide recommendations on how to fix them.

In conclusion, downloading PHP 5.6 for WordPress may seem daunting at first, but it is a straightforward process. By following these steps, you can ensure that your WordPress site is running on the correct version of PHP, which can improve its performance and security. Remember, however, that PHP 5.6 is no longer supported by the PHP development team, so you will want to consider upgrading to a newer version once you can.