Updating WP 6.4.3 Thinks Im still at PHP 5.6 When its really 7.4

Note that WordPress is merely reporting what your server is configured to use. WordPress does not control what version of PHP it uses — and is not the one holding the update of MySQL or anything else.

And if WordPress says you’re on 5.6, chances are you’re on 5.6. Maybe you have 7.4 installed as well, but 5.6 is the ACTIVE one for your site.

But we can easily find out what’s what with a simple phpinfo file.

1) In the folder where your WordPress site is installed, create a new file, let’s call it test.php. The name can be anything, but the extension has to be .php.

2) In this test.php file, copy and paste this one line of code:

<?php phpinfo(); ?>

3) Open this file in your browser: eg https://example.com/test.php

If all goes well, you should see a page like the screenshot shown below, with the version of PHP your site is actually configured to use at the very top.

Standing by for feedback and further instructions!

It looks like a misconfiguration or a discrepancy in the PHP version reported by your WordPress site and the actual PHP version set on your hosting server. Here are a few steps you can take to address this issue:

1. Check PHP Version on Hosting Server:
   • Log in to your hosting control panel.
   • Look for a section that shows PHP settings or configuration.
   • Confirm that the PHP version is set to 7.4.
2. Check PHP Version in WordPress:
   • In your WordPress admin dashboard, go to “Tools” and then “Site Health.”
   • Check the “Info” tab to see the PHP version that WordPress is detecting.
3. Update WordPress Manually:
   • If the issue persists, you can manually update WordPress.
   • Download the latest version from the official WordPress website.
   • Replace the existing WordPress files on your server with the new ones, excluding the wp-config.php file and the wp-content directory.
4. Contact Hosting Support:
   • If the problem continues, contact your hosting support for assistance.
   • Explain the situation and ask them to verify that your server is running PHP 7.4.
5. Update Plugins and Themes:
   • Before and after the WordPress update, ensure that your plugins and themes are compatible with the latest WordPress version.
   • Some plugins or themes may cause conflicts if they are not up-to-date.

Remember to back up your website before making any changes, especially when manually updating WordPress or making server-related adjustments. One of my client’s website recently got the issue and resolved it by following these simple steps. The website was https://www.gratuitycalculate.com