Did you know that PHP 5.6 reached its end-of-life (EOL) in 2018?
That means it no longer receives security patches, bug fixes, or performance updates.
If your website is still running on PHP 5.6 (or even PHP 7.0–7.3), it’s outdated, vulnerable, and slower than it should be.
At Waft Technologies, we specialize in upgrading websites from PHP 5.6 to PHP 8.3 — ensuring a smooth, secure, and performance-optimized transition.
In this post, we’ll walk you through why the upgrade matters, how the process works, and what benefits you’ll get after upgrading.
Why You Must Upgrade from PHP 5.6 to PHP 8.3
Many businesses still run websites on old PHP versions, unaware of the hidden risks.
Here’s what happens if you don’t upgrade:
- 🔒 Security Risks: PHP 5.6 is no longer supported, leaving your site open to cyberattacks.
- 🐢 Slow Performance: PHP 8.3 executes code 2–3x faster than PHP 5.6.
- ⚙️ Compatibility Issues: New plugins, APIs, and CMS updates require PHP 8+.
- 💸 Higher Server Load: Old PHP consumes more resources and increases hosting costs.
- 🚫 Compliance Problems: Outdated software can violate GDPR and PCI-DSS standards.
Step-by-Step: How to Upgrade from PHP 5.6 to PHP 8.3
Here’s the exact process our PHP upgrade specialists follow at Waft Technologies to ensure a safe and successful migration.
Step 1: Website Audit & Compatibility Analysis
We begin by auditing your website’s codebase and hosting environment.
This includes checking:
- The current PHP version
- All plugins, frameworks, and custom scripts
- Deprecated or legacy functions
- Database and hosting compatibility
Step 2: Run Compatibility & Code Checks
We use professional developer tools like:
- PHPCompatibility (to detect deprecated code)
- PHPStan / Psalm (for static code analysis)
- Composer (to check outdated dependencies)
Step 3: Code Refactoring & Optimization
Our developers then refactor and modernize your website’s PHP code.
This is where we:
- Replace old
mysql_*functions with PDO or MySQLi - Update legacy syntax and deprecated functions
- Introduce namespaces and autoloading for cleaner architecture
- Improve error handling and type safety
Step 4: Set Up a Staging Environment
Before touching your live site, we create a staging environment — a safe duplicate where we can test everything.
Here we:
- Switch the PHP version to 8.3
- Test all features (login, checkout, forms, admin panels)
- Fix any remaining issues before deployment
Step 5: Upgrade Live Server to PHP 8.3
Once testing is complete, we perform the live upgrade.
Our team:
- Takes a full backup (files + database)
- Upgrades PHP on your hosting or server
- Monitors site behavior in real time
- Performs post-upgrade testing
Step 6: Post-Upgrade Testing & Monitoring
After deployment, we monitor the site for any performance or compatibility issues.
We also ensure that:
- All forms, APIs, and payment gateways work flawlessly
- Page load times are improved
- Error logs remain clean
Real Results: Why Clients Love PHP 8.3
After upgrading, our clients typically see massive improvements:
| Metric | Before (PHP 5.6) | After (PHP 8.3) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Page Load Time | 4–5 seconds | 1.5 seconds | ⚡ 3x faster |
| Server CPU Usage | 80% | 40% | 🔻 50% reduction |
| Security Risk | High | Low | 🔒 Fully patched |
| Compatibility | Limited | Full support | ✅ Modern-ready |
Why Choose Waft Technologies for PHP Version Upgrades?
We’ve successfully upgraded dozens of websites — from small business sites to large-scale enterprise systems.
Our process ensures security, speed, and stability every time.
✅ Safe, tested upgrade process
✅ Zero downtime guarantee
✅ Code refactoring & optimization
✅ Post-upgrade monitoring
✅ Affordable, transparent pricing
Whether your website runs on WordPress, Laravel, Magento, or a custom PHP framework, we’ll help you transition smoothly to PHP 8.3.
Ready to Upgrade Your Website?
Don’t wait until your outdated PHP version causes errors or security issues.
Upgrading now will make your website faster, safer, and future-ready.
📞 Contact Waft Technologies today to schedule your PHP 5.6 to 8.3 upgrade consultation.
Let’s bring your website up to modern standards — quickly and securely.