Title: Error message confusing 5.3
Last modified: August 31, 2016

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# Error message confusing 5.3

 *  Resolved [Birgit Pauli-Haack](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bph/)
 * (@bph)
 * [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-message-confusing-53/)
 * Hi there. We see this information on top of one of our site.
    “Your server is
   running PHP version 5.3.3, but WP-SpamShield requires at least PHP 5.3.21.”
 * So we should be above requirement.
 * What am I missing?
 * Birgit
 * The full message is: “Plugin deactivated. Your server is running PHP version 
   5.3.3, but WP-SpamShield requires at least PHP 5.3.21. We are no longer supporting
   PHP 5.2, as it reached its End of Life (no longer supported by the PHP team) 
   in 2011, and there are known security, performance, and compatibility issues.
   We are phasing out support for PHP 5.3 as it reached End of Life in 2014.
    The
   version of PHP running on your server is extremely out of date. You should upgrade
   your PHP version as soon as possible.”
 * [https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-spamshield/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-spamshield/)

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

 *  Plugin Contributor [redsand](https://wordpress.org/support/users/redsand/)
 * (@redsand)
 * [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-message-confusing-53/#post-7071788)
 * Hi Birgit,
 * 21 is greater than 3, so unfortunately 5.3.3 is much older than 5.3.21, and you’re
   not above the requirement.
 * Please see the [PHP Releases](http://php.net/releases/) for more info.
 * PHP 5.3.3: [http://php.net/releases/#5.3.3](http://php.net/releases/#5.3.3) (
   Released: 22 July 2010)
    PHP 5.3.21: [http://php.net/releases/#5.3.21](http://php.net/releases/#5.3.21)(
   Released: 17 Jan 2013)
 * PHP 5.3.3 is 6 years old. PHP 5.3.21 is 3 years old.
 * Please upgrade to a newer version of PHP as soon as possible. PHP 5.5, 5.6, or
   higher are recommended.
 * – Scott
 *  Thread Starter [Birgit Pauli-Haack](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bph/)
 * (@bph)
 * [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-message-confusing-53/#post-7071875)
 * Haha.. [@redsand](https://wordpress.org/support/users/redsand/) It must have 
   been real later yesterday I read it a 5.3.2.1 not 21. Of course you are right.
   Thanks for setting me straight. <chuckle/>
 * Birgit
 *  Plugin Contributor [redsand](https://wordpress.org/support/users/redsand/)
 * (@redsand)
 * [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-message-confusing-53/#post-7071887)
 * No worries! 🙂

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

The topic ‘Error message confusing 5.3’ is closed to new replies.

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 * 3 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [redsand](https://wordpress.org/support/users/redsand/)
 * Last activity: [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-message-confusing-53/#post-7071887)
 * Status: resolved