Title: PHP Version Problem
Last modified: August 31, 2016

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# PHP Version Problem

 *  Resolved [calisun](https://wordpress.org/support/users/calisun/)
 * (@calisun)
 * [10 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-version-problem-1/)
 * I have installed WP-SpamShield, and when I try to activate it, I get this message:
   
   Plugin deactivated. Your server is running PHP version 5.3.3, but WP-SpamShield
   requires at least PHP 5.3.21. ……………
 * Looks like the server is running newer version than what it is asking for, but
   it will still not run.
 * [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, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-version-problem-1/#post-7142624)
 * Hi calisun,
 * Please check your information…you would be incorrect. _The plugin is correct._
 * 21 is greater than 3, so unfortunately 5.3.3 is much older than 5.3.21, and you’re
   not above the requirement. (5.3.3 does not equal 5.3.30.)
 * 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.
 * Please give us a little credit. 🙂 We wouldn’t make a mistake like that.
 * – Scott
 *  Thread Starter [calisun](https://wordpress.org/support/users/calisun/)
 * (@calisun)
 * [10 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-version-problem-1/#post-7142699)
 * You are right, mathematically I should be correct, but according to their crazy
   numbering scheme, you are correct.
    I will contact the developer of my linux 
   release to see if I can update PHP without braking future updates.
 *  Plugin Contributor [redsand](https://wordpress.org/support/users/redsand/)
 * (@redsand)
 * [10 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-version-problem-1/#post-7142710)
 * I know, it’s frustrating and counterintuitive. Unfortunately it’s not an uncommon
   system.
 * Your web host should have PHP 5.5 or 5.6 already on your server. (It has multiple
   versions available at once…you just tell it which one to use.) You likely just
   need to change the config files to tell it to switch. This can usually be done
   easily through your cPanel (or other web admin control panel). If that doesn’t
   work then you would just need to send a support request to your web host’s tech
   support and ask them to switch you.
 * The most significant changes IMO were between 5.2 and 5.3, so you should be able
   to go to 5.5 or 5.6 without issue. If necessary, you can go to 5.4…just keep 
   in mind it is outdated and reached End of Life as well, so sooner or later you
   would want to upgrade from that too.
 * If you need more specific info on changes made to each version, on [PHP’s Unsupported Branches](http://php.net/eol.php)
   page, it has links to upgrade guides for each of the retired versions.

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

The topic ‘PHP Version Problem’ is closed to new replies.

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 * [WP-SpamShield](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-spamshield/)
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 * 3 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [redsand](https://wordpress.org/support/users/redsand/)
 * Last activity: [10 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-version-problem-1/#post-7142710)
 * Status: resolved