Adobe Commerce is a PHP application, and the PHP support calendar is the hidden clock behind every Commerce upgrade. Understanding it makes version planning much less stressful.
Why PHP versions matter
Each Adobe Commerce version is compatible with a specific window of PHP versions. When a PHP version reaches end-of-life, you either: (a) upgrade Commerce to a release that supports a newer PHP version, or (b) run unsupported software and accept the security and maintenance risk.
Cloud hosting providers typically retire PHP versions on PHP’s official schedule. So when PHP 8.1 went out of active support, hosting providers began removing it — forcing a Commerce upgrade for anyone still on a version that didn’t support 8.2 or higher.
Key dates
- PHP 8.1 — active support ended November 2023; security support ended December 2024.
- PHP 8.2 — active support ended December 2024; security support ended December 2026.
- PHP 8.3 — active support through November 2026; security support through November 2027.
- PHP 8.4 — active support through December 2027; security support through December 2028.
Reference
Official PHP supported versions page →
Cross-reference the PHP calendar with Adobe’s release schedule to map out your upgrade roadmap for the next 24 months.
Adapted from the Adobe Commerce Primer, slide 10. Last reviewed May 2026.