What changed: WooCommerce is targeting PHP 8.1 or newer as the minimum requirement with version 11.6, planned for February 2027; this is not final. To prepare stores, WooCommerce 11.3 will add a dismissible admin notice for stores running PHP 7.4 or 8.0, which can keep updating through version 11.5 for the rest of the year.
Who is affected
The source identifies stores running WooCommerce on PHP 7.4 or PHP 8.0, along with the extension developers and agencies supporting them, as affected.
What it means for your business
For businesses running WooCommerce, this means checking your host's PHP version now and planning a possible upgrade to PHP 8.1, or the recommended PHP 8.3 or newer, before the targeted WooCommerce 11.6 release.
What to do
Check your PHP version under WooCommerce > Status, ask your hosting provider about a plan to move to PHP 8.3 or newer, and test checkout and payment methods, shipping and tax calculations, order management, scheduled jobs, your theme and extensions on a staging copy first rather than changing the live site immediately, while you wait for the final 11.6 release.
When it takes effect
WooCommerce 11.6 is planned for February 2027, when the PHP 8.1 requirement is targeted to take effect; this is not final. The WooCommerce 11.3 admin notice for PHP 7.4/8.0 stores arrives first.
Source: https://developer.woocommerce.com/2026/09/29/php-8-1-requirement/
