Upgrade IONOS Website PHP Version

My site on IONOS is still running on PHP 5.4 and I need it moved to the latest stable PHP release available on the server (currently PHP 8.x). The installation is completely standard—no frameworks like WordPress or Laravel, no home-grown scripts to worry about, and no known security issues waiting to be patched—so the work is largely a straight migration and compatibility check.

You will:

• create a full backup of both files and database before touching anything
• switch the hosting environment to the newest PHP version through the IONOS control panel or .htaccess, whichever is appropriate
• resolve any deprecated function calls that may appear after the switch and confirm error-free operation
• run basic functionality tests (forms, email sending, file uploads, etc.) to prove the site behaves exactly as it does now, only on PHP 8
• hand over the updated site along with a short change log and rollback plan

Success is when the live site loads without warnings, errors, or broken styling while running on PHP 8.x, with all tests passed and the backup safely stored. SSH, SFTP and phpMyAdmin access can be granted as soon as we agree on a start time, and I’m ready to sign off the moment the site is stable.