Before installing Aurora, confirm your hosting environment meets the minimum requirements. Aurora is built on modern WordPress and PHP features; running it on an outdated stack will either prevent installation or limit functionality.
Minimum Requirements
| Requirement | Minimum Version | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| WordPress | 6.0 | Latest stable release |
| PHP | 8.0 | 8.2 or later |
How to Check Your WordPress Version
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
- Go to Dashboard → Updates.
- Your current WordPress version is displayed at the top of the page.
If WordPress is out of date, click Update Now. WordPress updates are free and take less than a minute on most hosts.
How to Check Your PHP Version
- In your WordPress dashboard, go to Tools → Site Health.
- Click the Info tab.
- Expand the Server section.
- Look for PHP version.
Alternatively, your hosting control panel (cPanel, Plesk, or similar) will show the active PHP version and allow you to change it. Most modern hosts let you switch PHP versions without downtime.
What Happens If Requirements Are Not Met
If your PHP version is below 8.0, Aurora may not install correctly, or certain features may behave unexpectedly. PHP 7.x reached end of life and no longer receives security updates. Upgrading is strongly recommended regardless of which theme you use.
If your WordPress version is below 6.0, some Customizer controls and block editor features Aurora depends on may not be available.
Upgrading PHP on Your Host
The process varies by host, but most major hosts support PHP 8.x and make switching straightforward:
- cPanel hosts: look for a PHP Selector or MultiPHP Manager in your control panel.
- Managed WordPress hosts (Kinsta, WP Engine, Flywheel, etc.): PHP version is usually selectable from your site dashboard or environment settings.
- Other hosts: check your host’s documentation for “change PHP version” or open a support ticket. Most hosts can switch it in minutes.
Before upgrading PHP, it is good practice to run a quick compatibility check. The free PHP Compatibility Checker plugin scans your installed plugins and themes and flags anything that may break on a newer PHP version.
Browser Requirements
Aurora’s Customizer works in all modern browsers. For the best experience while configuring your site, use an up-to-date version of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.
The theme’s front end is compatible with all modern browsers and degrades gracefully on older ones. Internet Explorer is not supported.
Once your environment is ready, you can Install Aurora from the ZIP file using the WordPress dashboard or FTP.
Before making changes to a live site, consider setting up a staging environment to test Aurora safely first.