Ubuntu 20.04 PHP Support After EOL: Are You Ready?

Ubuntu 20.04 end of life (EOL) arrived in April 2025, which means any teams deploying an Ubuntu 20.04 PHP application must either upgrade or implement a long term support (LTS) plan. 

However, as PHP 7.4 was the default version packaged with Ubuntu 20.04, migration paths for PHP teams may not be straightforward. With each upgrade actually involving two upgrades, one for the OS and one for PHP, staying secure and supported can quickly become complex and expensive.

In this blog, I provide you with an overview of the Ubuntu community support lifecycle and explain how it impacts PHP developers. I then outline migration paths for Ubuntu users looking to migrate from 20.04 LTS, discuss specific challenges for PHP 7.4 applications, and offer solutions for your team.

The Ubuntu Community Support Lifecycle

Ubuntu is known for its predictable and reliable release cycle, which is designed to meet the needs of a diverse range of users while providing an extremely stable experience. 

Each version of Ubuntu receives a development code name and is versioned by the year and month of delivery. For example, Ubuntu 20.04 LTS was released in April 2020 and received the code name of “Focal Fossa.” The most recent version of Ubuntu as of publication of this article is Ubuntu 25.04, released in April 2025, which received the code name of “Plucky Puffin.”

Standard vs. LTS Releases

Community Ubuntu alternates between two types of releases: standard and LTS.

Standard releases are delivered every six months and receive full support for nine months. Generally speaking, standard Ubuntu releases are meant to help users take advantage of the newest features while encouraging them to stay up to date as new versions are released.

LTS versions are released every two years, typically in April, and are Ubuntu’s enterprise-grade option. Each Ubuntu LTS version will receive five years of standard community support, which includes bug fixes and security updates. At the end of that period, users must either upgrade to a supported Ubuntu version, subscribe to Canonical Extended Security Maintenance (ESM), or seek LTS services from a trusted third party.

Ubuntu PHP Versions and EOL

The 2025 PHP Landscape Report found that over half of participants were deploying their PHP applications on Ubuntu, making it the most popular operating system of the year. However, staying aligned with both the Ubuntu and PHP lifecycles can be difficult.

Each Ubuntu release – including both standard and LTS releases – packages a default PHP version as a part of its official software repositories. See the table below for a list of recent Ubuntu PHP versions:

While Ubuntu provides security updates and patches for the relevant PHP version during the Ubuntu version’s supported life, once an Ubuntu version reaches EOL, PHP support through the Ubuntu community will also stop. 

This means that you will no longer access community-provided security updates, patches, or support for your PHP applications unless you pay for extended LTS through Canonical. However, this subscription is often expensive, and it can be difficult to ascertain which patches will be implemented.

Ubuntu 20.04 EOL: Migration Paths for PHP Applications

Migrating to a supported OS is always the best option for developer teams when an EOL event occurs, as with Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. Step one is to decide your OS destination. In this case, there are two Ubuntu LTS versions currently supported by the community: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, and Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.

Update Ubuntu 20.04 to 22.04 LTS

Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, code name Jammy Jellyfish, is the natural successor to Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. It is supported by the Ubuntu community through April 2027. Deciding to update Ubuntu 20.04 to 22.04 will introduce considerable security and performance improvements to your stack, including improved systems, kernels, and cloud tooling support. Further details about Ubuntu 22.04 can be found in the Jammy Jellyfish Release Notes.

It is important to note, however, that Ubuntu 22.04 ships with PHP 8.1 by default. Compared to PHP 7.4, PHP 8.1 offers dozens of new features, from smaller additions like adding a new $options argument the to various hash_*() functions to entirely new syntax features such as Enumerations. The flip side is that PHP 8.1 reaches end of life on December 31, 2025. While it will continue to receive security patches and support from the Ubuntu community through April 2027, it will no longer be supported by the PHP community.

Using EOL PHP versions, even with support from the Ubuntu community, introduces a host of new security considerations and keeps you from accessing the latest features included with newer PHP versions. For some teams, the straightforward path to update Ubuntu 20.04 to 22.04 LTS may make these complications worth it. For others, it is worth considering migrating to Ubuntu 24.04 LTS instead.

Migrate Ubuntu 20.04 to 24.04 LTS

As of the writing of this post, Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, or “Noble Numbat,” is the most recent Ubuntu LTS release. As with Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, Ubuntu 24.04 LTS introduces even more improvements and fixes. It includes an extended support lifecycle, delivers the latest kernel and desktop innovations, has CIS benchmarks available, and more. Full details and upgrade considerations can be found in the Noble Numbat Release Notes.

Additionally, Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ships with PHP 8.3 as the default PHP version. Not only does this allow users to unlock many new capabilities and features, but PHP 8.3 also boasts a longer lifespan compared to PHP 8.1, reaching EOL in December, 2027. This will keep your application on a version of PHP with PHP community support for an additional two years compared to PHP 8.1.

However, unlike making an upgrade to Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, moving from Ubuntu 20.04 to 24.04 LTS will need to be completed in incremental stages. Teams will first upgrade from Ubuntu 20.04 to 22.04, then 22.04 to 24.04.

PHP 7.4 Migration Considerations

With Ubuntu 20.04 EOL having arrived, Ubuntu will no longer provide community support for PHP 7.4. This makes upgrading to a supported Ubuntu LTS version, such as 22.04 or 24.04, a complicated process for PHP teams.

As Ubuntu LTS versions come packaged with default PHP versions, upgrading to a supported Ubuntu LTS version will also require upgrading to the associated PHP version – making a single Ubuntu PHP upgrade actually two upgrades, one for the operating system and one for the PHP.

Because PHP 7.4 was the terminal release for the PHP 7.X series, and migrating from it means jumping to a new major version in the PHP 8.X series, upgrading includes planning for backwards incompatibility and deprecated features.

On-Demand Webinar: PHP 7.4 EOL Upgrade Paths

Join me for this on-demand webinar as I outline the widespread impact of PHP 7.4 EOL and how teams can chart the right path forward.

Backwards Incompatibility

Upgrading to a new major PHP version increases the likelihood of encountering backwards incompatibility. When upgrading from PHP 7.4 to 8.1 or 8.3, depending on your target Ubuntu LTS version, there are many changes and new features that could affect your Ubuntu PHP apps. This include changes to the core language, changes to how objects are handled within the language, and the removal or deprecation of features and functions.

The exact backward incompatible changes will vary depending on your target PHP version. Click the links below to view the full lists, provided by the PHP community. Note that when migrating PHP 7.4 to 8.1 or 8.3 to match Ubuntu requirements, you may need to account for backward incompatibility across versions outside your ultimate destination.

• Backward incompatible changes migrating 7.4 to 8.0
• Backward incompatible changes migrating from 8.0 to 8.1
• Backward incompatible changes migrating from 8.1 to 8.2
• Backward incompatible changes migrating from 8.2 to 8.3

Deprecated Features

Alongside the numerous backwards incompatibilities, migrating from PHP 7.4 to 8.1 or 8.3 comes with an extensive docket of deprecated features.

For instance, PHP 8.1 introduced readonly properties and enums, which shifted preferred coding patterns and could impact legacy structures. PHP 8.3 continued this deprecation by refining the type system and disallowing a few previously ambiguous behaviors.

A complete list of deprecated features between PHP versions can be found in the following documentation, with the reminder that you may need to account for deprecations included in versions outside your target PHP version:

• Deprecated features in PHP 8.0
• Deprecated features in PHP 8.1
• Deprecated features in PHP 8.2
• Deprecated features in PHP 8.3

Ubuntu 20.04 PHP Migrations Made Easy

For teams planning their migration from Ubuntu 20.04 and PHP 7.4, it’s important to note that Canonical EMS is not your only option. Third-party long-term support providers, like Perforce Zend, can help. We offer flexible and cost-effective PHP support from a global team of experts. During your Ubuntu upgrade, we can help manage your PHP upgrade through our Migration Support, PHP LTS, and full suite of professional services.

Migration Support

Even for experienced developers, planning and implementing both an Ubuntu LTS version upgrade and a PHP upgrade between major versions can quickly become complex, time-consuming, and expensive. 

But, when you partner with Zend, you access an incomparable team of PHP experts, each with years of experience in tackling the hardest PHP migrations, upgrades, and modernization projects – including Ubuntu applications. Free your team to focus on upgrading your OS, and let us handle upgrading your PHP. 

Learn more about Zend Migration Services >>

Zend PHP LTS

Migrating or upgrading is often easier said than done. For many reasons – from resource allocation to time constraints to application complexity – teams can find that they can’t migrate before EOL occurs. For these applications, finding a reliable source for security patches and ongoing support is critical for deploying secure, compliant, and performant Ubuntu PHP applications.

Zend PHP LTS for EOL PHP allows you to upgrade on your schedule, keeping your PHP secure and supported. You can upgrade your Ubuntu version now, and perform your PHP migration of a later date, all while staying on a known and secure LTS version of PHP.

This gives your team time to adequately plan your upgrade process, allocate resources as needed, and consider all factors that could impact your plan. For instance, here is the timeline for PHP 7.4 support with Zend PHP LTS:

PHP 7.4 EOL Timeline With Zend PHP LTS

This extra time is especially important for Ubuntu PHP enterprise applications that involve many dependencies, custom packages, and integrations that may not be compliant with the latest Ubuntu or PHP versions. 

By working with Zend, you receive 24/7/365 support from our experts, ongoing bug fixes and security patches, and more for an additional two years beyond the PHP community support cycle – all while freeing your team to focus on your OS upgrade.

Learn more about Zend PHP LTS >>

Final Thoughts

Ubuntu 20.04 EOL is here, and having a plan to maintain the security, performance, and reliability of your PHP applications is crucial. Whether you choose to upgrade to a newer Ubuntu LTS release or rely on a third-party LTS provider like Zend, the time to act is now. By staying updated and supported, you not only safeguard your applications against vulnerabilities, but you also access performance improvements that enable future scalability.

Don’t wait until expensive problems occur. Evaluate your applications and take action today to ensure your stack remains efficient, compliant, and secure.

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Additional Resources

• On-Demand Webinar - Tackling Prevalent PHP Vulnerabilities at Scale
• On-Demand Webinar - Features (and Deprecations) to Watch in PHP 8.4
• White Paper - Planning Your Next PHP Migration
• White Paper - The Costs of Building PHP In-House
• Blog - Can You Afford a Web Application Security Breach?
• Blog - 2025 PHP Usage and Deployment Trends
• Blog - PHP 8.1 Upgrade Plans: How to Stay Ahead of EOL