diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-coding-standards.yml b/.github/workflows/test-coding-standards.yml
index 99e6bd4a3b14..001c71e2e62e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-coding-standards.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-coding-standards.yml
@@ -18,16 +18,9 @@ concurrency:
 
 jobs:
   lint:
-    name: PHP ${{ matrix.php-version }} Lint with PHP CS Fixer
+    name: Lint with PHP CS Fixer
     runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
 
-    strategy:
-      fail-fast: false
-      matrix:
-        php-version:
-          - '7.4'
-          - '8.0'
-
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
@@ -35,7 +28,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Setup PHP
         uses: shivammathur/setup-php@v2
         with:
-          php-version: ${{ matrix.php-version }}
+          php-version: '8.1'
           extensions: tokenizer
           coverage: none
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-phpunit.yml b/.github/workflows/test-phpunit.yml
index 7c6182cac13c..a82a9ef073a4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-phpunit.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-phpunit.yml
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       matrix:
         php-version:
-          - '7.4'
           - '8.0'
           - '8.1'
           - '8.2'
@@ -79,7 +78,6 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         php-version:
-          - '7.4'
           - '8.0'
           - '8.1'
           - '8.2'
@@ -92,7 +90,7 @@ jobs:
         mysql-version:
           - '5.7'
         include:
-          - php-version: '7.4'
+          - php-version: '8.0'
             db-platform: MySQLi
             mysql-version: '8.0'
           - php-version: '8.2'
@@ -120,7 +118,6 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       matrix:
         php-version:
-          - '7.4'
           - '8.0'
           - '8.1'
           - '8.2'
@@ -148,7 +145,6 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       matrix:
         php-version:
-          - '7.4'
           - '8.0'
           - '8.1'
           - '8.2'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-rector.yml b/.github/workflows/test-rector.yml
index 7d8c11d61362..d695d2c388f5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-rector.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-rector.yml
@@ -35,12 +35,11 @@ concurrency:
 
 jobs:
   build:
-    name: PHP ${{ matrix.php-versions }} Analyze code (Rector) on ${{ matrix.paths }}
+    name: Analyze code (Rector)
     runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        php-versions: ['7.4', '8.0']
         paths:
           - app
           - system
@@ -53,7 +52,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Setup PHP
         uses: shivammathur/setup-php@v2
         with:
-          php-version: ${{ matrix.php-versions }}
+          php-version: '8.1'
           extensions: intl
 
       - name: Use latest Composer
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7d2940a21246..512456e364a9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ Made with [contrib.rocks](https://contrib.rocks).
 
 ## Server Requirements
 
-PHP version 7.4 or higher is required, with the following extensions installed:
+PHP version 8.0 or higher is required, with the following extensions installed:
 
 - [intl](http://php.net/manual/en/intl.requirements.php)
 - [mbstring](http://php.net/manual/en/mbstring.installation.php)
diff --git a/admin/framework/README.md b/admin/framework/README.md
index 870e5f96adff..914d9a17427c 100644
--- a/admin/framework/README.md
+++ b/admin/framework/README.md
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ Please read the [*Contributing to CodeIgniter*](https://github.com/codeigniter4/
 
 ## Server Requirements
 
-PHP version 7.4 or higher is required, with the following extensions installed:
+PHP version 8.0 or higher is required, with the following extensions installed:
 
 - [intl](http://php.net/manual/en/intl.requirements.php)
 - [mbstring](http://php.net/manual/en/mbstring.installation.php)
diff --git a/admin/framework/composer.json b/admin/framework/composer.json
index 982204b8c83b..b0953a9f8d07 100644
--- a/admin/framework/composer.json
+++ b/admin/framework/composer.json
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     "homepage": "https://codeigniter.com",
     "license": "MIT",
     "require": {
-        "php": "^7.4 || ^8.0",
+        "php": "^8.0",
         "ext-intl": "*",
         "ext-json": "*",
         "ext-mbstring": "*",
diff --git a/admin/starter/.github/workflows/phpunit.yml b/admin/starter/.github/workflows/phpunit.yml
index 73d413cad92f..9b54b83b8d22 100644
--- a/admin/starter/.github/workflows/phpunit.yml
+++ b/admin/starter/.github/workflows/phpunit.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ name: PHPUnit
 
 on:
   pull_request:
-    branches: 
+    branches:
       - develop
 
 jobs:
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ jobs:
 
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        php-versions: ['7.4', '8.0']
+        php-versions: ['8.0', '8.1']
 
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
 
diff --git a/admin/starter/README.md b/admin/starter/README.md
index 461e949f2f26..8062a2cb6c13 100644
--- a/admin/starter/README.md
+++ b/admin/starter/README.md
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ Problems with it can be raised on our forum, or as issues in the main repository
 
 ## Server Requirements
 
-PHP version 7.4 or higher is required, with the following extensions installed:
+PHP version 8.0 or higher is required, with the following extensions installed:
 
 - [intl](http://php.net/manual/en/intl.requirements.php)
 - [mbstring](http://php.net/manual/en/mbstring.installation.php)
diff --git a/admin/starter/composer.json b/admin/starter/composer.json
index e52218478b04..be95dfc15b26 100644
--- a/admin/starter/composer.json
+++ b/admin/starter/composer.json
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     "homepage": "https://codeigniter.com",
     "license": "MIT",
     "require": {
-        "php": "^7.4 || ^8.0",
+        "php": "^8.0",
         "codeigniter4/framework": "^4.0"
     },
     "require-dev": {
diff --git a/admin/userguide/composer.json b/admin/userguide/composer.json
index 007664b9b2ec..35860af8d02b 100644
--- a/admin/userguide/composer.json
+++ b/admin/userguide/composer.json
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     "homepage": "https://codeigniter.com",
     "license": "MIT",
     "require": {
-        "php": "^7.4 || ^8.0",
+        "php": "^8.0",
         "codeigniter4/framework": "^4"
     },
     "support": {
diff --git a/composer.json b/composer.json
index 5e12de117047..8569419f338c 100644
--- a/composer.json
+++ b/composer.json
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     "homepage": "https://codeigniter.com",
     "license": "MIT",
     "require": {
-        "php": "^7.4 || ^8.0",
+        "php": "^8.0",
         "ext-intl": "*",
         "ext-json": "*",
         "ext-mbstring": "*",
diff --git a/contributing/pull_request.md b/contributing/pull_request.md
index a28e5e75d171..85dd044ec4c1 100644
--- a/contributing/pull_request.md
+++ b/contributing/pull_request.md
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ See [Contribution CSS](./css.md).
 
 ### Compatibility
 
-CodeIgniter4 requires [PHP 7.4](https://php.net/releases/7_4_0.php).
+CodeIgniter4 requires [PHP 8.0](https://php.net/releases/8_0_0.php).
 
 ### Backwards Compatibility
 
diff --git a/public/index.php b/public/index.php
index 96e7f45ff4ac..eb3abd0fb42b 100644
--- a/public/index.php
+++ b/public/index.php
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <?php
 
 // Check PHP version.
-$minPhpVersion = '7.4'; // If you update this, don't forget to update `spark`.
+$minPhpVersion = '8.0'; // If you update this, don't forget to update `spark`.
 if (version_compare(PHP_VERSION, $minPhpVersion, '<')) {
     $message = sprintf(
         'Your PHP version must be %s or higher to run CodeIgniter. Current version: %s',
diff --git a/spark b/spark
index f2ba3f305ceb..ddb473a8a621 100755
--- a/spark
+++ b/spark
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ if (strpos(PHP_SAPI, 'cgi') === 0) {
 }
 
 // Check PHP version.
-$minPhpVersion = '7.4'; // If you update this, don't forget to update `public/index.php`.
+$minPhpVersion = '8.0'; // If you update this, don't forget to update `public/index.php`.
 if (version_compare(PHP_VERSION, $minPhpVersion, '<')) {
     $message = sprintf(
         'Your PHP version must be %s or higher to run CodeIgniter. Current version: %s',
diff --git a/system/Autoloader/Autoloader.php b/system/Autoloader/Autoloader.php
index ad4de0329d66..f8b678a5e0c7 100644
--- a/system/Autoloader/Autoloader.php
+++ b/system/Autoloader/Autoloader.php
@@ -344,11 +344,7 @@ public function sanitizeFilename(string $filename): string
             );
         }
         if ($result === false) {
-            if (version_compare(PHP_VERSION, '8.0.0', '>=')) {
-                $message = preg_last_error_msg();
-            } else {
-                $message = 'Regex error. error code: ' . preg_last_error();
-            }
+            $message = preg_last_error_msg();
 
             throw new RuntimeException($message . '. filename: "' . $filename . '"');
         }
diff --git a/user_guide_src/source/changelogs/index.rst b/user_guide_src/source/changelogs/index.rst
index 3b0166c70850..8efdf1f7e275 100644
--- a/user_guide_src/source/changelogs/index.rst
+++ b/user_guide_src/source/changelogs/index.rst
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ See all the changes.
 .. toctree::
     :titlesonly:
 
+    v4.4.0
     v4.3.0
     v4.2.10
     v4.2.9
diff --git a/user_guide_src/source/changelogs/v4.4.0.rst b/user_guide_src/source/changelogs/v4.4.0.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..d370e293c4cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/user_guide_src/source/changelogs/v4.4.0.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+Version 4.4.0
+#############
+
+Release Date: Unreleased
+
+**4.4.0 release of CodeIgniter4**
+
+.. contents::
+    :local:
+    :depth: 3
+
+Highlights
+**********
+
+- Update minimal PHP requirement to 8.0.
+- TBD
+
+BREAKING
+********
+
+Behavior Changes
+================
+
+Interface Changes
+=================
+
+Method Signature Changes
+========================
+
+Enhancements
+************
+
+Commands
+========
+
+Testing
+=======
+
+Database
+========
+
+Query Builder
+-------------
+
+Forge
+-----
+
+Others
+------
+
+Model
+=====
+
+Libraries
+=========
+
+Helpers and Functions
+=====================
+
+Others
+======
+
+Message Changes
+***************
+
+Changes
+*******
+
+- Update minimal PHP requirement to 8.0.
+
+Deprecations
+************
+
+Bugs Fixed
+**********
+
+See the repo's `CHANGELOG.md <https://github.com/codeigniter4/CodeIgniter4/blob/develop/CHANGELOG.md>`_ for a complete list of bugs fixed.
diff --git a/user_guide_src/source/installation/upgrade_4xx.rst b/user_guide_src/source/installation/upgrade_4xx.rst
index 1a35121d8f7d..cced3913097e 100644
--- a/user_guide_src/source/installation/upgrade_4xx.rst
+++ b/user_guide_src/source/installation/upgrade_4xx.rst
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ Downloads
 Namespaces
 ==========
 
-- CI4 is built for PHP 7.4+, and everything in the framework is namespaced, except for the helpers.
+- CI4 is built for PHP 8.0+, and everything in the framework is namespaced, except for the helpers.
 
 Application Structure
 =====================
diff --git a/user_guide_src/source/intro/requirements.rst b/user_guide_src/source/intro/requirements.rst
index 191e264733ec..b1b473192d22 100644
--- a/user_guide_src/source/intro/requirements.rst
+++ b/user_guide_src/source/intro/requirements.rst
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 Server Requirements
 ###################
 
-`PHP <https://www.php.net/>`_ version 7.4 or newer is required, with the following PHP extensions are enabled:
+`PHP <https://www.php.net/>`_ version 8.0 or newer is required, with the following PHP extensions are enabled:
 
   - `intl <https://www.php.net/manual/en/intl.requirements.php>`_
   - `mbstring <https://www.php.net/manual/en/mbstring.requirements.php>`_