How to Install and Use WP-CLI on a Server

WP-CLI is a powerful command-line tool that allows you to manage WordPress installations efficiently. Whether you're installing plugins, updating themes, or managing users, WP-CLI speeds up your workflow and is ideal for system administrators, developers, and agencies managing multiple WordPress sites.

In this tutorial from Colobird, we’ll walk you through how to install WP-CLI globally on a server and demonstrate some of the most useful commands.

Why Use WP-CLI?

Automate repetitive tasks.
Perform updates without logging into the WordPress dashboard.
Manage plugins, themes, users, and more via terminal.
Save time on large-scale WordPress maintenance.

Pre-requisites

Before you begin, ensure your server environment meets the following requirements:

A UNIX-like operating system (Linux, macOS, FreeBSD, etc.)
PHP version 5.4 or higher
WordPress 3.7 or newer installed

Install and Use WP-CLI on Your Server

To install WP-CLI globally on your server, follow these steps:

Installing WP-CLI (Globally for All Users)
1. Download WP-CLI using curl or wget:
curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/wp-cli/builds/gh-pages/phar/wp-cli.phar
2. Check that WP-CLI works:
php wp-cli.phar --info
3. Make the file executable and move it to a global location:
chmod +x wp-cli.phar sudo mv wp-cli.phar /usr/local/bin/wp
4. Verify the installation:
wp --info
If everything is set up correctly, you’ll see details about your server environment and WP-CLI version.
Updating WP-CLI
To update WP-CLI to the latest version, run:
wp cli update
Or repeat the installation steps with the latest .phar file.
Using WP-CLI as a Site User
To test WP-CLI from a specific user account (e.g., your WordPress site user):
su - wordpress wp --version
Replace wordpress with the actual system username.
Managing Plugins with WP-CLI
List all installed plugins:
wp plugin list
Activate a plugin:
wp plugin activate plugin-name
Deactivate a plugin:
wp plugin deactivate plugin-name
Delete a plugin:
wp plugin delete plugin-name
Update all plugins:
wp plugin update --all
Update a single plugin:
wp plugin update plugin-name
Managing Themes with WP-CLI
List all themes:
wp theme list
Install a theme:
wp theme install theme-name
Activate a theme:
wp theme activate theme-name
Update all themes:
wp theme update --all
Upgrade or Downgrade WordPress Core
Check current WordPress version:
wp core version
Update to the latest WordPress version:
wp core update
Downgrade WordPress to a specific version (use with caution):
wp core update --version=6.2.2 --force
Managing WordPress Users
List all users:
wp user list
Create a new administrator:
wp user create newusername email@example.com --role=administrator --user_pass=StrongPassword123!
Update a user’s password:
wp user update username --user_pass=NewSecurePassword
Delete a user:
wp user delete username
Delete a user and reassign their content to another user:
wp user delete olduser --reassign=newuser

Additional Resources

Official WP-CLI Handbook
WP-CLI Commands
WP-CLI Community Commands

Conclusion

WP-CLI is an essential tool for any WordPress server administrator or developer. With it, you can streamline your workflows, automate tasks, and manage WordPress efficiently — all from the command line.

Need help setting up WP-CLI on your Colobird-hosted server? Contact our support team, we're here to help!

How to Install and Use WP-CLI on Your Server – A Complete Guide by Colobird

Why Use WP-CLI?

Pre-requisites

Install and Use WP-CLI on Your Server

Additional Resources

Conclusion