Install and manage WordPress with WP-CLI | Hostvento Knowledge Base

What is WP-CLI?

CLI means command line interface. It is a window where you type short commands instead of clicking buttons. WP-CLI is a free tool made for WordPress. One command can update every plugin. It is faster than clicking each one.

You need SSH access to use it. SSH is a safe way to type commands on your server from afar. Ask Hostvento support whether your plan offers SSH and whether WP-CLI is installed. On a VPS or dedicated server you have root access and can install it yourself.

Check if WP-CLI is installed

wp --info

This shows the WP-CLI version. If you see "command not found", install it below.

Install WP-CLI

Download the tool.

curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/wp-cli/builds/gh-pages/phar/wp-cli.phar

This saves the program file.

Make it runnable.
```
chmod +x wp-cli.phar
```
Move it to a folder where commands live.
```
sudo mv wp-cli.phar /usr/local/bin/wp
```
This needs root access. Without root, keep the file in your home folder and run it as php wp-cli.phar.

Install a new WordPress site

Go to your site folder.
```
cd /path/to/your/site
```
Download WordPress.
```
wp core download
```

Create the config file. Use your own database details.

wp config create --dbname=wpdb --dbuser=wpuser --dbpass=YourPassword --dbhost=localhost

This writes wp-config.php for you.

Run the install.

wp core install --url=https://example.com --title="My Site" --admin_user=siteowner --admin_password=StrongPassHere --admin_email=you@example.com

This sets up the site and your first user.

Everyday commands

Command	What it does
`wp core update`	Updates WordPress
`wp plugin list`	Lists your plugins
`wp plugin update --all`	Updates all plugins
`wp theme list`	Lists your themes
`wp user list`	Lists users
`wp cache flush`	Clears the object cache

Warning: Take a backup before you run bulk update commands.

Quick recap

WP-CLI lets you run WordPress tasks by typing commands.
Use wp --info to check if it is installed.
Download, configure and install a site in four commands.
Use it to update and manage plugins, themes and users quickly.