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How I use WP-CLI to manage WordPress websites

Jan 3, 2026•Terminal/CLIWordPress/WooCommerce

Over time, managing WordPress websites through the browser started to feel limiting. Clicking through admin panels, installing plugins just for one task, and repeating the same actions across multiple sites was slowing me down. That changed when I fully embraced WP-CLI.

WP-CLI fundamentally changed how I work with WordPress. It shifted my workflow from reactive and UI-driven to fast, scriptable, and fully under my control.

What is WP-CLI?

WP-CLI is the official command-line interface for WordPress. It allows you to manage almost every aspect of a WordPress installation directly from the terminal: installing WordPress, managing plugins and themes, updating core, running database operations, exporting data, and much more.

Instead of logging into /wp-admin, you interact with WordPress via SSH and simple commands. Once you get used to it, going back to a purely UI-based workflow feels inefficient.

Why WP-CLI became essential for me

The biggest advantage of WP-CLI is speed. Tasks that used to take minutes now take seconds. No page loads, no dashboards, no unnecessary plugins.

Examples of things I do daily with WP-CLI:

  • Install and configure WordPress
  • Update core, plugins, and themes across multiple sites
  • Enable, disable, or remove plugins in bulk
  • Search and replace data safely in the database
  • Clear caches and regenerate files
  • Create and manage users

All of this happens directly on the server, exactly where the site lives.

Productivity gains and time saved

WP-CLI has easily saved me dozens of hours per year — probably more. When you manage multiple client sites or environments, small time savings compound quickly.

What changed for me:

  • No repetitive clicking through admin panels
  • No dependency on one-off utility plugins
  • Faster troubleshooting when something breaks
  • Consistent workflows across all environments

Instead of adapting my process to the WordPress UI, WordPress adapts to my workflow.

Fewer plugins, fewer dependencies

One unexpected benefit of WP-CLI is how many plugins I no longer need. Tasks like database search & replace, user management, cache clearing, or exports can all be handled via the command line.

That means:

  • Cleaner WordPress installations
  • Less attack surface
  • Fewer updates to worry about
  • More predictable behavior

The less logic you push into plugins, the more stable your sites tend to be.

WP-CLI in custom scripts and automation

Where WP-CLI really shines is automation. Because it’s CLI-based, it integrates perfectly into custom scripts and tooling.

I use WP-CLI in:

  • Deployment scripts
  • Setup scripts for new sites
  • Maintenance and update routines
  • Custom workflows for clients

This allows me to standardize how sites are built, updated, and maintained. Spinning up a new WordPress site or applying updates across multiple projects becomes repeatable and reliable.

Confident migrations and backups via SSH

WP-CLI has also changed how I approach migrations and backups. Combined with SSH access, I can move sites with confidence and precision.

Typical tasks include:

  • Exporting and importing databases
  • Running safe search & replace operations
  • Syncing files between servers
  • Verifying site integrity after migration

Because everything happens on the server level, I have full visibility into what’s happening — no black-box plugins, no guesswork. That confidence matters, especially when working on production sites.

A different way of thinking about WordPress

Using WP-CLI pushed me to think of WordPress less as a CMS you “click through” and more as a system you control. It fits naturally into a broader IT and DevOps mindset, where automation, repeatability, and clarity matter.

It’s not about replacing the admin interface entirely, but about choosing the right tool for the job — and for many tasks, the terminal is simply the better option.

Final thoughts

WP-CLI has become one of the most important tools in my WordPress workflow. It saves time, reduces complexity, and gives me confidence when managing, migrating, and maintaining websites.

If you manage more than a handful of WordPress sites — or if you care about efficient, scalable workflows — learning WP-CLI is absolutely worth the investment. Once it clicks, there’s no going back.