Install WordPress Using WP-CLI

WP-CLI, WordPress Command Line Interface, is a powerful set of tools, available with WordPress Hosting at InMotion. WP-CLI commands allow you to perform common WordPress management tasks via the command line. One great example is the ability to completely install WordPress from the command line, which saves time compared to the manual option. In this guide, you will learn how to use WP-CLI to setup a new WordPress website from the command line.

Install WordPress

1. SSH into your server as the cPanel user that owns the website you are installing WordPress on.

2. Use the cd command to switch to the document root directory of your website.

   Example: cd public_html/my_website

   NOTE: Be sure to replace public_html/my_website with the actual path to the document root directory of your website.

3. Run the following command to download WordPress (into the document root directory you are in):

   wp core download

4. Run the following command to configure WordPress:

   wp core config –prompt

   Refer to the table below for a description of the values you will enter when prompted.

   Prompt	Description	Value
   1/11 dbname: *	Enter the name of the MySQL database created	exampl3_wp
   2/11 dbuser: *	Enter the name of the MySQL database user created	exampl3_wp
   3/11 dbpass: *	Enter the password created for the database user	[email protected]$w0rd123!
   4/11 dbhost:	Enter the hostname of the MySQL database server
   5/11 dbprefix:	Enter the prefix to use in the MySQL database structure
   6/11 dbcharset:	Enter the database character set
   7/11 dbcollate:	Enter the database collation
   8/11 locale:	Enter the WPLANG constant
   9/11 extra-php (Y/n): *	Enter Y to add any PHP code from STDIN or n to skip	n
   10/11 skip-salts (Y/n): *	Enter Y to generate or n to skip generating keys and salts	n
   11/11 skip-check (Y/n): *	Enter Y test or n to skip testing the database connection	n

   Simply type in your custom value and then press the Enter key to proceed through each prompt.

   NOTE: The values in the table are the values used for our example, when writing this guide. Some values are left blank intentionally. In this case, the default configuration will be used. Be sure to use your own custom values. To use a default value, simply press the Enter key (without entering data) to proceed through the prompts. Prompts in the table marked with an asterisk (*) require a custom value (you can not leave these fields blank).

5. Run the following command to install WordPress:

   wp core install –prompt

   Refer to the table below for a description of the values you will enter when prompted.

   Prompt	Description	Value
   1/6 url:	Enter the URL for your website	example.com
   2/6 title:	Enter the site title for your website	WPCLI Example Site
   3/6 admin_user:	Enter the administrator username	exampl3_wpadmin
   4/6 admin_password:	Enter the administrator password	@DM|[email protected]$w0rd123!
   5/6 admin_email:	Enter the email address for the administrator	[email protected]
   6/6 skip-email (Y/n):	Enter Y to email or n to skip emailing the admin details	Y

   Simply type in your chosen value and then press the Enter key to proceed through each prompt.

   NOTE: The values in the table are the values used for our example, when writing this guide. Be sure to use your own custom values. All prompts require custom values (you can not leave any fields blank).

Congratulations! You now know how to install WordPress from the command line, using WP-CLI. 

Learn more about WP-CLI, the command-line interface for WordPress, and streamline your WordPress maintenance workflow!