Install WP-CLI

What you need before step 1

Applies to: WP-CLI 2.x with PHP 7.2.24 or later on Linux, macOS and Windows (as documented in the WP-CLI handbook)

8 steps

1. 1

   Check PHP and whether wp already exists

   Where: SSH session to the web server, or Terminal on macOS/Linux

   Run both commands. If wp --info already prints WP-CLI details, WP-CLI is installed and you can stop here.

   php --version
   wp --info

   You should see: PHP reports version 7.2.24 or later. wp --info either prints WP-CLI details or "command not found".
2. 2

   Download wp-cli.phar

   Where: The same terminal, in your home directory

   Download the Phar file from the URL in the WP-CLI handbook.

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

   You should see: curl shows a progress bar and wp-cli.phar is saved in your home directory.
3. 3

   Optional: check the download is genuine

   Where: The same terminal

   Download the published SHA-512 checksum and compare it with the hash of your file. The handbook also documents a stronger GPG signature check.

   curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/wp-cli/builds/gh-pages/phar/wp-cli.phar.sha512
   sha512sum wp-cli.phar
   cat wp-cli.phar.sha512

   You should see: The two hash values match exactly.
4. 4

   Test that the Phar runs

   Where: The same terminal

   Run the file with PHP before installing it.

   php wp-cli.phar --info

   You should see: Output listing OS, Shell, PHP binary, PHP version, php.ini used and WP-CLI version.
5. 5

   Make it executable and move it onto your PATH

   Where: The same terminal

   Make the file executable and move it to /usr/local/bin/wp so you can type wp from anywhere. Enter your password if sudo asks.

   chmod +x wp-cli.phar
   sudo mv wp-cli.phar /usr/local/bin/wp

   You should see: No output. The commands return to the prompt.
6. 6

   macOS alternative: install with Homebrew

   Where: Mac: Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal (Homebrew installed from https://brew.sh)

   Instead of downloading the Phar and moving it yourself you can install with Homebrew.

   brew install wp-cli

   You should see: Homebrew installs wp-cli and the wp command is available.
7. 7

   Windows: install PHP and create wp.bat

   Where: Windows PC, File Explorer and Command Prompt

   Install PHP and add it to your PATH. Create the folder C:\wp-cli and download wp-cli.phar into it from the URL above. In that folder create a text file named wp.bat containing the two lines below, then add the folder to your PATH with setx and open a new Command Prompt. The handbook notes wp.bat does not work in Git Bash; there you need an extensionless wp script instead.

   @ECHO OFF
   php "c:/wp-cli/wp-cli.phar" %*
   
   setx path "%path%;c:\wp-cli"

   You should see: In a new Command Prompt, wp --info prints WP-CLI details.
8. 8

   Run a first command against your site

   Where: SSH session, in the WordPress folder (the one containing wp-config.php), as the site's own user rather than root

   Change to the WordPress folder and check the site's home URL.

   cd /var/www/contoso.com/public_html
   wp option get home

   You should see: The site address is printed, for example https://contoso.com.

Expert tips

How to confirm it worked

• Run wp --info. The handbook says output showing the WP-CLI version means the install succeeded.

• In the WordPress folder, wp option get home prints the site address.

How to reverse it

Errors you might see

Questions

Official sources

Vendors change menus and requirements. Confirm on the source before you rely on a detail. Last checked 4 Nov 2026.