How to Use WP-CLI in OpenPanel

WP-CLI is the command-line tool for WordPress. It lets you update plugins, reset passwords, search and replace URLs or export the database in seconds. WP-CLI is preinstalled in every OpenPanel PHP container - it's what WP Manager itself uses behind the scenes.

Many common tasks don't need WP-CLI at all: the WP Manager has buttons for updates, cache, debugging, maintenance mode, backups and cloning.

Where to Run WP-CLI​

WordPress runs in your domain's PHP container (for example php-fpm-8.3), so WP-CLI commands run there too. Two ways:

Option 1: Web terminal (Enterprise)​

1. Go to OpenPanel → Containers → Terminal.
2. Select the PHP container your site uses, e.g. php-fpm-8.3.
3. Run commands with the site path and --allow-root:

wp plugin list --path=/var/www/html/example.com --allow-root

Or go to the folder first, then leave out --path:

cd /var/www/html/example.com
wp plugin list --allow-root

See Terminal.

Option 2: Cron job with "Run" (any plan with cron jobs)​

1. Go to OpenPanel → Cron Jobs → Create New.
2. Container: php-fpm-8.3.
3. Command: your WP-CLI command, e.g. wp core version --path=/var/www/html/example.com --allow-root.
4. Save, then click Run to execute it immediately and see the output.

Delete the job afterwards if it was a one-time command - or keep it with a schedule for recurring tasks.

Common Commands​

All examples assume you are in the site folder (cd /var/www/html/example.com).

For more commands with examples, and fixes for the most common WP-CLI errors, see Most useful WP-CLI commands with examples.

Core, plugins and themes​

wp core version --allow-root
wp core update --allow-root
wp plugin list --allow-root
wp plugin update --all --allow-root
wp plugin deactivate --all --allow-root        # troubleshooting a broken site
wp plugin activate woocommerce --allow-root
wp theme activate twentytwentyfive --allow-root

Users and passwords​

wp user list --allow-root
wp user update admin --user_pass='NewStrongPassword' --allow-root
wp user create jane [email protected] --role=administrator --allow-root

Search and replace (after a domain change)​

wp search-replace 'https://old.com' 'https://new.com' --all-tables --dry-run --allow-root
wp search-replace 'https://old.com' 'https://new.com' --all-tables --allow-root

Always run with --dry-run first.

Database​

wp db export backup.sql --allow-root
wp db import backup.sql --allow-root
wp db optimize --allow-root

Keep exports outside the public folder, or delete them afterwards - a .sql file in the site root can be downloaded by anyone.

Cache and rewrite rules​

wp cache flush --allow-root
wp rewrite flush --allow-root
wp transient delete --all --allow-root

Site settings​

wp option get siteurl --allow-root
wp option update home 'https://example.com' --allow-root
wp option update siteurl 'https://example.com' --allow-root
wp maintenance-mode activate --allow-root

Replace WP-Cron with a Real Cron Job​

WordPress runs scheduled tasks (wp-cron.php) on page visits, which can be unreliable on quiet sites and slow on busy ones. To use a real cron job instead:

1. Add to wp-config.php: define('DISABLE_WP_CRON', true);
2. Create a cron job in the PHP container, Every 5 Minutes:

wp cron event run --due-now --path=/var/www/html/example.com --allow-root

Related​

• Set up a WordPress staging site
• Fix the WordPress white screen / critical error
• Cron Jobs