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WP-CLI lets you build, inspect, and administer a WordPress Multisite network from a shell instead of clicking through each dashboard. Use wp core multisite-install for a new network, wp core install-network (the alias of wp core multisite-convert) to convert an existing site, wp site commands for the site lifecycle, --url to select a site, and --ssh to run the same commands on a remote server or container.

This guide shows a safe operating model: identify the WordPress path, choose the correct site context, run read-only inventory first, protect destructive commands, and separate network-wide administration from site-specific changes.

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What WP-CLI does in a Multisite network

WP-CLI is the official command-line tool for interacting with and managing WordPress sites. In a Multisite installation, one WordPress codebase and database serve multiple sites. WP-CLI exposes both layers: commands such as wp network and wp super-admin manage the network, while wp site, wp plugin, wp theme, and site options operate on an individual site or the network context you select.

The distinction matters because a command can otherwise run against the network’s default site. Treat --path and --url as part of every production command:

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  • --path=<path> points WP-CLI at the WordPress installation.
  • --url=<url> selects the site in a Multisite network.
  • --ssh=[<scheme>:][<user>@]<host|container>[:<port>][<path>] executes the command on a remote server or container.

Start with a harmless command such as wp core version or wp site list --field=url. Confirm the path and URLs before using a command that changes data.

Prerequisites and a safe command pattern

What you need before installing or converting

  • Shell access to the server, or SSH access that can invoke WP-CLI remotely.
  • A working PHP and database-backed WordPress installation for a conversion, or an empty location and database for a new network.
  • File permissions that allow WP-CLI to edit WordPress files when a command needs to update wp-config.php or rewrite rules.
  • A database and file backup before conversion, URL replacement, deletion, or bulk updates.
  • A plan for the network URL model: subdomains such as site.example.com, or subdirectories such as example.com/site/.

Identify the installation and WP-CLI version

cd /var/www/example.com
wp --info
wp core version
wp option get siteurl
wp site list --field=url

Replace the path with the directory containing wp-config.php. If WordPress is not in the current directory, use the explicit form:

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wp --path=/var/www/example.com core version
wp --path=/var/www/example.com site list --field=url

Use wp help <command> whenever you need the exact syntax supported by your installed WP-CLI release. The command reference is regenerated at every release, so options and defaults can vary by version.

Create a new Multisite network with WP-CLI

For a fresh installation, wp core multisite-install installs WordPress and creates the network tables and configuration in one workflow. The command requires a URL, a base path, a network title, and administrator details. Add --subdomains when the network will use subdomains; omit it for a subdirectory network.

Subdirectory network example

wp core multisite-install 
  --url=https://example.com 
  --base=/ 
  --title="Example Network" 
  --admin_user=networkadmin 
  --admin_password='use-a-long-unique-password' 
  --admin_email=admin@example.com

With this structure, a site slug such as news becomes a path like https://example.com/news/. Choose a base that matches the URL where WordPress will actually run; changing the base later requires a deliberate URL migration.

Subdomain network example

wp core multisite-install 
  --url=https://example.com 
  --base=/ 
  --subdomains 
  --title="Example Network" 
  --admin_user=networkadmin 
  --admin_password='use-a-long-unique-password' 
  --admin_email=admin@example.com

A subdomain network creates sites such as https://news.example.com/. DNS and the web server must route those hostnames to the WordPress installation; WP-CLI creates the WordPress configuration and database records but cannot create DNS records for you.

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What the command changes

The documented workflow creates the standard WordPress tables, adds the Multisite constants to wp-config.php, and installs the network. Review the resulting file before putting the site into service. On Apache, you must also apply the Multisite rewrite rules shown by the WP-CLI documentation to .htaccess; without those rules, pretty URLs and dashboard routing can fail.

Verify the new network

  1. Run wp site list and confirm the initial site appears.
  2. Run wp site list --field=url to check the generated URL format.
  3. Run wp network meta list to confirm that network metadata commands work.
  4. Open the network administration area and check that the expected domain and path are shown.
  5. For a subdomain network, resolve a test subdomain and request it through the web server before creating many sites.

Convert an existing single-site installation

To turn an existing WordPress site into a network, use wp core install-network. It is an alias of wp core multisite-convert. The command creates the Multisite database tables and adds the required constants to wp-config.php.

wp core install-network 
  --url=https://example.com 
  --base=/ 
  --title="Example Network"

You can use the equivalent command if you prefer the canonical name:

wp core multisite-convert 
  --url=https://example.com 
  --base=/ 
  --title="Example Network"

Conversion checklist

  1. Back up the database and the entire WordPress files directory.
  2. Put the site in a maintenance window if visitors could write content while the conversion runs.
  3. Record the current site URL, home URL, active plugins, themes, cron jobs, and administrator accounts.
  4. Run the conversion from the directory containing wp-config.php, or supply --path.
  5. Apply the Multisite rewrite rules to .htaccess when Apache is used. The WP-CLI documentation explicitly calls out this step.
  6. Log in to the network administration area and confirm the original site is present.
  7. Test front-end URLs, media uploads, scheduled tasks, and administrator access before opening the site to normal traffic.

Conversion does not automatically redesign your URL structure or configure DNS. Decide whether the existing site remains the main network site and prepare web-server routing for any additional sites.

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Choose and target a site context

Use --url for site-scoped work

In Multisite, the global --url parameter is the reliable way to tell WP-CLI which site a command should address. Use a complete URL that exists in the network:

wp --path=/var/www/example.com --url=https://example.com/news option get blogname
wp --path=/var/www/example.com --url=https://example.com/news plugin list
wp --path=/var/www/example.com --url=https://example.com/news user list

For a subdomain network, select the host instead:

wp --path=/var/www/example.com --url=https://news.example.com option get blogname

Place global parameters before or after the command according to the syntax accepted by your WP-CLI version, but keep them visible in scripts. A missing or incorrect --url can change the network’s primary site rather than the site you intended.

Use --path when several WordPress installations share a server

If the server hosts more than one WordPress installation, never rely on the current working directory in automation. Pin the installation:

wp --path=/srv/network-a --url=https://network-a.example site list --field=url
wp --path=/srv/network-b --url=https://network-b.example site list --field=url

Make repeatable environments with aliases

WP-CLI aliases in wp-cli.yml let you name local and remote environments once, then reuse the same command. Keep production and staging aliases visibly different, and include both the path and the URL selector in the alias definition. Before running a destructive command through an alias, print a read-only value such as siteurl and verify the result.

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Inventory sites before changing them

Inventory is the safest first operation. The basic command prints the network’s sites:

wp site list

For scripts, output only URLs:

wp site list --field=url

The site-list command supports network filters and site ID filters, so you can narrow a report to a particular network or known site IDs. Ask WP-CLI for the available fields and filters on the installed version with wp help site list. Capture an inventory before bulk plugin, theme, URL, or user operations.

A practical inventory includes the site ID, domain, path, URL, public or private state, and whether it is archived or marked as spam. Exporting these values to a dated file gives you a reviewable change plan without modifying the network.

Create sites and set their initial state

Create a site by slug

The documented minimal command is:

wp site create --slug=example

WP-CLI reports the new site ID and URL, for example: Success: Site 3 created: www.example.com/example/. The exact domain and path depend on the network’s URL model.

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Subdomain versus subdirectory arguments

On a subdomain network, use a subdomain slug or provide the complete address with --site-url:

wp site create --slug=news
wp site create --site-url=https://news.example.com

On a subdirectory network, use a path slug:

wp site create --slug=news

Use wp help site create to confirm the supported options and required permissions in your version. After creation, immediately query the returned site with wp site get and test its URL before handing it to a site administrator.

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Give a new site a controlled handoff

  1. Create the site while authenticated as a network administrator.
  2. Retrieve its ID and URL with wp site get <id>.
  3. Set site-specific options with wp --url=<site-url> site option update ... only after confirming the selector.
  4. Create or assign the site’s administrator user using the user commands with the same --url context.
  5. Record the site ID, URL, owner, and status in your provisioning system.

Manage the site lifecycle with wp site

The wp site command group contains the lifecycle operations needed by network administrators. Run wp help site for the full syntax, then target a site by ID or URL as appropriate.

Operation Command Use
Inspect wp site get <id> Read a site’s domain, path, and identifiers before an action.
Activate wp site activate <id> Return an inactive site to normal operation.
Deactivate wp site deactivate <id> Disable a site without deleting its data.
Archive wp site archive <id> Mark a site as archived for network workflows.
Unarchive wp site unarchive <id> Remove the archived status.
Public wp site public <id> Make a site public.
Private wp site private <id> Set a site to private.
Spam wp site spam <id> Mark a site as spam.
Unspam wp site unspam <id> Remove the spam status.
Mature wp site mature <id> Mark a site as mature.
Unmature wp site unmature <id> Remove the mature status.
Empty wp site empty <id> Empty a site’s content while retaining the site record; confirm the command’s prompts and scope first.
Delete wp site delete <id> Delete a site record and its site data; treat as irreversible without a backup.
Site metadata wp site meta ... Get, add, update, delete, or list custom fields for a site.
Site options wp site option ... Read or change options for a selected site.

Protect empty and delete operations

Before empty or delete, save a database backup, export content if required, and run wp site get against the ID. Check that the domain and path match the ticket or change record. Run the command once interactively so you can read its confirmation prompt; only automate it after you understand the exact confirmation and scope in your WP-CLI version.

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Network-wide administration

Manage network metadata

wp network meta gets, adds, updates, deletes, and lists custom fields attached to the network:

wp network meta list
wp network meta get 1 registration
wp network meta update 1 maintenance_mode 1

The precise positional arguments depend on the metadata key and your installed command version. Use wp help network meta before changing a value, and document keys that affect registration, privacy, or provisioning behavior.

Manage super administrators

Super administrators have network-level capabilities. List current members, add an existing user, or remove a member with:

wp super-admin list
wp super-admin add username
wp super-admin remove username

On Multisite, the quick-start handbook specifically recommends wp super-admin add to grant super-admin capabilities to an existing user. Use the account’s login name exactly, verify the target network with --path, and keep membership minimal. Removing a user from the super-admin list does not delete the user account or remove that person’s membership from individual sites.

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Separate network and site settings

Use wp network meta for network custom fields. Use wp site option and wp site meta when the setting belongs to one site. For example:

wp --url=https://example.com/news site option get blogname
wp --url=https://example.com/news site option update blogdescription "News site"
wp --url=https://example.com/news site meta list 3

Always make the URL selector explicit when a setting is not intended for the primary site.

Run WP-CLI on a remote Multisite server

The global --ssh parameter runs WP-CLI against a remote server or container. Its documented form is --ssh=[<scheme>:][<user>@]<host|container>[:<port>][<path>].

Remote command examples

wp --ssh=deploy@example.com/var/www/network core version
wp --ssh=deploy@example.com:2222/var/www/network site list --field=url
wp --ssh=docker:wordpress:/var/www/html --url=https://example.com/news option get siteurl

The exact SSH scheme and container transport must be supported by your WP-CLI installation and local SSH configuration. Test connectivity with a read-only command first:

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wp --ssh=deploy@example.com/var/www/network --info
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When remote execution fails, check the SSH key, username, port, remote PHP and WP-CLI availability, the remote path, and whether the account can read the WordPress files and database. A command can connect successfully yet fail later because the remote user lacks permission to edit wp-config.php or write uploads.

Use aliases for staging and production

Define separate aliases in wp-cli.yml for local, staging, and production. Include the remote transport, WordPress path, and a representative URL. Keep production aliases read-only by default in your operational scripts, and require an explicit environment variable or confirmation before running deletion, search-replace, plugin updates, or database changes.

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Maintain plugins, themes, users, and core across the network

The WP-CLI command index includes core updates, plugin and theme management, language packs, cache operations, exports, users, roles, rewrites, search-replace, and site health. In Multisite, first decide whether the change is network-wide or limited to one site.

Network-wide versus site-specific plugin changes

Run a plugin command without a site selector only when you intend to operate in the network context. For one site, include --url:

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wp --url=https://example.com/news plugin list
wp --url=https://example.com/news plugin update sample-plugin
wp --url=https://example.com/news theme list

Activation semantics differ in Multisite: a plugin can be activated for one site or made network-active. Check wp help plugin activate and use the explicit network option supported by your version rather than assuming a site-level activation affects every site.

Core and language updates

Before updating, inventory the network, confirm backups, and test on staging. Run the update from the installation’s path, then check representative sites with wp --url=... core version, front-end requests, and scheduled tasks. Language-pack commands and cache commands should likewise be run with a clear network or site scope.

Users and roles

Create or inspect users with the selected site’s URL when the account is intended for one site. Use wp super-admin only for network-level membership. Grant the smallest role that supports the person’s work, and avoid using a super administrator account for routine content edits.

Safely migrate domains and URLs

For a domain or URL migration, use wp search-replace. The quick-start workflow is to run a dry run first, review the result, then repeat without --dry-run:

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wp search-replace 'http://oldsite.com' 'http://newsite.com' --dry-run
wp search-replace 'http://oldsite.com' 'http://newsite.com'

The dry run reports what would change without writing replacements. In a Multisite network, scope the command carefully: use the correct --url when the replacement is for one site, or run from the network context only when every affected table and site has been reviewed.

Migration safeguards

  • Back up the database and files, and verify that the backup can be restored.
  • Use the exact old and new schemes, domains, ports, and path prefixes.
  • Run the dry run and save its output for review.
  • Check serialized data handling in the WP-CLI command version you are using; do not replace strings with a generic SQL search-and-replace tool.
  • Update web-server routing, DNS, certificates, and WordPress rewrite rules as part of the change window.
  • After replacement, test the network admin, every affected site’s home URL, media, redirects, login, and cron.

Automation patterns that avoid accidental damage

Read-only discovery loop

for url in $(wp --path=/var/www/network site list --field=url); do
  printf 'n== %s ==n' "$url"
  wp --path=/var/www/network --url="$url" option get blogname
  wp --path=/var/www/network --url="$url" core version
done

Use this pattern to build an inventory before a maintenance window. For URLs containing shell-special characters or whitespace, emit structured output and process it with a parser rather than relying on word splitting.

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Dry-run before write

For commands that offer a dry-run mode, run it first and save the output. Where no dry run exists, make the first pass a read-only command such as list, get, or meta list, then require a reviewed input file of site IDs.

Log context with every change

Record the timestamp, operator, alias, --path, --url, command, and exit status. This makes it possible to distinguish a network-wide change from a site-scoped one and to reverse a mistake using the appropriate backup.

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Troubleshooting common failures

“This does not seem to be a WordPress installation”

WP-CLI is pointed at the wrong directory. Locate wp-config.php and rerun with --path=/correct/path. On a remote host, verify that the path is remote, not a path that exists only on your workstation.

Wrong site changed

The command ran against the network’s default context because --url was omitted or misspelled. Re-run a read-only check such as wp --url=... option get siteurl, then add the full URL to the command and to the script or alias.

Subdomain site returns a DNS or server error

Creating a site record does not configure DNS or the web server. Point the hostname at the server, configure the virtual host or wildcard routing, install a certificate that covers the hostname, and verify that requests reach the same WordPress path.

Pretty links or dashboard routes fail after conversion

On Apache, apply the Multisite rewrite rules to .htaccess as instructed by the wp core install-network documentation. Then reload the web server if required and resave rewrite settings only after the rule file is correct.

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Permission or database errors

Check the operating-system user running WP-CLI, PHP extensions, database credentials in wp-config.php, and file ownership. A remote SSH login can succeed while WordPress still cannot write configuration, uploads, or cache files.

Command option is unknown

Run wp help <command> on the target environment. WP-CLI’s command reference is regenerated at every release, and an option available in one version may have a different name or requirement in another.

A practical operating sequence

  1. Confirm the environment with --path, --ssh, and --url.
  2. Run wp site list --field=url and save an inventory.
  3. Back up before conversion, migration, deletion, or bulk updates.
  4. Choose the correct scope: network commands for network metadata and super administrators; site commands for one site’s options, plugins, themes, users, or content.
  5. Use a dry run where available, especially for wp search-replace.
  6. Apply web-server and DNS changes separately from database changes, and test both.
  7. Verify representative sites and record the command, result, and rollback plan.

This sequence keeps routine inventory fast while adding deliberate checks around operations that can affect every site or remove data.

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