We recently shipped two big updates for our local development tool, WordPress Studio: Studio CLI as a standalone npm module phpMyAdmin access One is for the terminal devotee, the other…

New in WordPress Studio: Studio CLI on npm & phpMyAdmin Access

By Alexa Peduzzi on April 7, 2026

We recently shipped two big updates for our local development tool, WordPress Studio:

Studio CLI as a standalone npm module
phpMyAdmin access

One is for the terminal devotee, the other is for anyone who dreads opening a separate database tool — both are for anyone who’d rather just get building.

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Studio CLI on npm

Until now, using Studio meant needing to download the desktop app. That changes today.

If you work primarily in the terminal — whether you’re a Linux user or just prefer to keep your hands on the keyboard — you can now install Studio directly via npm and skip the GUI entirely.

The CLI fits naturally in automated test runs, deployment scripts, and AI coding agent workflows — anywhere you’re already working in the terminal and spinning up a WordPress site by hand would slow you down.

How to install

If you already have the Studio desktop app installed, the CLI is already available — just enable Studio CLI for terminal under Preferences.

The WordPress Studio Settings window showing the Studio CLI for terminal toggle, appearance settings, and more

Did you notice dark mode? That’s new, too. Head to your Preferences to change your app’s appearance.

If you want to install the CLI as a standalone tool, simply run npm install -g wp-studio. Alternatively, if you just want to run it once without installing the command, run npx wp-studio.

From there, you can authenticate with WordPress.com, create and manage local sites, preview in the browser, and run WP-CLI commands. Sync with WordPress.com and Pressable, import, export, and more are on the way.

The CLI and the desktop app are companions, not competitors: you can switch between them freely and they stay in sync. And don’t worry: the desktop app isn’t going anywhere.

phpMyAdmin access

On the desktop side, Studio now includes phpMyAdmin access directly from the Overview tab, giving you a visual interface to manage your site’s database.

Inspecting or editing your local database used to mean reaching for a separate tool and going through a setup you’d rather not bother with. Now you can start querying tables, checking data, and debugging schema issues in just one click.