Table of contents

WordPress from the admin dashboardWordPress using the Auto-InstallerWordPress using WP-CLIWhy reinstall WordPress?Next stepsAdditional resources

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How to reinstall WordPress

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When your WordPress site starts acting weird—sluggish pages, missing files, broken themes—you don’t always need a complete overhaul. Sometimes, the fix is as simple as hitting the reset button. Reinstalling WordPress might sound intimidating, but it’s actually a clean, powerful way to get your site back on track without losing your content.

Whether you’re troubleshooting or just want a fresh install, here’s how to do it the right way.

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How to reinstall WordPress from the admin dashboard

The easiest way to reinstall WordPress is directly from your admin dashboard.

Log in to your WordPress dashboard. Go to yourdomain.com/wp-admin and sign in using your credentials.
Back up your site. Even though this method doesn’t affect your content, always back up your files and database first. Use a plugin like UpdraftPlus or your hosting provider’s backup tools.
Go to Dashboard > Updates. In the left-hand menu, navigate to Dashboard > Updates.
Click “Re-install Now”. If your current version is up to date, you’ll still see the option to re-install. Click Re-install Now to automatically download and reinstall the core WordPress files.
Wait for the confirmation message. Once the process completes, you’ll see a success message and can return to your dashboard. Your content, plugins, and themes will remain untouched.

How to reinstall WordPress using the Auto-Installer

Many web hosts offer one-click WordPress installation tools that also support reinstallation.

Log into your hosting control panel. Access your cPanel or hosting dashboard. Look for a section labeled Softaculous, Installatron, or something similar.
Locate your WordPress installation. Go to the WordPress installations list and find the domain where WordPress is installed.
Choose reinstall or remove and re-install. Some installers offer a dedicated Reinstall button. Others require you to first remove the existing install, then reinstall WordPress. Always back up your site before proceeding.
Select the reinstall option. Follow the on-screen steps to complete the reinstallation. You can usually keep the database and user details intact during this process.
Verify your site is working. Once finished, log in and check that everything looks and functions as expected.

How to reinstall WordPress using WP-CLI

WP-CLI gives you full control from the command line, which is perfect for developers or advanced users.

Access your server via SSH. Use a terminal application like Terminal (macOS) or PuTTY (Windows) to SSH into your server.
Navigate to your WordPress root directory. Use the cd command to get into the correct folder, usually something like public_html or www.
Back up your site. Export your database and back up your wp-content directory before making changes.
Run the reinstall command. Use the following WP-CLI command to reinstall WordPress core files:

wp core download –skip-content –force

This downloads a fresh copy of WordPress while preserving your themes and plugins.
Check your site. Once the download is complete, visit your site and log in to verify everything is working.

Why reinstall WordPress?

Reinstalling WordPress can solve a wide range of issues or help you start fresh without rebuilding everything from scratch.

Fix corrupted files. Broken core files can cause strange behavior. A reinstall replaces these without touching your content.
Remove malware or injected code. If your WordPress site was hacked, a clean reinstall (along with plugin and theme reviews) helps restore security.
Resolve theme or plugin conflicts. Some issues come from outdated or clashing files. Reinstalling can clear up lingering conflicts.
Improve performance. A clean slate removes bloat or leftover files from failed updates or deleted plugins.
Start fresh without losing content. You can reset WordPress core files while keeping your posts, pages, and media library intact.

Upgrade your WordPress experience

Reinstalling WordPress gives you a clean, stable foundation without wiping out your content. It’s a quick way to fix problems, remove unwanted changes, or just start fresh with confidence.

Now that your site’s in good shape, take the next step by optimizing performance with a caching plugin like WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache.

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