WP-CLI commands to update WordPress core to version 6.8.1

Commands

# Delete the core updater lock option
wp option delete core_updater.lock

# Update WordPress to 6.8.1 forcefully
wp core update --version=6.8.1 --force

# Display the WordPress version
wp core version

# Checks for WordPress updates via Version Check API.
wp core check-update

# Update the WordPress database
wp core update-db

# Update multiple default themes from wordpress.org
wp theme update twentytwenty twentytwentyone twentytwentytwo twentytwentythree

# Delete older default themes
wp theme delete twentysixteen twentyseventeen twentynineteen

# Update all themes
wp theme update --all

# Install the new default theme
wp theme install twentytwentyone

# Deactivate Gutenberg plugin
wp plugin deactivate gutenberg

# Delete Gutenberg plugin
wp plugin delete gutenberg

# Delete Hello Dolly plugin
wp plugin delete hello-dolly

# Update Akismet to the latest version from wordpress.org
wp plugin update akismet

# Update all plugins from wordpress.org
wp plugin update --all

# Install the latest version of Blockeditor Fullscreen Mode Control from wordpress.org and activate
wp plugin install blockeditor-fullscreen-mode-control --activate

# Install the latest version of Disable Gutenberg from wordpress.org and activate
wp plugin install disable-gutenberg --activate

https://wordpress.org/news/2025/04/wordpress-6-8-1-maintenance-release/
https://wordpress.org/news/2025/04/cecil/
https://developer.wordpress.org/cli/commands/core/update/
https://developer.wordpress.org/cli/commands/core/version/
https://developer.wordpress.org/cli/commands/core/check-update/
https://developer.wordpress.org/cli/commands/core/update-db/
https://developer.wordpress.org/cli/commands/theme/install/
https://developer.wordpress.org/cli/commands/theme/delete/
https://developer.wordpress.org/cli/commands/theme/update/
https://developer.wordpress.org/cli/commands/plugin/deactivate/
https://developer.wordpress.org/cli/commands/plugin/delete/
https://developer.wordpress.org/cli/commands/plugin/update/
https://developer.wordpress.org/cli/commands/plugin/install/
https://developer.wordpress.org/cli/commands/option/update/