Guide · Claude + WordPress

How to Connect Claude to WordPress in 5 Minutes

Updated 3 November 2026 · About 7 minutes to read

Claude is good at WordPress work: finding why a page breaks, cleaning up CSS, auditing SEO across a whole site. The hard part is usually the connection. Copying files into a chat is slow, and sharing FTP or SSH access with an AI tool is not something most site owners want to do.

RemoteWP solves that with one WordPress plugin. You install it, activate your license key and paste a single prompt into Claude Code. From then on, Claude works on your real site through a secure API, and every sensitive change waits for your approval.

This guide walks through the whole setup, the first requests worth trying and the errors you might see.

What you need

A self-hosted WordPress site running WordPress 5.8 or newer and PHP 7.4 or newer.
An administrator account on that site, so you can install a plugin.
Claude Code, in the terminal or the desktop app. RemoteWP needs an AI tool that can send HTTP requests to your site, and Claude Code does that out of the box.
A free RemoteWP license key. You get it by email when you request the plugin.

You do not need an MCP server, a connector configuration, FTP or SSH. If you are comparing approaches, see AI for WordPress without the MCP setup.

Step 1: Get the plugin and your license key

Request RemoteWP Free on remotewp.dev. You receive an email with your license key and a download button. The download page opens with your key already filled in, so you only need to click Download to get remotewp.zip.

Step 2: Install RemoteWP in WordPress

In your WordPress admin, go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin.
Choose remotewp.zip and click Install Now.
Click Activate Plugin.

Step 3: Activate your license key

Open Settings → RemoteWP, paste the license key from your email and activate it. Do not skip this step: activation registers your site and starts your 7-day full Pro trial, so Claude can make changes during your first week, not only read.

After the trial, the Free plan keeps working with read-only access on one site. Writing changes needs a paid plan. See pricing.

Step 4: Copy the connection prompt

On the same settings screen, click Copy Full Prompt. It copies everything Claude needs: your site URL, a secure connection token and the instructions for working with RemoteWP. Treat it like a password: anyone with this prompt can work on your site within the limits of your plan.

Step 5: Paste it into Claude Code

Start a new Claude Code session and paste the prompt as your first message. Claude reads it, connects to your site and confirms what it can see. From there you describe what you want in plain English.

First requests worth trying

Start with requests that only read. They show you what Claude sees without changing anything:

List the active plugins and tell me which ones have updates.

Check the meta titles and descriptions on my pages and list
the ones that are missing or too long.

Look at the PHP error log and explain the most recent errors.

When you are ready for changes, be specific about the result you want:

Fix the missing meta descriptions you found, page by page,
and show me each one before you save it.

The mobile menu overlaps the logo on the homepage.
Find the CSS that causes it and fix it.

How approvals and backups work

RemoteWP is built so that Claude cannot quietly change the parts of your site that matter most.

Approvals. Publishing content, changing plugins and updating settings are sensitive operations. RemoteWP stops the request and Claude shows you exactly what it wants to change. Nothing happens until you agree.
Backups. Before any file is changed, RemoteWP saves the original in wp-content/uploads/remotewp-backups/. If a change goes wrong, ask Claude to restore it.
Protected files. wp-config.php, .env and .htaccess are blocked from writes.
No passwords. Claude never receives your database, FTP, SSH or hosting passwords.

Troubleshooting

Response	What it means	What to do
`401`	The token is missing, wrong or was regenerated.	Copy the full prompt again from Settings → RemoteWP and start a new session.
`402`	The action needs a Pro license. The Free plan is read-only.	Activate your key to start the trial, or upgrade.
`403`	The file or action is protected, for example `wp-config.php`.	This is intentional. Make that change yourself in your hosting panel.
`428`	The change is waiting for your approval.	Review what Claude shows you and approve it, or ask for a different approach.

How to disconnect Claude

Regenerate the token in Settings → RemoteWP. The old prompt stops working immediately, and any Claude session that used it loses access. Deactivating the plugin has the same effect.

Frequently asked questions

Is RemoteWP an MCP server?

No. RemoteWP is a WordPress plugin with its own REST API. Claude sends ordinary HTTP requests with your site token, so there is nothing to configure in Claude.

Does Claude see my whole server?

No. Claude works inside your WordPress installation through RemoteWP. It has no access to your hosting account, other sites on the same server or your database password.

Can I use the same setup with ChatGPT or Gemini?

Yes. The same prompt works with any AI agent that can send HTTP requests, such as OpenAI Codex or Gemini-based tools. See how to connect ChatGPT to WordPress and the Gemini WordPress plugin.

How many sites can I connect?

The Free plan covers one site. Developer Pro covers up to 10 sites for $79 per year, and Agency Elite covers unlimited sites for $149 per year.

Next: read the getting started documentation, or see what Claude can do with RemoteWP.