wp db reset

Overview

Remove all WordPress database tables without dropping the database itself. The database remains — just completely empty. Use before importing a fresh dump or reinstalling WordPress cleanly.

What It Does

wp db reset drops every table listed in wp db tables, then recreates the empty database. Unlike wp db drop, the database container itself is preserved. This avoids needing re-grant permissions after the operation.

Syntax

wp db reset [--yes] [--dbuser=<value>] [--dbpass=<value>]

Options & Flags

Flag	Description
--yes	Skip the confirmation prompt (required for scripts)
--dbuser=VALUE	Override DB user
--dbpass=VALUE	Override DB password

Basic Usage

Interactive reset (prompts for confirmation)

wp db reset

Are you sure you want to reset the 'wpdb' database? [y/n] y
Success: Database reset.

Non-interactive (scripts)

wp db reset --yes

All data is permanently deleted

wp db reset drops every table and all data. This cannot be undone. Always export first.

How It Differs from Drop

Command	Database container	Tables	Use when
wp db drop --yes	❌ Deleted	❌ Deleted	Full teardown — you'll recreate the DB too
wp db reset --yes	✅ Preserved	❌ Deleted	Clean wipe without needing to recreate the DB

Real-World Scenarios

Scenario 1: Clean slate before fresh import

# Export current state as safety net
wp db export "pre_reset_$(date +%Y%m%d%H%M).sql"

# Wipe and import fresh dump
wp db reset --yes
wp db import fresh_dump.sql
wp search-replace 'https://production.com' 'https://staging.com'
wp cache flush

Scenario 2: Reinstall WordPress cleanly

wp db reset --yes
wp core install \
  --url="http://localhost" \
  --title="Fresh Install" \
  --admin_user=admin \
  --admin_password=admin123 \
  --admin_email=admin@localhost \
  --skip-email

Scenario 3: CI/CD test teardown and setup

# Before each test run — reset to a known clean state
wp db reset --yes
wp db import ./tests/fixtures/base.sql

Scenario 4: Reset a multisite sub-site

wp site empty 2 --yes       # Empty a specific blog's tables
# OR reset the entire network DB
wp db reset --yes

Best Practices

1. Always export before resetting — wp db export takes seconds and saves you from irreversible data loss.
2. Use --yes only in non-interactive environments (CI, Docker, scripts) — never blindly in manual workflows.
3. Prefer wp site empty to wipe a single multisite sub-site instead of resetting the entire DB.
4. Combine with wp core install for a true clean WordPress setup from scratch.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Cause	Fix
Access denied	DB user lacks DROP privilege	Use a more privileged user via --dbuser
Reset fails mid-way	Tables locked by another process	Kill competing queries; retry
Site still broken after reset + import	URLs not updated	Run wp search-replace

Quick Reference

wp db reset                                         # Interactive
wp db reset --yes                                   # Non-interactive
wp db export backup.sql && wp db reset --yes        # Safe reset
wp db reset --yes && wp db import dump.sql          # Wipe and restore

Next Steps

• wp db import — import a dump after resetting.
• wp db export — always export before resetting.
• wp core install — reinstall WordPress after a reset.