Installation Guide

Respira enables you to use AI tools such as Cursor, Claude Code, Windsurf, and other MCP-compatible assistants to safely edit and manage your WordPress site.

This guide walks you through installing the Respira for WordPress plugin, then configuring MCP from the Respira dashboard (recommended) or with the local setup wizard.

If you are new to Respira, see the Introduction for a product overview.

Before you begin

Make sure you have:

• Access to your WordPress admin dashboard
• Permission to install plugins on your WordPress site
• Node.js 18+ installed on your local machine
• A Respira license or active trial
• (Optional) A staging site if you prefer to test before going live

Step 1: Install the Respira for WordPress plugin

Option A: Download from respira.press (recommended)

1. Go to respira.press/releases
2. Download the latest respira-for-wordpress-x.x.x.zip
3. In WordPress Admin, go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin
4. Choose the ZIP file and click Install Now
5. Click Activate Plugin

Option B: Manual installation

1. Download the plugin ZIP file
2. Extract it to your WordPress wp-content/plugins/ directory
3. Go to Plugins in WordPress Admin
4. Find Respira for WordPress and click Activate

Step 2: Connect the site to your Respira account

1. Open your site in WordPress Admin → Respira
2. Use the dashboard connection flow to link the site to your Respira account
3. Confirm the site appears under respira.press → Dashboard → Sites

Step 3: Set up MCP (recommended: dashboard flow)

Go to respira.press → Dashboard → MCP Setup. Use one of the generated setup paths for each client:

• Download config (Cursor, Codex, Claude Code, or bundle)
• Copy one-time install command
• Copy AI setup prompt

This flow is account-wide and supports stacked plans + multi-site inventories automatically.

Local/CLI setup fallback

The MCP server (@respira/wordpress-mcp-server) runs locally and connects your AI assistant to WordPress:

npx @respira/wordpress-mcp-server --setup

Manual npm installation

Install globally with npm:

npm install -g @respira/wordpress-mcp-server

Or run without installing globally:

npx -y @respira/wordpress-mcp-server

CLI options

npx @respira/wordpress-mcp-server --setup   # Run setup wizard
npx @respira/wordpress-mcp-server --list    # List configured sites
npx @respira/wordpress-mcp-server --test    # Test connection to default site
npx @respira/wordpress-mcp-server --help    # Show help

Step 4: Advanced/manual site configuration

If you skip dashboard export, you can still use manual config at ~/.respira/config.json or env-based single-site setup.

Step 5: Connect your AI assistant

See the Configuration Guide for setup instructions for:

• Cursor
• Claude Code
• Windsurf
• Claude Desktop

Once connected, refer to the Usage Guide to learn how to prompt your assistant effectively.

Installing WooCommerce add-on

Install the WooCommerce add-on to give your AI assistant access to WooCommerce-specific tools for products, orders, and store management. For a feature overview, see the WooCommerce Add-on overview and the dedicated WooCommerce installation guide.

You are all set

Once configured, you can start using AI to edit your WordPress site. Try prompting your assistant with:

• "List all pages on my WordPress site"
• "Create a duplicate of the About page"
• "Update the homepage title to 'Welcome'"
• "Analyze the SEO of my homepage"

Next steps

FAQ

Do I have to use npm to install the MCP server?

No. Recommended path is dashboard MCP setup (download/install command/AI prompt). You can also use the setup wizard (npx @respira/wordpress-mcp-server --setup) or install globally via npm.

Do I need Node.js installed?

Yes. The MCP server requires Node.js 18 or higher. Check your version with node --version.

Can I install Respira on a staging site first?

Yes. Many users install the plugin on a staging or development site before enabling it on production.

What should I do if something fails during installation?

Run npx @respira/wordpress-mcp-server --test to test your connection. See the Troubleshooting guide for common issues and solutions.

If you need help, contact support at word@respira.press.

How do I manage multiple WordPress sites?

Use respira.press → Dashboard → MCP Setup for account-wide multi-site config (including stacked plans). In-session, use wordpress_list_sites and wordpress_switch_site.

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Questions? Email word@respira.press