Getting Started: Install and Connect the SproutOS Plugin

Install the SproutOS WordPress plugin, configure authentication with application passwords, and connect your AI client via MCP in under 10 minutes.

The SproutOS WordPress plugin connects your site to AI agents through MCP. This guide walks you through installation, authentication setup, and connecting your first AI client. You need a WordPress 6.5+ site, PHP 8.0+, and an MCP-compatible AI client such as Claude Desktop or Cursor.

Requirements

Before you start, make sure your environment meets these requirements:

Requirement	Minimum Version
WordPress	6.5 or higher
PHP	8.0 or higher
Node.js	18 or higher (for the MCP transport layer)
HTTPS	Required for application password authentication
AI Client	Any MCP-compatible client (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf)

Use a development or staging site only. Do not install this plugin on a live production site without understanding the security implications. Always keep backups.

Step 1: Install the SproutOS Plugin

Download the SproutOS plugin from the GitHub repository
Go to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin in your WordPress admin
Upload the ZIP file and click Install Now
Click Activate

After activation, a new SproutOS menu item appears in the WordPress admin sidebar.

Step 2: Generate an Application Password

SproutOS uses WordPress application passwords for authentication. This is the same system WordPress core uses for REST API access.

Go to SproutOS > Connect in your WordPress admin
Click Generate New Password
Copy the generated password. You will not see it again

Store your application password in a secure location. If you lose it, you can revoke it and generate a new one from the same screen.

You can also create application passwords from Users > Profile > Application Passwords in the WordPress admin. The SproutOS Connect tab provides a shortcut.

Step 3: Configure Your AI Client

Connect your AI client to your WordPress site by adding the MCP server configuration. The exact setup depends on your client.

Open your Claude Desktop configuration file:

macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

Add the following to the mcpServers section:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "wordpress": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@anthropic-ai/wp-mcp-server@latest",
        "--wp-url=https://your-site.com",
        "--wp-username=your-username",
        "--wp-password=your-application-password"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Replace your-site.com, your-username, and your-application-password with your actual values.

Run the following command in your terminal:

claude mcp add wordpress \
  -- npx -y @anthropic-ai/wp-mcp-server@latest \
  --wp-url=https://your-site.com \
  --wp-username=your-username \
  --wp-password=your-application-password

Replace the placeholder values with your actual site URL, username, and application password.

Step 4: Verify the Connection

After configuring your AI client, test the connection:

Open your AI client and start a new conversation
Ask the AI to list your site files:

List the files in my WordPress root directory.

If the connection is working, the AI will use the sprout/list-directory tool and return a listing of your WordPress files.

If the connection fails, check that your site uses HTTPS, your application password is correct, and Node.js 18+ is installed. See the Troubleshooting guide for common issues.