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After bulk installing a plugin through MainWP Dashboard, the plugin may display in English even though the child site uses a different language. This happens because translation files aren’t automatically fetched during remote installation.

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What You’ll Learn

  • Why plugins default to English after bulk install
  • How to update translations via MainWP Dashboard
  • How to update translations on individual child sites

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Why This Happens

When you install a plugin directly on a WordPress site, translations are automatically fetched from WordPress.org: WordPress admin showing automatic translation fetch after direct plugin installation This automatic step doesn’t occur when installing plugins remotely through MainWP Dashboard. The translation files must be fetched separately.

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Solution 1: Update Translations via MainWP

This approach updates translations for all affected sites at once.
1

Install the plugin

Use MainWP Dashboard to bulk install the plugin.
2

Sync your Dashboard

After installation, sync your MainWP Dashboard to detect the new plugin.
3

Navigate to Translation Updates

Go to MainWP > Updates > Translation Updates.
4

Update translations

Available translation updates for the newly installed plugin appear here. Apply these updates to ensure the plugin displays in the correct language on your child sites.

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Solution 2: Update Translations on Child Sites

Use this approach if you need to update translations for specific sites.
1

Install the plugin

Install the desired plugin via MainWP.
2

Access the child site

Log into the WordPress Admin of the child site where the plugin was installed.
3

Update translations

Go to Dashboard > Updates and update translations for plugins and themes.WordPress Updates page showing available translation updates

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Best Practice

After any bulk plugin installation:
  1. Sync your MainWP Dashboard
  2. Check MainWP > Updates > Translation Updates
  3. Apply any available translation updates
This ensures all plugins display in the correct language immediately.

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Self-Check Checklist

  • Plugin bulk installed via MainWP
  • Dashboard synced after installation
  • Translation updates checked
  • Translations applied to child sites
  • Plugin displaying in correct language