MainWP is not specifically designed for managing WordPress Multisite networks. However, many features work properly when connecting individual subsites to a MainWP Dashboard. This page documents our compatibility testing.
What You’ll Learn
- How to set up MainWP with Multisite subsites
- Which MainWP features work with Multisite
- Known limitations and behaviors
Setup
Install the MainWP Child plugin in the standard wp-content/plugins/ directory. You can activate it:
- Network-wide: From Network Settings panel for all subsites
- Per-subsite: Individually for specific subsites
As long as MainWP Child is active on a subsite, you can connect it to your MainWP Dashboard.
When adding subdomain URLs, do NOT include a leading / in the URL. Including it can result in a 403 Forbidden error. If this happens, use SFTP to delete the plugin, remove the subdomain sites from MainWP, and clear the server cache.
Compatibility Summary
| Feature | Status | Notes |
|---|
| Adding sites | Works | Avoid leading / in subdomain URLs |
| Synchronization | Works | No issues |
| Security checks | Works | No issues |
| Reconnecting sites | Works | No issues |
| Plugin updates | Works* | One update shows for all subsites |
| Theme updates | Works* | One update shows for all subsites |
| Translation updates | Works | Same behavior as plugins/themes |
| Posts management | Works | Full functionality |
| Pages management | Works | Full functionality |
| Plugin install/delete | Works* | Changes affect entire network |
| Theme install/delete | Works* | Changes affect entire network |
| User creation | Partial | May fail if user exists on another subsite |
| User deletion | Works | No issues |
Feature Details
Sites Management
- Synchronization works without issues
- Security issue detection and fixing works
- Site reconnection works normally
Updates Management
Updates are detected normally, with one important behavior to understand:
| Behavior | Description |
|---|
| Detection | One update displays as available on all subsites |
| Updating | Updating on any site applies to the entire network |
| Abandoned detection | Works normally, same behavior as updates |
Content Management
Posts and pages work fully:
- Publishing content (including meta) works as expected
- Changing post/page status works
- Deleting posts/pages works
Plugin & Theme Management
Installing and managing plugins/themes works, but changes affect the entire network:
| Action | Behavior |
|---|
| Install | Available on all network sites immediately |
| Activate/Deactivate | Works per-subsite |
| Delete | Removes from all network sites |
User Management
| Action | Status | Notes |
|---|
| Create users | Partial | Fails if user already exists on another subsite |
| Delete users | Works | No issues |
Key Considerations
Before using MainWP with Multisite:
- Network-wide changes: Plugin and theme installations/deletions affect all subsites
- Duplicate updates: The same update may appear multiple times (once per subsite)
- User limitations: Creating users across subsites may fail if the username already exists
- Not officially supported: While many features work, Multisite is not MainWP’s primary use case
Self-Check Checklist
