MainWP browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox help you track available updates and manage your WordPress sites directly from your browser toolbar.
What You’ll Learn
- How to install the browser extension
- How to connect it to your Dashboard
- Troubleshooting common issues
Prerequisites
- MainWP Dashboard on a web host (local installations not supported)
- Permalinks set to anything except “Plain”
- REST API access enabled
The browser extension requires your MainWP Dashboard to be hosted on a web server. Locally hosted Dashboards are not compatible because REST API requests cannot reach local installations.
Features
- Track WordPress core, plugin, theme, and translation updates
- Automatically fetch update counts for all child sites
- Configure update check intervals
- Manually fetch update counts
- Track changes made outside your MainWP Dashboard
- Quick links to Dashboard pages for taking action
Installation
Chrome
- Visit the Chrome Web Store extension page
- Click Add to Chrome
- Click Add Extension to confirm
If Enhanced Safe Browsing is enabled, you may see a prompt that the extension isn’t yet trusted. Click Continue to install to proceed.
Firefox
- Visit the Firefox Add-ons extension page
- Click Add to Firefox
- Click Add to confirm
Connect the Extension to Your Dashboard
1
Configure permalinks
Go to WP Admin > Settings > Permalinks on your Dashboard site. Choose any setting except Plain (WordPress REST API requirement).
2
Create REST API key
Navigate to MainWP Dashboard > REST API and click Add API Keys.
3
Configure API key
Enter a description (e.g., “Browser Extension”) and select Read permission.
4
Enable Legacy API
Click Show Legacy API Credentials, then enable MainWP REST API v1 Compatibility.
5
Open extension popup
Click the extension icon in your browser toolbar.
6
Enter Dashboard URL
Enter your MainWP Dashboard URL in the extension.
7
Enter API credentials
Copy Consumer Key and Consumer Secret from the Legacy API Credentials section and paste them into the extension.
8
Save Dashboard API key
In MainWP Dashboard REST API screen, click Save Settings to activate the API key.
9
Complete extension setup
In the extension popup:
- Check I have saved the API Key in my Dashboard
- Select sync frequency
- Choose which data to sync
10
Save extension settings
Click Save Settings in the extension.
Push Notifications
The extension sends browser notifications when it syncs. If you’re not receiving notifications, check your operating system settings to ensure browser notifications are enabled.
Troubleshooting
Connection Issues
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Dashboard not accessible | Ensure Dashboard is on a web host (not localhost) |
| API errors | Set permalinks to something other than “Plain” |
| API key not working | Verify you clicked Save Settings after creating the key |
| Credentials rejected | Copy credentials to a text file first, then paste into extension |
HTTP Basic Auth Conflict
The browser extension is not compatible with HTTP Basic Auth. Use the Dashboard Lock extension instead, which provides equivalent protection without interfering with MainWP functionality.REST API Blocked
Security or performance plugins may block the REST API. Test by logging out and visiting:/mainwp/v1/sites/all-sites/mainwp/v1/sites/sites-available-updates-count/mainwp/v1/site/non-mainwp-changes-count
Permissions and Privacy
The extension requests permissions for alarms, storage, and notifications to store update counts and notify you when you start your browser. The extension does not collect any user data—it only uses your generated REST API keys to connect to your Dashboard. By installing, you agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.Self-Check Checklist
- Browser extension installed
- Permalinks set to non-Plain option
- REST API key created with Read permission
- Legacy API v1 compatibility enabled
- API key saved in Dashboard
- Extension configured with credentials
- Updates appearing in extension
Related Resources
- REST API Overview - API documentation
- Dashboard Lock Extension - Alternative to HTTP Basic Auth