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Moving child sites to a different MainWP Dashboard involves exporting your site list, disconnecting from the current Dashboard, and importing to the new Dashboard. The MainWP Child plugin remains active on child sites throughout the process.

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What You’ll Learn

  • How to export child site data for transfer
  • How to safely disconnect sites from the current Dashboard
  • How to import sites to a new Dashboard
  • When to use this process

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Prerequisites

  • Admin access to both the old and new MainWP Dashboards
  • MainWP Child plugin installed and active on all child sites
  • New Dashboard already set up and functional

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When to Use This Process

Use this process when:
ScenarioDescription
Replacing DashboardSetting up a fresh MainWP installation on a new server
Splitting networksMoving some sites to a separate Dashboard
Agency transitionTransferring sites to a client’s own Dashboard
ConsolidationCombining sites from multiple Dashboards
If you’re moving your Dashboard to a new server while keeping the same domain, you may be able to migrate the entire Dashboard instead. See Migrate Dashboard.

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Step 1: Export Child Sites

Export your site list from the current Dashboard.
1

Open MainWP Tools

Go to MainWP > Settings > MainWP Tools.
2

Export sites

Locate and click Export Sites.
3

Save the CSV file

Save the exported CSV file to your computer. This file contains site URLs, names, and connection data.
The CSV file includes site URLs but not sensitive connection keys. Sites will need to reconnect using existing MainWP Child plugin credentials on each site.

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Step 2: Disconnect Sites from Current Dashboard

Break the connection between the old Dashboard and all child sites.
1

Open MainWP Tools

Go to MainWP > Settings > MainWP Tools.
2

Disconnect all sites

Locate and click Disconnect Sites.
3

Confirm disconnection

Confirm the action when prompted.
After disconnection:
  • The MainWP Child plugin remains active on all child sites
  • Child sites are ready to connect to a new Dashboard
  • The old Dashboard no longer manages these sites
Only disconnect after you have successfully exported the site list and are ready to import to the new Dashboard.

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Step 3: Import Sites to New Dashboard

Add the sites to your new MainWP Dashboard using the exported CSV file.
1

Access new Dashboard

Log in to your new MainWP Dashboard.
2

Open Import Sites

Go to MainWP > Sites > Import Sites.
3

Upload CSV file

Select the CSV file you exported from the old Dashboard.
4

Start import

Click Import to begin adding sites.
5

Verify connections

After import completes, go to MainWP > Sites > Manage Sites and sync all sites to verify connections.
For detailed import instructions, see Import Sites.

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Troubleshooting

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Sites fail to connect after import

ProblemSolution
Connection timeoutVerify child site is accessible and MainWP Child plugin is active
Security ID mismatchThe Unique Security ID on the child site may need updating
Firewall blockingCheck that security plugins aren’t blocking the new Dashboard

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Reconnecting individual sites

If a site fails to import:
  1. Visit the child site’s WP Admin directly
  2. Go to Settings > MainWP Child
  3. Verify the plugin is active and configured
  4. Return to the new Dashboard and add the site manually via MainWP > Sites > Add New

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Self-Check Checklist

  • CSV file exported from old Dashboard
  • Sites disconnected from old Dashboard
  • CSV file imported to new Dashboard
  • All sites show as connected in new Dashboard
  • Sync successful for all sites
  • Jump to WP Admin works for child sites