What You’ll Accomplish
After following this guide, you will be able to:- Connect single or multiple WordPress sites to your Dashboard
- Import sites in bulk using CSV files
- Synchronize site data between Dashboard and child sites
- Edit site settings and manage tags
- Run security scans and fix detected issues
- Configure site health monitoring
Prerequisites
- MainWP Dashboard plugin installed and activated on your Dashboard site
- MainWP Child plugin installed and activated on each site you want to connect
- Administrator access to both Dashboard and child sites
- Valid SSL certificates recommended for secure connections
Connect Sites to Your Dashboard
Connect a Single Site
After installing the MainWP Child plugin on your website, add it to your Dashboard.1
Open Add New Site
Log in to your Dashboard site and go to MainWP > Sites > Add New.
2
Enter site details
On the Single Site tab:
3
Configure authentication
MainWP Child requires at least one connection authentication method. You can use Administrator Password only, Unique Security ID only, or both, but you cannot disable both in MainWP Child settings. If both methods are enabled, enter both values when connecting.Find both options at:
your-child-site.com/wp-admin/options-general.php?page=mainwp_child_tab
4
Configure optional settings
Click Show Optional Settings.
5
Add the site
Click Add Site.
Add-on Settings Synchronization
For installed MainWP Add-ons that support settings synchronization, the available options depend on the add-on:If you experience connection issues, use Test Connection to verify Dashboard-to-site communication. Check Potential Issues for solutions or submit a support ticket.
Connect Multiple Sites
Add several sites simultaneously using the Multiple Sites table. Prerequisite: Install and activate MainWP Child plugin on each site before connecting.1
Open Multiple Sites tab
Navigate to MainWP > Sites > Add New > Multiple Sites.
2
Enter required fields
3
Configure optional fields
Click the eye icon at the end of a row to show the additional fields.
4
Add rows and connect
Click Add New Row for additional sites. When ready, click Add Sites.
Import Sites (CSV Import)
Import multiple sites using a CSV file.
1
Prepare sites
Install and activate MainWP Child Plugin on all sites you want to import.
2
Download sample CSV
Go to MainWP > Sites > Add New > Import Sites and download the Sample CSV file.
3
Edit the CSV
Open in a text editor and replace the example site rows below the header with your site details.
4
Format entries
Use comma-separated values in this order:
For each imported site, include the credential required by that site’s MainWP Child settings. Use Admin Password when Password Authentication is enabled, Unique Security ID when Unique Security ID is enabled, or both when both methods are enabled.
The CSV importer reads each line with
str_getcsv() and maps the fifth column (wpgroups) into the import payload, so anything you place in that column becomes the raw tag list for a site. When the importer creates a site, it splits that tag list with preg_split('/[;,]/', $params['groupnames_import']), which means commas and semicolons are treated as tag separators. Because the CSV itself is comma-delimited, the simplest way to import multiple tags is to separate them with semicolons (for example, Tag A;Tag B;Tag C).5
Upload and import
Save the CSV, upload it to your Dashboard, check CSV file contains a header if applicable, and click Import Sites.
Export Sites
1
Open Tools
Go to MainWP > Settings > Tools.
2
Export
Click Export Child Sites.
Synchronize a Child Site
Regular synchronization keeps your Dashboard current with child site data.Global Synchronization
Open MainWP > Sites > Manage Sites and click Sync in the header. On an individual site page, this button syncs only that site.
Individual Site Synchronization
1
Open Manage Sites
Go to MainWP > Sites > Manage Sites.
2
Sync the site
Locate the site, open the actions menu, and click Sync Data.
MainWP schedules automatic syncs using Daily sync time and Frequency of auto sync in MainWP > Settings > General Settings. The default frequency is twice per day. Scheduled syncs require working WP-Cron or an external cron job. For reliable cron execution, follow Manage WP Cron on a Low-Traffic MainWP Dashboard.
Child Site Cron Warnings
An individual site’s Overview can show Child site scheduled tasks have not run recently. This means the child site reported an overdue scheduled monitoring check. It concerns scheduling on that child site, and the Dashboard displays the report received during the last sync.
- Open MainWP > Sites > Manage Sites, find the site, and select Overview from its actions menu to read the warning. You can also check Settings > MainWP Child > Server Information in the child site’s WordPress admin area.
- Check the affected child’s cron configuration or ask its host to verify scheduled execution. If WordPress’s page-triggered cron is disabled, confirm that the child’s external cron job is working.
- After scheduling recovers and the child’s monitoring check runs again, use Sync Data to refresh its report in the Dashboard.
Edit Child Site Settings
Access per-site settings to update site name, administrator username, tags, and other options.1
Navigate to settings
Go to MainWP > Sites > Manage Sites, locate the site, and click Settings in the actions menu.
General Settings
Per-site settings provide translation ignore control. Configure automatic translation updates globally in MainWP Dashboard Settings.
Site URL and Detected Address
Starting with MainWP Dashboard 6.2, MainWP can automatically correct supportedwww and HTTP-to-HTTPS differences using the address reported by the child site. The global Auto-correct site URLs setting is enabled by default in MainWP > Settings > Advanced Settings, under Miscellaneous Settings.
When the stored address differs from the reported address only by protocol or www, the site’s settings show The child site reports its address as: and a Use detected button. The hint is not shown for a different domain or port, or for a path-only difference.
1
Review the reported address
Check that the reported address is the one you intend to use. If the site’s address recently changed, sync the site and reopen its settings to refresh the reported information.
2
Choose Use detected
Click Use detected to fill the protocol and www selectors. You can also adjust these selectors manually. The button does not save the change or turn off an existing URL lock.
3
Save the settings
Review the selected address and Lock site URL state, then click Save Settings.
Lock Site URL
Lock site URL is disabled by default. Enable it when you deliberately need MainWP to keep using a particular address, such as an alternate address required by your hosting setup.
www variant. You can still change the URL manually.
If you manually change the URL to differ from the address reported by the child site, MainWP enables the lock automatically when you save. Saving an unrelated setting does not enable it. To allow automatic URL handling again, turn off Lock site URL and click Save Settings.
Turning off the global Auto-correct site URLs setting stops background changes to stored URLs. Jump to WP Admin can still use the reported address for supported mismatches. Use the per-site lock when you also want Jump to WP Admin to keep using the stored address.
Advanced Options
Suspend or Unsuspend a Child Site
When a site is suspended, it stays connected in MainWP Dashboard, but MainWP pauses actions for that site without disconnecting it.- Suspended sites are excluded from sync and update operations.
- Suspended sites show the yellow pause icon in MainWP Dashboard.
- Suspended sites can be filtered with the Suspended status filter in Manage Sites.
- Unsuspending a site returns it to normal MainWP operations.
Suspend or Unsuspend a Single Site
1
Open site settings
Go to MainWP > Sites > Manage Sites, locate the site, and click Settings in the actions menu.
2
Change the suspension status
In Site Status, enable Suspend Site to suspend the site or disable it to unsuspend the site. Click Save Settings.
Suspend or Unsuspend Multiple Sites
1
Select sites
Go to MainWP > Sites > Manage Sites and select the sites you want to change.
2
Apply the bulk action
Select Suspend or Unsuspend from Bulk Actions and click Apply.
Access Child Site WP Admin
MainWP provides one-click access to child site admin areas.1
Navigate to Manage Sites
Go to MainWP > Sites > Manage Sites.
2
Access admin
Locate the site and click the Login icon.
Security Issues
MainWP scans child sites for known security issues and provides tools to fix them.Detected Security Issues
MainWP Dashboard 5.4 removed outdated Site Hardening checks. Some current checks are informational and do not include a Fix button; available actions appear only when applicable.
If security issues are fixed by another plugin, MainWP detects them as fixed but cannot use the Unfix function.
Site Hardening Scan
1
Navigate to Manage Sites
Go to MainWP > Sites > Manage Sites.
2
Open Site Hardening
Locate the site, open the actions menu, and click Site Hardening.
3
Scan site
On the Site Hardening page, click Scan Site.
4
Review and act
Use the row actions to address detected issues, such as Update WordPress, Disable PHP Error Reporting, Disable DB Error Reporting, Manage Updates, Manage Plugins, or Manage Themes.
Reconnect a Child Site
Single Site Reconnection
1
Navigate to Manage Sites
Go to MainWP > Sites > Manage Sites.
2
Reconnect
Locate the disconnected site and click Reconnect in the actions menu.
Bulk Reconnection
1
Select sites
Go to MainWP > Sites > Manage Sites and check disconnected sites.
2
Reconnect
Select Reconnect from Bulk Actions and click Apply.
Delete a Child Site
Delete Single Site
1
Navigate to Manage Sites
Go to MainWP > Sites > Manage Sites.
2
Remove site
Locate the site and click Remove Site in the actions menu.
Delete Multiple Sites
1
Select sites
Go to MainWP > Sites > Manage Sites and check sites to delete.
2
Remove sites
Select Remove from Bulk Actions and click Apply.
Removing a site removes its record from MainWP Dashboard, not the WordPress website. MainWP attempts to deactivate MainWP Child on a connected live site; it skips deactivation for staging sites. If deactivation fails or the site is disconnected, manually deactivate MainWP Child on the site.
Manage Child Site Notes
Create a Note
1
Open notes
Go to MainWP > Sites > Manage Sites and click the Note icon for the site.
2
Add note
Click Edit Note, add content, and click Save Note.
View Notes
View notes through the Notes column or the Notes widget on the Individual Child Site Dashboard.Manage Child Site Tags
Tags (formerly Groups) help organize sites for easier selection and management. Multiple tags can be applied to any site.
Filter the Manage Sites Table
Use the filter row on Manage Sites to narrow results by tags, statuses, and clients.
1
Open filters
Go to MainWP > Sites > Manage Sites and click Show Filters.
2
Set filter criteria
Select tags, tag logic (Match any (OR) or Match all (AND)), status, and clients as needed.
3
Apply or reset
Click Filter to apply the criteria, or click Reset to return to default filters.
Create a Tag
1
Open Tags page
Go to MainWP > Sites > Tags > Manage Tags and click Create Tag.
2
Name the tag
Enter a tag name and click Create Tag.
3
Assign sites
Click the tag name, select sites, and click Save Selection.
Edit a Tag
Go to MainWP > Sites > Tags > Manage Tags, click the tag name, add or remove sites, and click Save Selection.Delete a Tag
Go to MainWP > Sites > Tags > Manage Tags, select the tag, and click the Trash icon below the tag list.
Site Health Monitoring
WordPress Site Health checks security and performance. MainWP monitors child site health status and alerts you when sites need attention.Monitoring configuration now lives in the dedicated Uptime Monitoring guide, including Site Health Monitoring settings.
Common Problems and Fixes
Self-Check Checklist
After working through this guide, confirm:- Sites appear in the Manage Sites table with green status indicators
- Sync completes without errors
- You can access child site WP Admin via the Login icon
- Manage Sites filtering works for tags, statuses, and clients
- Multi-tag filtering works with both Match any (OR) and Match all (AND)
- Security scan runs and shows results
- Site Health monitoring is enabled if needed (Uptime Monitoring)
Related Resources
- MainWP User Interface: Tables - Learn common table controls used across MainWP pages
- MainWP Dashboard Settings - Configure global dashboard settings
- Uptime Monitoring - Configure Monitoring Settings (Uptime + Site Health)
- Potential Issues - Troubleshoot common connection problems
- Connection Security - Learn about MainWP’s security model