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Navigation Path: Admin Dashboard → Integrations → MainWP

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Overview

MainWP is a free, fully functional, open-source, self-hosted WordPress® management plugin that allows you to manage multiple WordPress sites from one central dashboard securely.

Centralized Management

Manage all WordPress sites from one dashboard

Auto-Sync

Automatic synchronization of sites and clients

Bulk Operations

Update plugins, themes across all sites

Monitoring

Track uptime, security, and performance

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What is MainWP?

MainWP enables you to manage multiple WordPress websites from a single dashboard. Key features include:
  • Centralized Dashboard: Control all sites from one location
  • Bulk Updates: Update plugins, themes, and WordPress core across all sites
  • Security Monitoring: Track security issues and vulnerabilities
  • Backup Management: Schedule and manage backups
  • Uptime Monitoring: Monitor site availability
  • Client Management: Organize sites by client
  • Performance Tracking: Monitor site speed and performance

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Integration Benefits

By integrating MainWP with your hosting platform:
  • Automatically sync new websites to MainWP
  • Manage customer websites without manual addition
  • Access MainWP dashboard directly from your admin panel
  • Streamline WordPress management workflow
  • Provide better support with centralized access

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Setting Up MainWP Integration

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Prerequisites

Before configuring the integration:
  1. MainWP Dashboard: Install MainWP on a WordPress site
  2. MainWP Child Plugin: Will be installed automatically on new sites
  3. REST API Access: MainWP REST API must be enabled
  4. API Token: Generate from MainWP dashboard

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Configuration Steps

1. Enable MainWP REST API
  1. Log in to your MainWP Dashboard WordPress site
  2. Navigate to MainWP → Settings → REST API
  3. Click Enable REST API
  4. Click Create API Key or Add New
  5. Enter a description (e.g., “Hosting Platform Integration”)
  6. Set permissions (select all for full integration)
  7. Click Generate to create the API key
  8. Copy the Bearer Token (starts with Bearer )
For detailed MainWP REST API setup, refer to the official documentation: https://mainwp.com/kb/mainwp-rest-api/
2. Configure Integration in Your Platform
  1. Navigate to Admin Dashboard → Integrations → MainWP
  2. Paste your MainWP REST API Token (Bearer token)
  3. Enter your MainWP Dashboard URL (e.g., https://mainwp.yourdomain.com)
  4. Click Save to activate the integration
  5. Click Test Connection to verify setup
3. Verify Integration
  1. Access MainWP dashboard from your admin menu
  2. Check that existing sites appear in MainWP
  3. Create a test website in your platform
  4. Verify it automatically appears in MainWP
  5. Confirm MainWP Child plugin is installed on new sites
Existing Websites: If you have existing websites created before enabling MainWP integration, you must manually install the MainWP Child plugin on each site before they can be managed through MainWP.
Manual Sync: Use the Sync All button in MainWP to manually synchronize all websites. This is useful after enabling the integration for the first time or if automatic sync fails.

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How Auto-Sync Works

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New Website Creation

When a customer creates a new website:
  1. Website is provisioned on your hosting server
  2. WordPress is installed automatically
  3. MainWP Child plugin is installed and activated
  4. Site is automatically added to your MainWP dashboard
  5. Connection is established between child site and MainWP
  6. Site appears in MainWP within minutes

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Client Synchronization

Customer accounts are synchronized with MainWP:
  • New Clients: Automatically added to MainWP as clients
  • Client Websites: Grouped under respective client in MainWP
  • Client Information: Name, email, and contact details synced
  • Organization: Sites organized by client for easy management

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What Gets Synced

DataSyncedNotes
Website URL✅ YesPrimary domain
WordPress Admin✅ YesAdmin credentials
Client Name✅ YesCustomer account name
Client Email✅ YesCustomer email address
Site Status✅ YesActive, suspended, etc.
Hosting Package❌ NoPlatform-specific
Billing Info❌ NoPlatform-specific

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Using MainWP Dashboard

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Accessing MainWP

From Your Platform:
  1. Click MainWP in your admin sidebar
  2. You’ll be redirected to your MainWP dashboard
  3. All managed sites appear in the dashboard
Direct Access:
  1. Navigate to your MainWP dashboard URL
  2. Log in with your WordPress credentials
  3. Access all MainWP features

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Common MainWP Tasks

Bulk Plugin Updates:
  1. Go to MainWP → Plugins
  2. Select sites to update
  3. Choose plugins to update
  4. Click Update Selected
Bulk Theme Updates:
  1. Go to MainWP → Themes
  2. Select sites to update
  3. Choose themes to update
  4. Click Update Selected
WordPress Core Updates:
  1. Go to MainWP → Sites
  2. Select sites to update
  3. Click Update WordPress
  4. Confirm update
Security Scans:
  1. Install MainWP Security extension
  2. Go to MainWP → Security
  3. Run security scans across all sites
  4. Review and fix issues

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Configuration Settings

SettingDescriptionExample
MainWP REST API TokenBearer token from MainWP dashboardBearer abc123...
MainWP Dashboard URLURL of your MainWP installationhttps://mainwp.yourdomain.com
Auto-SyncAutomatically sync new sitesEnabled (default)
Sync IntervalHow often to sync dataEvery 5 minutes
Install Child PluginAuto-install on new sitesEnabled (default)

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Best Practices

  • Install MainWP on a dedicated WordPress site
  • Use a strong, unique password for MainWP dashboard
  • Enable two-factor authentication on MainWP
  • Keep MainWP dashboard and extensions updated
  • Use SSL/HTTPS for MainWP dashboard
  • Restrict access to MainWP dashboard by IP if possible
  • Regularly backup your MainWP dashboard
  • Organize sites by client using MainWP tags
  • Create site groups for bulk operations
  • Use descriptive site names for easy identification
  • Regularly update plugins and themes
  • Monitor site uptime and performance
  • Set up automated backups through MainWP
  • Review security scans regularly
  • Keep MainWP Child plugin updated on all sites
  • Use unique admin credentials for each site
  • Enable security features in MainWP extensions
  • Monitor for vulnerabilities across all sites
  • Implement security hardening on child sites
  • Use MainWP Security extension for scans
  • Rotate API tokens periodically
  • Limit number of sites per MainWP dashboard (max 100-200)
  • Use MainWP on a fast, reliable server
  • Optimize MainWP database regularly
  • Schedule bulk updates during off-peak hours
  • Monitor MainWP dashboard performance
  • Use caching on MainWP dashboard
  • Consider multiple MainWP dashboards for large deployments

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Troubleshooting

Issue: Cannot connect to MainWP dashboardSolutions:
  1. Verify MainWP REST API is enabled
  2. Check API token is correct (includes “Bearer ”)
  3. Ensure MainWP dashboard URL is correct
  4. Verify MainWP dashboard is accessible
  5. Check firewall isn’t blocking API requests
  6. Test MainWP dashboard URL in browser
  7. Regenerate API token and try again
Issue: New websites not appearing in MainWPSolutions:
  1. Verify auto-sync is enabled in settings
  2. Check MainWP Child plugin is installed on site
  3. Click “Sync All” button in MainWP
  4. Verify site is accessible and WordPress is running
  5. Check MainWP dashboard logs for errors
  6. Ensure site admin credentials are correct
  7. Manually add site to MainWP as test
Issue: MainWP Child plugin not auto-installingSolutions:
  1. Verify auto-install is enabled in settings
  2. Check WordPress site is accessible
  3. Ensure WordPress has write permissions
  4. Manually install MainWP Child plugin
  5. Check for plugin conflicts
  6. Review WordPress error logs
  7. Test with a fresh WordPress installation
Issue: Pre-existing websites not in MainWPSolutions:
  1. Install MainWP Child plugin manually on each site
  2. Use MainWP’s “Add New Site” feature
  3. Enter site URL and admin credentials
  4. Click “Add Site” to connect
  5. Verify connection is successful
  6. Repeat for all existing sites
  7. Use “Sync All” after adding all sites

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MainWP Extensions

Enhance MainWP with powerful extensions:
ExtensionPurposeRecommended
Advanced Uptime MonitorMonitor site availability✅ Yes
BackupsAutomated backup management✅ Yes
SecuritySecurity scanning and hardening✅ Yes
PerformanceSite speed monitoringRecommended
Client ReportsGenerate client reportsOptional
Code SnippetsManage code snippetsOptional
Google AnalyticsTrack site analyticsOptional
Extensions: Most MainWP extensions are premium. Evaluate which extensions provide value for your specific use case before purchasing.

Website Configuration

Website creation settings

General Settings

Platform configuration

User Roles & Permissions

Access control

Hosting Plans

Package configuration

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External Resources