Getting Started with MainWP

For the proper use of the MainWP system, it is required to Install and Activate the MainWP Dashboard plugin on a WordPress site that is going to be used for controlling all other sites (Dashboard Site) and to Install and Activate the MainWP Child plugin on all your WordPress sites that will be connected later your MainWP Dashboard (Child Sites).

Important Notice It is not required; however, it is HIGHLY recommended to install the MainWP Dashboard to a clean WordPress installation and not on one of your operating sites. This helps to eliminate any unnecessary plugin conflicts.

Install MainWP Dashboard

1. Go to the WP > Plugins page on your WordPress site that is dedicated to hosting your MainWP Dashboard plugin

2. Click Add New to install a new plugin

3. Click Upload Plugin button to upload the previously downloaded plugin

4. Click Choose File button, select the mainwp.zip file and click the Install Now button

5. Once the plugin is uploaded, click the Activate button to activate it

Quick Setup Wizard

After the first activation, MainWP Quick Setup Wizard will be initiated, and it guides you through the initial setup process. Click the Let’s Go button to start the setup.

Step 1: Installation

1. Select your hosting environment

2. Click the Continue button

Step 2: System

1. Make sure all system requirements are passed. If any of the system requirements fail to pass, please see this help document before you proceed to the next step.

2. Click the Continue button

Step 3: Install MainWP Child

Follow the instructions to install the MainWP Child plugin on the WordPress site that you want to connect to your MainWP Dashboard.

1. Go to the WP > Plugins page on your WordPress site that you want to add to your MainWP Dashboard

2. Click Add New to install a new plugin

3. In the Search Field, enter “MainWP Child” and once the plugin shows, click the Install button

4. Activate the plugin

Once the MainWP Child plugin is installed and activated on your website, the website is ready to be connected to your MainWP Dashboard.

5. Go back to your MainWP Dashboard, to continue the process. Click the MainWP Child Plugin Installed button

Step 4: Connect First Site

Important If you experience issues with adding a website to your MainWP Dashboard, please use the Test Connection feature to make sure that your MainWP Dashboard can communicate with your website. Also, you can check the Potential Issues document and see how to resolve them. If any of these don’t help, do not hesitate to submit a helpdesk ticket!

1. Add the site URL

2. Enter the site Administrator username

3. Enter the Site Title

4. Optionally, if you have enabled the Unique Security ID on the site, enter it here

5. Click the Connect Site button

Once connected, you can add more sites here or add more sites at any time from the Add Sites Page.

Step 5: Performance

1. Select a hosting type that your MainWP Dashboard site is on

2. Select if you are planning to manage less or more than 50 child sites

3. Click the Continue button

Step 6: Optimization

1. Select if you wish to enable automatic update for the MainWP Child plugin on your child sites.

2. Click the Continue button

Step 7: Notifications

1. Select if you want to receive important notifications from your MainWP Dashboard

2. If you enable notifications, provide your email address

3. Click the Continue button

Step 8: Backups

1. Select if you are planning to use the MainWP plugin for backing up your child sites

2. If you choose to use it for backups, select one of the free Backup extension you prefer

3. If you already have MainWP Account, enter your login credentials. If not, click the Register for MainWP Account button, and after successful registration, proceed to the next step.

4. Click the Continue button

Step 9: WP Cron

1. If you want to make sure that WP-Cron jobs are regularly triggered on your MainWP Dashboard, you can Authorize the Uptime Robot service and add your dashboard site as a monitor.

The Uptime Robot will ping your dashboard site regularly and make sure that all scheduled events are occurring.

2. Click the Continue button

Step 10: Finish

Congratulations! Your MainWP Dashboard is Ready!

Visit the Site Overview

1. Go to the MainWP > Sites > Manage Sites page

2. Locate the site in the sites table

3. Click the Site Title to open the site Overview page.