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MainWP Browser Extension

See pending updates, client timers and costs for every site you manage, from your browser toolbar.

The MainWP Browser Extension is a free Chrome extension that shows pending updates, Time Tracker timers and Cost Tracker totals for every site you manage from your MainWP Dashboard. It checks your Dashboard on the schedule you choose and opens the matching Dashboard page in one click.

It suits agency owners, freelancers and care plan teams who keep a browser open all day and like to know what’s waiting before they log in.

Over 20,000 MainWP Dashboards manage over 700,000 child sites, and MainWP has over 2,200 five-star reviews on WordPress.org.

Keeping an eye on many client sites usually means logging in to check, keeping a timer in another app and adding up costs somewhere else. The MainWP Browser Extension brings those checks into one toolbar icon.

TodayLog in to your MainWP Dashboard to see whether anything needs updating With the MainWP Browser ExtensionThe toolbar badge shows your pending updates, and the popup lists them by type.
TodayFind out late that a client installed or changed a plugin themselves With the MainWP Browser ExtensionChanges made outside MainWP get their own count, next to your updates.
TodayRun a timer in a separate app and copy the hours over later With the MainWP Browser ExtensionStart, pause and stop Time Tracker timers from the toolbar, tied to a client, a site and a bucket.
TodayAdd up hosting, plugin and service costs in a spreadsheet With the MainWP Browser ExtensionSee your monthly and annual totals from Cost Tracker, refreshed every day.
TodayClick through menus to reach the page you need With the MainWP Browser ExtensionOne click opens the matching page in your MainWP Dashboard.
The MainWP Browser Extension's Dashboard Overview with 46 pending plugin updates and a running Time Tracker timer for Riverbend Hospitality Group

What does the MainWP Browser Extension include?

The MainWP Browser Extension reads your MainWP Dashboard through the REST API and keeps the results in your toolbar.

Feature What it means for you
Pending updates Plugin, theme, WordPress core and translation updates across your child sites, with a row for each type that opens to show every update and its new version.
Non-MainWP changes Changes made outside MainWP, counted next to your updates.
Toolbar badge Your update count at a glance, or the elapsed time while a timer runs.
Desktop notifications Alerts for new updates and sync errors, chosen under Settings > Notifications.
Your own schedule Checks your Dashboard from every 15 minutes to once a day.
Time Tracker Start, pause, resume and stop timers, and create tasks for a client, a site and a bucket.
Cost Tracker Monthly and annual totals, the sites and costs you track, and a breakdown by category, in your preferred currency.
Dashboard shortcuts An icon in each view opens the matching page in your MainWP Dashboard.
Light and Dark themes Light, Dark, or System to follow your computer’s setting.
MainWP Browser Extension settings with an hourly check, US dollars as the currency, the update types to sync and the desktop notification choices

How does the MainWP Browser Extension show updates across your sites?

Open the MainWP Browser Extension, and Pending Updates lists the plugin, theme, WordPress core and translation updates waiting on your child sites, with the total at the top. Open a row to see each update with its current and new version, then click through to that tab of the Updates page in your MainWP Dashboard to run them. MainWP Updates shows what you can do there.

The extension checks your Dashboard in the background on your schedule, and again when you open it with older data. The refresh icon checks right away.

Want an AI assistant to work through that list with you? MainWP AI connects Claude, Cursor or Codex to the same MainWP Dashboard, so you can ask which clients have updates waiting and preview each run before it starts.

Pending Updates in the MainWP Browser Extension with 46 plugin updates, the plugin row open to show each plugin's current and new version

Can the MainWP Browser Extension track client time from your toolbar?

Yes. With the MainWP Time Tracker add-on on your MainWP Dashboard, the MainWP Browser Extension starts, pauses, resumes and stops timers without opening your Dashboard. New Task ties a timer to a client, a site and a bucket, and Start Timer runs a quick timer that you can assign later.

Timers keep counting when you close the popup or restart your browser, paused timers wait under Paused Timers, and the toolbar badge shows the elapsed time while a timer runs. MainWP Time Tracker is part of MainWP Pro.

A Time Tracker timer running for Riverbend Hospitality Group in the MainWP Browser Extension, next to the New Task form with the client, its three sites and a care plan bucket

How does the MainWP Browser Extension show what your sites cost?

Cost Tracker in your MainWP Dashboard records what you pay for hosting, plugins, themes and services on each site. The MainWP Browser Extension shows your Monthly Total, Annual Total, Sites Tracked and Costs Tracked, with a breakdown by category in your preferred currency. It refreshes the figures every day in the background. Cost Tracker is part of the free MainWP Core.

Cost Tracker in the MainWP Browser Extension with a monthly total of $691.99, an annual total of $1,241.99, 10 sites tracked and 16 costs tracked

Where does the MainWP Browser Extension send your data?

The MainWP Browser Extension talks to your own MainWP Dashboard and nothing else. Requests go from your browser to your self-hosted Dashboard over HTTPS, using a REST API key you create there.

  • Your key stays on your computer: the extension keeps it in your browser’s local storage, outside Chrome Sync.
  • Access to one address: the extension asks for access to your Dashboard’s address when you connect.
  • Nothing sent to MainWP: your data goes to your Dashboard, with no analytics or telemetry services involved.
  • Your client sites stay as they are: they keep running MainWP Child, and the extension reads everything from your Dashboard.
The MainWP Browser Extension's Connection settings, connected to a MainWP Dashboard at dashboard.agency.com with the Bearer token stored locally in the browser

Is the MainWP Browser Extension right for your sites?

The MainWP Browser Extension suits you if you manage your client sites from a MainWP Dashboard and work in Chrome or another Chromium browser.

What you need Details
Browser Chrome 116 or later, or another Chromium browser that supports Manifest V3, such as Edge, Brave, Arc, Vivaldi or Opera.
MainWP Dashboard MainWP Dashboard 5.2 or later, on an HTTPS address your browser can reach.
Access A REST API key from API Access in your Dashboard. Read covers updates and costs, and Write & Delete adds timer controls.
Permalinks Any permalink setting other than Plain on your Dashboard site.
Plan The MainWP Browser Extension is free, and updates and Cost Tracker come with the free MainWP Core. Timers use the MainWP Time Tracker add-on from MainWP Pro.

How do you set up the MainWP Browser Extension?

  1. Open the MainWP Browser Extension in the Chrome Web Store, click Add to Chrome, and pin the MainWP icon to your toolbar.
  2. In your MainWP Dashboard, go to API Access > Add API Keys.
  3. Name the key, such as Browser Extension, keep Write & Delete on if you want timer controls, and copy the API key (Bearer token).
  4. Save the key in your Dashboard.
  5. Click the MainWP icon, enter your Dashboard URL starting with https://, paste the Bearer token and click Connect Dashboard. Allow access when Chrome asks.
  6. Choose what to monitor, how often to check and a theme, then click Start Monitoring.

The MainWP Browser Extension guide covers each step.

The MainWP Browser Extension's three connect steps, Dashboard URL, Bearer token and Connect Dashboard, next to the Connected Successfully screen with the update types, an hourly check and the Dark theme chosen

MainWP Browser Extension FAQ

Is the MainWP Browser Extension free?

Yes. The MainWP Browser Extension is free, and updates and Cost Tracker work with the free MainWP Core. Timers use the MainWP Time Tracker add-on, which is part of MainWP Pro. See MainWP Free vs Pro.

Do you need to install anything on your client sites?

Your client sites keep running MainWP Child as they do today. The MainWP Browser Extension reads everything from your MainWP Dashboard.

Which browsers does the MainWP Browser Extension work in?

Chrome 116 or later, and other Chromium browsers that support Manifest V3, such as Microsoft Edge, Brave, Arc, Vivaldi and Opera.

Which permissions does the API key need?

Read covers pending updates and Cost Tracker. Add Write & Delete to start, pause and stop timers and to create Time Tracker tasks from the extension.

How often does the MainWP Browser Extension check for updates?

As often as you choose, from every 15 minutes to once a day, under Settings > Monitoring. It also checks when you open it with older data, and the refresh icon checks right away.

How do you fix a connection error?

Use your Dashboard’s root address starting with https://, make sure the API key is saved and enabled, and set your Dashboard site’s permalinks to anything other than Plain. The troubleshooting table explains each error message.

How do you disconnect the MainWP Browser Extension?

Click Disconnect Dashboard under Settings > Connection. Clear All Data removes the credentials, cached counts and timer history from your browser, and you can turn the API key off in your MainWP Dashboard at any time.

Get started with MainWP

Add the MainWP Browser Extension from the Chrome Web Store and connect it to your MainWP Dashboard in a few minutes. MainWP Tools lists MainWP MCP and MainWP Control too, for your AI assistant and your terminal.

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