> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mainwp-mintlify-b537ecc3.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Manage Plugins

> Manage WordPress plugins across all Child Sites from one place. Install from WordPress.org or upload ZIP files, activate, deactivate, delete, update, and set automatic updates for trusted plugins.

The Manage Plugins feature gives you centralized control over WordPress plugins across all your child sites. Install plugins on multiple sites simultaneously, activate or deactivate plugins in bulk, run updates, and configure automatic updates for plugins you trust.

## What You'll Accomplish

* Install plugins from WordPress.org or ZIP files on multiple sites
* Activate and deactivate plugins across selected sites
* Delete unused plugins from child sites
* Update plugins individually or in bulk
* Configure automatic updates for trusted plugins

## Prerequisites

* MainWP Dashboard installed and activated
* At least one child site connected to your Dashboard
* A Dashboard user account with the required plugin management permissions

***

<iframe className="w-full aspect-video rounded-xl" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p0pB7mXoIYw" title="Manage Plugins - Video Tutorial" frameBorder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowFullScreen />

***

## Install Plugins

MainWP Dashboard provides two built-in methods for installing plugins. If the MainWP Favorites Extension is installed, a third option is available:

| Method                 | Best For                                                                                                              |
| ---------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| WordPress.org          | Free plugins from the official directory                                                                              |
| Upload ZIP             | Premium plugins or custom plugins                                                                                     |
| Install from Favorites | Quick installation of commonly used plugins (requires [Favorites Extension](https://mainwp.com/extension/favorites/)) |

### Install from WordPress.org

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Install Plugins">
    Go to **MainWP > Plugins > Install Plugins**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Search for plugin">
    Under the **Install from WordPress.org** tab, use the **Search plugins** field to find the plugin.

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/mainwp-mintlify-b537ecc3/QaSkppJvZ7fFcjDC/images/dashboard/manage-plugins/install-plugin-search.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=QaSkppJvZ7fFcjDC&q=85&s=079886f056ac57fab6b8cff72618c3ec" alt="Search WordPress.org plugins from MainWP Dashboard" width="2115" height="1444" data-path="images/dashboard/manage-plugins/install-plugin-search.jpg" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select plugin">
    Locate the plugin in the search results and select **Install Plugin**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select sites">
    In the [Select Sites](/getting-started/mainwp-user-interface) box, choose the sites where you want to install the plugin.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set installation options">
    Configure the installation options:

    | Option                      | Description                                         |
    | --------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- |
    | Activate after installation | Automatically activate the plugin after installing  |
    | Overwrite existing version  | Replace the plugin if already installed on the site |

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/mainwp-mintlify-b537ecc3/QaSkppJvZ7fFcjDC/images/dashboard/manage-plugins/install-plugin-options.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=QaSkppJvZ7fFcjDC&q=85&s=651159b050426b50a82b6e75fd2185cd" alt="Select sites and configure plugin installation options" width="2115" height="1444" data-path="images/dashboard/manage-plugins/install-plugin-options.jpg" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install">
    Click **Complete Installation**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Install by Upload

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Install Plugins">
    Go to **MainWP > Plugins > Install Plugins**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open upload tab">
    Click the **Upload .zip file** tab.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Upload file">
    Click **Upload Now** and select the plugin ZIP file from your computer.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select sites">
    In the [Select Sites](/getting-started/mainwp-user-interface) box, choose the sites where you want to install the plugin.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set installation options">
    Configure the installation options:

    | Option                      | Description                                         |
    | --------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- |
    | Activate after installation | Automatically activate the plugin after installing  |
    | Overwrite existing version  | Replace the plugin if already installed on the site |

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/mainwp-mintlify-b537ecc3/QaSkppJvZ7fFcjDC/images/dashboard/manage-plugins/upload-plugin-options.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=QaSkppJvZ7fFcjDC&q=85&s=5949d8322bfcb5ef62497bd309240be9" alt="Upload a plugin ZIP file and configure installation options" width="2115" height="1444" data-path="images/dashboard/manage-plugins/upload-plugin-options.jpg" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install">
    Click **Complete Installation**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Your server must allow uploads of the plugin's file size. Check **PHP Upload Max Filesize** and **PHP Post Max Size** on your [Server Information](/troubleshooting/resolve-system-requirement-issues) page.
</Note>

### Install from Favorites

Select and install plugins from your saved favorites using the [MainWP Favorites Extension](https://mainwp.com/extension/favorites/). Once you have a list of favorite plugins, this provides the quickest way to set up new sites.

***

## Activate Plugins

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Manage Plugins">
    Go to **MainWP > Plugins > Manage Plugins**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select view">
    From the dropdown menu, select **Show Plugins per Site** or **Show Plugins per Item**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Filter inactive plugins">
    In the **Select Status** section, select **Inactive**. Optionally enter a plugin name under **Search Options**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select sites">
    In the [Select Sites](/getting-started/mainwp-user-interface) box, choose the sites to search.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Search">
    Click **Show Plugins**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select plugins to activate">
    Check the boxes next to the plugins you want to activate.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Apply action">
    In the **Bulk Actions** menu, select **Activate** and click **Apply**.

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/mainwp-mintlify-b537ecc3/QaSkppJvZ7fFcjDC/images/dashboard/manage-plugins/activate-plugins.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=QaSkppJvZ7fFcjDC&q=85&s=640e5fd08648151256df64501fcdb524" alt="Select inactive plugins and choose Activate from Bulk Actions" width="2126" height="1451" data-path="images/dashboard/manage-plugins/activate-plugins.jpg" />
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Deactivate Plugins

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Manage Plugins">
    Go to **MainWP > Plugins > Manage Plugins**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select view">
    From the dropdown menu, select **Show Plugins per Site** or **Show Plugins per Item**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Filter active plugins">
    In the **Select Status** section, select **Active**. Optionally enter a plugin name under **Search Options**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select sites">
    In the [Select Sites](/getting-started/mainwp-user-interface) box, choose the sites to search.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Search">
    Click **Show Plugins**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select plugins to deactivate">
    Check the boxes next to the plugins you want to deactivate.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Apply action">
    In the **Bulk Actions** menu, select **Deactivate** and click **Apply**.

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/mainwp-mintlify-b537ecc3/QaSkppJvZ7fFcjDC/images/dashboard/manage-plugins/deactivate-plugins.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=QaSkppJvZ7fFcjDC&q=85&s=4415e3b61947d4effdf738789be87e05" alt="Select active plugins and choose Deactivate from Bulk Actions" width="2126" height="1451" data-path="images/dashboard/manage-plugins/deactivate-plugins.jpg" />
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Delete Plugins

You can delete active and inactive plugins. If a selected plugin is active, MainWP deactivates it during deletion.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Manage Plugins">
    Go to **MainWP > Plugins > Manage Plugins**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select view">
    From the dropdown menu, select **Show Plugins per Site** or **Show Plugins per Item**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Filter plugins by status">
    In the **Select Status** section, select **Active**, **Inactive**, or **Active & Inactive**. Optionally enter a plugin name under **Search Options**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select sites">
    In the [Select Sites](/getting-started/mainwp-user-interface) box, choose the sites to search.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Search">
    Click **Show Plugins**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select plugins to delete">
    Check the boxes next to the plugins you want to delete.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Apply action">
    In the **Bulk Actions** menu, select **Delete** and click **Apply**.

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/mainwp-mintlify-b537ecc3/QaSkppJvZ7fFcjDC/images/dashboard/manage-plugins/delete-plugins.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=QaSkppJvZ7fFcjDC&q=85&s=2f4d3e7986a07dfca22f0c357d609529" alt="Select plugins and choose Delete from Bulk Actions" width="2126" height="1451" data-path="images/dashboard/manage-plugins/delete-plugins.jpg" />
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Update Plugins

Synchronize your child sites before running updates to ensure all available updates are displayed.

### Update All Plugins on All Sites

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Plugin Updates">
    Go to **MainWP > Updates > Plugins**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Update all">
    Click **Update All Plugins**.

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/mainwp-mintlify-b537ecc3/QaSkppJvZ7fFcjDC/images/dashboard/manage-plugins/update-all-plugins.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=QaSkppJvZ7fFcjDC&q=85&s=0f0b4036fe936414cbc1a33ac8196a64" alt="Update all available plugins across all child sites" width="2126" height="1451" data-path="images/dashboard/manage-plugins/update-all-plugins.jpg" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm">
    Confirm the update when prompted.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Update a Single Plugin on All Sites

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Plugin Updates">
    Go to **MainWP > Updates > Plugins**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select view">
    Select **Show updates per Item**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Locate plugin">
    Find the plugin you want to update.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Update">
    Click **Update All** in the plugin row.

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/mainwp-mintlify-b537ecc3/QaSkppJvZ7fFcjDC/images/dashboard/manage-plugins/update-plugin-all-sites.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=QaSkppJvZ7fFcjDC&q=85&s=cb5421fe06bd76dc045a76364fc4568c" alt="Expand a plugin to review sites and update it across all sites" width="2115" height="1444" data-path="images/dashboard/manage-plugins/update-plugin-all-sites.jpg" />
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Update All Plugins on a Single Site

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Plugin Updates">
    Go to **MainWP > Updates > Plugins**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select view">
    Select **Show updates per Site**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Locate site">
    Find the child site you want to update.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Update">
    Click **Update** in the site row.

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/mainwp-mintlify-b537ecc3/QaSkppJvZ7fFcjDC/images/dashboard/manage-plugins/update-site-plugins.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=QaSkppJvZ7fFcjDC&q=85&s=53e3111ad0bc4566787eb480e9396cf6" alt="View plugin updates by site and update all plugins on one site" width="2126" height="1451" data-path="images/dashboard/manage-plugins/update-site-plugins.jpg" />
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Update a Single Plugin on a Single Site

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Plugin Updates">
    Go to **MainWP > Updates > Plugins**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select view">
    Select **Show updates per Site**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Locate site">
    Find the child site and expand its row.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Update plugin">
    Find the plugin and click **Update**.

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/mainwp-mintlify-b537ecc3/QaSkppJvZ7fFcjDC/images/dashboard/manage-plugins/update-single-plugin.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=QaSkppJvZ7fFcjDC&q=85&s=4079ed08ece6b554d910e21027abb3bb" alt="Expand a site and update an individual plugin" width="2126" height="1451" data-path="images/dashboard/manage-plugins/update-single-plugin.jpg" />
  </Step>
</Steps>

## View Plugin History

Use the **History** action to review plugin change activity by site and by day.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open a plugin row with History">
    Open plugin rows in **MainWP > Plugins > Manage Plugins**, **MainWP > Updates > Plugins**, or plugin rows on an individual site Operations page.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the history modal">
    Click **History** in the plugin row.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review activity details">
    Review actions in chronological order. Each record shows the action, user, source (**Dashboard** or **WP Admin**), timestamp, and version change when available.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Switch history views">
    Use **Day History** to group actions by date, then use **Plugin History** to switch to plugin-grouped actions for that day.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Load older records">
    Click **Load More** in the modal to display earlier activity.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  If no logs are available, you may see "This plugin has no recorded activity in Dashboard Insights." Check [Network Activity](/sites/network-activity) and [Dashboard Insights](/dashboard/overview/dashboard-insights) settings to confirm logging and retention are configured.
</Note>

***

## Configure Automatic Updates

Automatic updates require two configuration steps: enabling the feature and marking plugins as trusted.

### Enable Auto Updates

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Settings">
    Go to **MainWP > Settings > General Settings**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Find Updates Settings">
    Locate the **Updates Settings** section.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable">
    Set **Plugin advanced automatic updates** to **Install Trusted Updates**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Click **Save Settings**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Mark Plugins as Trusted

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Advanced Auto Updates">
    Go to **MainWP > Plugins > Advanced Auto Updates**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Filter plugins">
    Use **Plugin Status to Search**, the trust-status dropdown under **Search Options**, and the **Plugin name** field to find plugins.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Search">
    Click **Show Plugins**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select plugins">
    Check the boxes next to the plugins you want to trust.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Apply trust">
    Select **Mark as Trusted** from the **Bulk Actions** menu and click **Apply**.

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/mainwp-mintlify-b537ecc3/QaSkppJvZ7fFcjDC/images/dashboard/manage-plugins/mark-plugins-trusted.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=QaSkppJvZ7fFcjDC&q=85&s=76b4b9be4929693382aef19fa2f11d0e" alt="Select plugins and choose Mark as Trusted from Bulk Actions" width="2126" height="1451" data-path="images/dashboard/manage-plugins/mark-plugins-trusted.jpg" />
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Marking a plugin as Trusted allows MainWP Dashboard to update it automatically when plugin advanced automatic updates are enabled.
</Note>

### Auto Updates Timing

* **Advanced automatic updates delay** controls how many days MainWP Dashboard waits before applying detected updates. The default is **1 day**, and the available values range from **Delay off** to **30 days**.
* **Frequency of automatic updates** controls whether the process runs daily, weekly, or monthly, along with its scheduled day and time.
* WP Cron must run for the scheduled automatic update process to start and continue.

***

## Self-Check Checklist

* [ ] Plugins install successfully on selected sites
* [ ] Plugin activation and deactivation work across sites
* [ ] Plugin updates complete without errors
* [ ] Auto updates are configured for trusted plugins
* [ ] Deleted plugins are removed from child sites

***

## Related Resources

* [Check for Abandoned Plugins](/sites/plugins/check-for-abandoned-plugins-and-themes) - Identify outdated plugins
* [Favorites Extension](https://mainwp.com/extension/favorites/) - Quick plugin installation from saved lists
* [Manage Updates](/sites/updates/manage-updates) - Update management overview