Skip to main content
When bulk updates fail to complete on some or all child sites, the cause is typically insufficient server resources, plugin conflicts, or settings that don’t match your hosting environment.

​
What You’ll Learn

  • Check if system requirements are met
  • Identify plugin conflicts blocking updates
  • Adjust MainWP settings for your setup
  • Troubleshoot premium plugin update failures

​
Prerequisites

  • MainWP Dashboard installed and activated
  • Admin access to Dashboard and child sites
  • Ability to modify PHP settings (or host support)

​
Check System Requirements

Bulk updates require sufficient time and memory on both your Dashboard and child sites. These values often need increasing from defaults.

​
Key Settings to Check

​
How to Increase These Values

1

Check current values

Go to MainWP > Info > Server to see current PHP and WordPress settings.
2

Update Dashboard settings

Contact your Dashboard hosting provider or edit php.ini/wp-config.php to increase limits.
3

Update child site settings

Repeat the same increases on child sites experiencing update failures.
Running MainWP on shared hosting often causes update failures due to strict resource limits. Consider VPS or managed WordPress hosting for better performance. Read more about hosting considerations.

​
Check for Plugin Conflicts

Security and caching plugins sometimes interfere with update processes.
1

Identify problem sites

Note which child sites fail to update.
2

Temporarily disable plugins

On a failing child site, temporarily deactivate security and caching plugins.
3

Test updates

Run updates again from your Dashboard.
4

Identify the conflict

If updates succeed, re-enable plugins one at a time to identify which one causes the conflict.
5

Configure the plugin

Adjust the conflicting plugin’s settings to allow MainWP operations, or contact the plugin developer for guidance.

​
Common Conflicting Plugin Types

  • Security plugins (Wordfence, Sucuri, Solid Security)
  • Caching plugins (WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, LiteSpeed Cache)
  • Firewall plugins (NinjaFirewall, BulletProof Security)

​
Adjust MainWP Settings

If system requirements are met and plugins aren’t the issue, fine-tune MainWP’s request handling.
1

Open Advanced Settings

Go to MainWP > Settings > Advanced Settings.
2

Reduce simultaneous requests

Lower the Global request limit value. Try reducing by half.
3

Reduce simultaneous update requests

Lower the Maximum simultaneous install and update requests value.
4

Add delays between requests

Increase the Minimum delay between requests in milliseconds value.
5

Test and iterate

Save settings and test updates. Repeat the process, adjusting values until you find settings that work reliably for your setup.

​
Troubleshoot Premium Plugin Failures

If only premium plugins fail to update: For more details, see Premium Plugin Updates Not Detected.

​
Get Support

If you’ve tried all steps and updates still fail, open a helpdesk ticket with:
  • Screenshots of Server Information page
  • List of plugins on the failing child site
  • Description of which updates fail (all, specific plugins, premium only)

​
Self-Check Checklist

  • Server Information shows adequate PHP memory and execution time
  • Child sites also have adequate resource limits
  • Security and caching plugins temporarily disabled for testing
  • Advanced Settings adjusted for fewer simultaneous requests
  • Premium plugin licenses are active (if applicable)
  • Updates complete successfully after adjustments