Updates Abilities

MainWP registers 13 update management abilities into the WordPress Abilities API framework. These enable programmatic control over WordPress core, plugin, theme, and translation updates across your network.

What You’ll Learn

Listing available updates across all sites
Applying WordPress core, plugin, theme, and translation updates
Managing ignored updates
Batch update operations

mainwp/list-updates-v1

List available updates across all sites. Method: GET (readonly)

curl -u 'admin:xxxx' \
  'https://your-dashboard.com/wp-json/wp-abilities/v1/abilities/mainwp/list-updates-v1/run'

Input Parameters:

Name	Type	Required	Default	Description
`site_ids_or_domains`	array	No	[]	Filter to specific sites
`types`	array	No	[]	Filter: `core`, `plugins`, `themes`, `translations`
`page`	integer	No	1	Page number
`per_page`	integer	No	50	Items per page (max 200)

Response:

{
  "updates": [
    {
      "site_id": 1,
      "site_url": "https://site1.example.com",
      "site_name": "Site 1",
      "type": "plugin",
      "slug": "akismet/akismet.php",
      "name": "Akismet Anti-spam",
      "current_version": "5.3",
      "new_version": "5.3.1"
    }
  ],
  "summary": {
    "core": 2,
    "plugins": 15,
    "themes": 3,
    "translations": 5,
    "total": 25
  },
  "page": 1,
  "per_page": 50,
  "total": 25
}

mainwp/run-updates-v1

Execute updates on sites. Operations affecting more than 200 sites are queued for background processing. Method: POST

# Update specific plugin on all sites
curl -X POST -u 'admin:xxxx' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"input":{"types":["plugins"],"specific_items":["akismet/akismet.php"]}}' \
  'https://your-dashboard.com/wp-json/wp-abilities/v1/abilities/mainwp/run-updates-v1/run'

# Update all plugins on specific sites
curl -X POST -u 'admin:xxxx' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"input":{"site_ids_or_domains":[1,2,3],"types":["plugins"]}}' \
  'https://your-dashboard.com/wp-json/wp-abilities/v1/abilities/mainwp/run-updates-v1/run'

Input Parameters:

Name	Type	Required	Default	Description
`site_ids_or_domains`	array	No	[]	Sites to update. Empty = all with updates
`types`	array	No	[]	Update types: `core`, `plugins`, `themes`, `translations`
`specific_items`	array	No	[]	Specific slugs to update

Response:

{
  "updated": [
    {
      "site_id": 1,
      "site_url": "https://site1.example.com",
      "site_name": "Site 1",
      "type": "plugin",
      "slug": "akismet/akismet.php",
      "name": "Akismet",
      "old_version": "5.3",
      "new_version": "5.3.1"
    }
  ],
  "errors": [],
  "summary": {
    "total_updated": 5,
    "total_errors": 0,
    "sites_updated": 3
  }
}

mainwp/get-site-updates-v1

Get available updates for a single site. Method: POST

curl -X POST -u 'admin:xxxx' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"input":{"site_id_or_domain":1}}' \
  'https://your-dashboard.com/wp-json/wp-abilities/v1/abilities/mainwp/get-site-updates-v1/run'

Input Parameters:

Name	Type	Required	Default	Description
`site_id_or_domain`	integer\|string	Yes	—	Site ID or domain
`types`	array	No	[]	Filter: `core`, `plugins`, `themes`, `translations`

Response:

{
  "site_id": 1,
  "site_url": "https://site1.example.com",
  "site_name": "Site 1",
  "updates": [
    {
      "type": "plugin",
      "slug": "akismet/akismet.php",
      "name": "Akismet",
      "current_version": "5.3",
      "new_version": "5.3.1"
    }
  ],
  "summary": {
    "core": 0,
    "plugins": 3,
    "themes": 1,
    "translations": 2,
    "total": 6
  }
}

mainwp/update-site-core-v1

Update WordPress core on a single site. Method: POST

curl -X POST -u 'admin:xxxx' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"input":{"site_id_or_domain":1}}' \
  'https://your-dashboard.com/wp-json/wp-abilities/v1/abilities/mainwp/update-site-core-v1/run'

Input Parameters:

Name	Type	Required	Default	Description
`site_id_or_domain`	integer\|string	Yes	—	Site ID or domain

Response:

{
  "site_id": 1,
  "site_url": "https://site1.example.com",
  "updated": true,
  "old_version": "6.4.1",
  "new_version": "6.4.2"
}

mainwp/update-site-plugins-v1

Update plugins on a single site. Method: POST

# Update specific plugins
curl -X POST -u 'admin:xxxx' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"input":{"site_id_or_domain":1,"slugs":["akismet/akismet.php"]}}' \
  'https://your-dashboard.com/wp-json/wp-abilities/v1/abilities/mainwp/update-site-plugins-v1/run'

# Update all plugins
curl -X POST -u 'admin:xxxx' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"input":{"site_id_or_domain":1}}' \
  'https://your-dashboard.com/wp-json/wp-abilities/v1/abilities/mainwp/update-site-plugins-v1/run'

Input Parameters:

Name	Type	Required	Default	Description
`site_id_or_domain`	integer\|string	Yes	—	Site ID or domain
`slugs`	array	No	[]	Specific plugins to update. Empty = all

Response:

{
  "site_id": 1,
  "site_url": "https://site1.example.com",
  "updated": [
    {
      "slug": "akismet/akismet.php",
      "name": "Akismet",
      "old_version": "5.3",
      "new_version": "5.3.1"
    }
  ],
  "errors": [],
  "total_updated": 1
}

mainwp/update-site-themes-v1

Update themes on a single site. Method: POST

# Update specific themes
curl -X POST -u 'admin:xxxx' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"input":{"site_id_or_domain":1,"slugs":["twentytwentyfour"]}}' \
  'https://your-dashboard.com/wp-json/wp-abilities/v1/abilities/mainwp/update-site-themes-v1/run'

# Update all themes
curl -X POST -u 'admin:xxxx' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"input":{"site_id_or_domain":1}}' \
  'https://your-dashboard.com/wp-json/wp-abilities/v1/abilities/mainwp/update-site-themes-v1/run'

Input Parameters:

Name	Type	Required	Default	Description
`site_id_or_domain`	integer\|string	Yes	—	Site ID or domain
`slugs`	array	No	[]	Specific themes to update. Empty = all

Response:

{
  "site_id": 1,
  "site_url": "https://site1.example.com",
  "updated": [
    {
      "slug": "twentytwentyfour",
      "name": "Twenty Twenty-Four",
      "old_version": "1.0",
      "new_version": "1.1"
    }
  ],
  "errors": [],
  "total_updated": 1
}

mainwp/update-site-translations-v1

Update translations on a single site. Method: POST

curl -X POST -u 'admin:xxxx' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"input":{"site_id_or_domain":1}}' \
  'https://your-dashboard.com/wp-json/wp-abilities/v1/abilities/mainwp/update-site-translations-v1/run'

Input Parameters:

Name	Type	Required	Default	Description
`site_id_or_domain`	integer\|string	Yes	—	Site ID or domain

Response:

{
  "site_id": 1,
  "site_url": "https://site1.example.com",
  "updated": true,
  "translations_updated": 5
}

mainwp/list-ignored-updates-v1

List updates marked as ignored. Method: GET (readonly)

curl -u 'admin:xxxx' \
  'https://your-dashboard.com/wp-json/wp-abilities/v1/abilities/mainwp/list-ignored-updates-v1/run'

Input Parameters:

Name	Type	Required	Default	Description
`page`	integer	No	1	Page number
`per_page`	integer	No	50	Items per page

Response:

{
  "ignored": [
    {
      "site_id": 1,
      "site_url": "https://site1.example.com",
      "site_name": "Site 1",
      "type": "plugin",
      "slug": "woocommerce/woocommerce.php",
      "name": "WooCommerce",
      "ignored_version": "8.5.0"
    }
  ],
  "total": 5
}

mainwp/set-ignored-updates-v1

Add or remove items from ignored updates list. Method: POST

# Ignore a plugin update
curl -X POST -u 'admin:xxxx' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"input":{"action":"ignore","site_id_or_domain":1,"type":"plugin","slug":"woocommerce/woocommerce.php"}}' \
  'https://your-dashboard.com/wp-json/wp-abilities/v1/abilities/mainwp/set-ignored-updates-v1/run'

# Unignore
curl -X POST -u 'admin:xxxx' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"input":{"action":"unignore","site_id_or_domain":1,"type":"plugin","slug":"woocommerce/woocommerce.php"}}' \
  'https://your-dashboard.com/wp-json/wp-abilities/v1/abilities/mainwp/set-ignored-updates-v1/run'

Input Parameters:

Name	Type	Required	Default	Description
`action`	string	Yes	—	`ignore` or `unignore`
`site_id_or_domain`	integer\|string	Yes	—	Site ID or domain
`type`	string	Yes	—	`core`, `plugin`, or `theme`
`slug`	string	Yes	—	Item slug (use `wordpress` for core)

Response:

{
  "success": true,
  "action": "ignore",
  "site_id": 1,
  "type": "plugin",
  "slug": "woocommerce/woocommerce.php"
}

mainwp/ignore-site-core-v1

Manage core update ignore status for a site. Method: POST

# Ignore core updates
curl -X POST -u 'admin:xxxx' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"input":{"site_id_or_domain":1,"action":"add"}}' \
  'https://your-dashboard.com/wp-json/wp-abilities/v1/abilities/mainwp/ignore-site-core-v1/run'

# Unignore core updates
curl -X POST -u 'admin:xxxx' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"input":{"site_id_or_domain":1,"action":"remove"}}' \
  'https://your-dashboard.com/wp-json/wp-abilities/v1/abilities/mainwp/ignore-site-core-v1/run'

Input Parameters:

Name	Type	Required	Default	Description
`site_id_or_domain`	integer\|string	Yes	—	Site ID or domain
`action`	string	Yes	—	`add` to ignore, `remove` to unignore

Response:

{
  "success": true,
  "site_id": 1,
  "action": "add",
  "core_ignored": true
}

mainwp/ignore-site-plugins-v1

Manage plugin ignore status for a site. Method: POST

# Ignore plugin updates
curl -X POST -u 'admin:xxxx' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"input":{"site_id_or_domain":1,"action":"add","slugs":["akismet/akismet.php"]}}' \
  'https://your-dashboard.com/wp-json/wp-abilities/v1/abilities/mainwp/ignore-site-plugins-v1/run'

# Unignore plugin updates
curl -X POST -u 'admin:xxxx' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"input":{"site_id_or_domain":1,"action":"remove","slugs":["akismet/akismet.php"]}}' \
  'https://your-dashboard.com/wp-json/wp-abilities/v1/abilities/mainwp/ignore-site-plugins-v1/run'

Input Parameters:

Name	Type	Required	Default	Description
`site_id_or_domain`	integer\|string	Yes	—	Site ID or domain
`action`	string	Yes	—	`add` to ignore, `remove` to unignore
`slugs`	array	Yes	—	Plugin slugs to ignore/unignore

Response:

{
  "success": true,
  "site_id": 1,
  "action": "add",
  "plugins_ignored": ["akismet/akismet.php"]
}

mainwp/ignore-site-themes-v1

Manage theme ignore status for a site. Method: POST

# Ignore theme updates
curl -X POST -u 'admin:xxxx' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"input":{"site_id_or_domain":1,"action":"add","slugs":["twentytwenty"]}}' \
  'https://your-dashboard.com/wp-json/wp-abilities/v1/abilities/mainwp/ignore-site-themes-v1/run'

# Unignore theme updates
curl -X POST -u 'admin:xxxx' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"input":{"site_id_or_domain":1,"action":"remove","slugs":["twentytwenty"]}}' \
  'https://your-dashboard.com/wp-json/wp-abilities/v1/abilities/mainwp/ignore-site-themes-v1/run'

Input Parameters:

Name	Type	Required	Default	Description
`site_id_or_domain`	integer\|string	Yes	—	Site ID or domain
`action`	string	Yes	—	`add` to ignore, `remove` to unignore
`slugs`	array	Yes	—	Theme slugs to ignore/unignore

Response:

{
  "success": true,
  "site_id": 1,
  "action": "add",
  "themes_ignored": ["twentytwenty"]
}

mainwp/update-all-v1

Execute all available updates across sites. Use with caution on production environments. Method: POST

# Update everything on all sites
curl -X POST -u 'admin:xxxx' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"input":{}}' \
  'https://your-dashboard.com/wp-json/wp-abilities/v1/abilities/mainwp/update-all-v1/run'

# Update everything on specific sites
curl -X POST -u 'admin:xxxx' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"input":{"site_ids_or_domains":[1, 2, 3]}}' \
  'https://your-dashboard.com/wp-json/wp-abilities/v1/abilities/mainwp/update-all-v1/run'

Input Parameters:

Name	Type	Required	Default	Description
`site_ids_or_domains`	array	No	[]	Sites to update. Empty = all sites

Response:

{
  "updated": {
    "core": 2,
    "plugins": 15,
    "themes": 3,
    "translations": 5
  },
  "errors": [],
  "summary": {
    "total_updated": 25,
    "total_errors": 0,
    "sites_updated": 10
  }
}

This ability applies all available updates including WordPress core. Test on staging sites before running against production environments.

Abilities API Overview - API basics and authentication
Sites Abilities - Site management abilities
REST API Updates - REST API alternative for updates
Manage Updates - Update management in Dashboard

Getting Started

Understanding MainWP

Dashboard

Sites

Users

Updates

Plugins

Themes

Content Operations

Clients

MCP Server

API Reference

Troubleshooting

Customization

Advanced

Resources

What You’ll Learn

mainwp/list-updates-v1

mainwp/run-updates-v1

mainwp/get-site-updates-v1

mainwp/update-site-core-v1

mainwp/update-site-plugins-v1

mainwp/update-site-themes-v1

mainwp/update-site-translations-v1

mainwp/list-ignored-updates-v1

mainwp/set-ignored-updates-v1

mainwp/ignore-site-core-v1

mainwp/ignore-site-plugins-v1

mainwp/ignore-site-themes-v1

mainwp/update-all-v1

​What You’ll Learn

​mainwp/list-updates-v1

​mainwp/run-updates-v1

​mainwp/get-site-updates-v1

​mainwp/update-site-core-v1

​mainwp/update-site-plugins-v1

​mainwp/update-site-themes-v1

​mainwp/update-site-translations-v1

​mainwp/list-ignored-updates-v1

​mainwp/set-ignored-updates-v1

​mainwp/ignore-site-core-v1

​mainwp/ignore-site-plugins-v1

​mainwp/ignore-site-themes-v1

​mainwp/update-all-v1

​Related Resources

What You’ll Learn

mainwp/list-updates-v1

mainwp/run-updates-v1

mainwp/get-site-updates-v1

mainwp/update-site-core-v1

mainwp/update-site-plugins-v1

mainwp/update-site-themes-v1

mainwp/update-site-translations-v1

mainwp/list-ignored-updates-v1

mainwp/set-ignored-updates-v1

mainwp/ignore-site-core-v1

mainwp/ignore-site-plugins-v1

mainwp/ignore-site-themes-v1

mainwp/update-all-v1

Related Resources