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Why Are Plugin Updates Missing in WordPress Multisite Network Admin?

23 threads Sep 7, 2025 Core → Networking wordpress

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If you manage a WordPress Multisite network, you might have encountered a confusing and frustrating issue: a plugin that is active on a subsite, but not on the main site, does not appear in the list of available updates within the Network Admin dashboard. This can force you to log into individual subsites to check for and apply updates, undermining the centralized management benefits of Multisite.

Why This Happens

This behavior is not a bug in the 'Networking WordPress' plugin itself, but rather a design characteristic of the core WordPress Multisite architecture. The update checks performed from the Network Admin area are heavily tied to the main site of the network. If a plugin is not present on the main site—either not installed or not activated—WordPress may not check for updates for that plugin at the network level. This is a common point of confusion for administrators who expect the Network Admin to be a complete overview of every plugin across the entire network.

How to Resolve the Missing Plugin Updates

There are a few reliable strategies to ensure you can see and manage all plugin updates from your Network Admin dashboard.

1. Network Activate the Plugin (Recommended)

The most straightforward and recommended solution is to Network Activate the plugin. This means the plugin will be active on every site in your network. This guarantees that the plugin's update information will be checked and displayed in the Network Admin updates screen. This is the ideal method for plugins that are used across the majority of your network's sites, as it provides the most centralized control.

2. Activate the Plugin on the Main Site

If you do not want a plugin to be active on every single subsite, you can instead simply activate it on the main site (the first site created in your network). You can leave it deactivated on all subsites where it is not needed. Having the plugin active on the main site is often sufficient to trigger the update check, making its updates visible in the Network Admin. You can then update it from there, and the new version will be available for any subsite that has it activated.

3. Use a Third-Party Management Tool

For very large networks or complex scenarios where the above methods are not feasible, consider using a dedicated third-party management tool or plugin. Several plugins are designed to manage updates across multiple WordPress installations, including Multisite networks. These tools can provide a unified dashboard that accurately reflects the status of all plugins on all sites, regardless of how they are activated.

Important Considerations

  • Testing Updates: Always test major plugin updates on a staging site before applying them to your live network. A problem with a network-activated plugin can affect every site simultaneously.
  • Update Process: Remember that updating a plugin from the Network Admin updates it for the entire network. All sites using that plugin will then be running the new version.

By understanding this nuance of WordPress Multisite, you can adjust your plugin management strategy to ensure you never miss a critical security or feature update again.

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