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

# Update Frequency Settings

> Configure separate schedules for automatic synchronization and advanced automatic updates. Choose sync frequency, update days and times, and the update delay.

MainWP Dashboard has separate schedules for automatic synchronization and advanced automatic updates. Sync refreshes child-site data, including available updates. The automatic-update schedule controls when MainWP installs eligible updates.

## What You'll Learn

* Configure the daily sync time and frequency
* Schedule automatic updates daily, weekly, or monthly
* Understand how the update delay and cron affect timing

## Prerequisites

* MainWP Dashboard installed and activated
* Access to Dashboard settings

***

## Configure Sync Frequency

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Settings">
    Go to **top-right user menu > MainWP Settings > General Settings** (`/wp-admin/admin.php?page=Settings`).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Find General Settings">
    On the **General Settings** tab, locate the **General Settings** section.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set daily sync time">
    Find **Daily sync time** and set your preferred start time.

    This determines when MainWP begins the first automatic sync of the day.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set sync frequency">
    Set **Frequency of auto sync** to the number of sync runs per day. Options range from **Once per day** to **Twelve times per day**; the default is **Twice per day**.

    | Option | Sync Times |
    | - | - |
    | Once per day | At the configured sync time |
    | Twice per day | Sync time + 12 hours later |
    | Three times per day | Every 8 hours starting at sync time |
  </Step>

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

***

## Configure Update Frequency

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Updates Settings">
    Open **top-right user menu > MainWP Settings > General Settings** (`/wp-admin/admin.php?page=Settings`) and find the **Updates Settings** section.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable the update types you need">
    Set the relevant control to **Install Trusted Updates**:

    * **Plugin advanced automatic updates**
    * **Theme advanced automatic updates**
    * **Translation advanced automatic updates**
    * **WP Core advanced automatic updates**

    Mark plugins or themes as trusted on their **Advanced Auto Updates** pages. WordPress core also requires **Auto Update Core** enabled for each site. Follow the [Manage Updates guide](/sites/updates/manage-updates) for these steps and translation eligibility.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose the schedule">
    Set **Frequency of automatic updates** to **Daily**, **Weekly**, or **Monthly**. For weekly or monthly runs, use **Select day** to choose the weekday or day of the month. Set **Select time** for the update run.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set the update delay">
    Choose **Advanced automatic updates delay**. The default is **1 day**; available options are **Delay off**, **1 day** through **7 days**, **14 days**, and **30 days**. An update must meet the delay before it is eligible for a scheduled run.
  </Step>

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

***

## How Timing Works

For example, configure:

* **Daily sync time**: 7:00 AM
* **Frequency of auto sync**: Three times per day
* **Frequency of automatic updates**: Daily
* **Select time**: 11:30 PM

MainWP schedules syncs for 7:00 AM, 3:00 PM, and 11:00 PM. The automatic-update run is scheduled separately for 11:30 PM, subject to the enabled update types, trust settings, ignored updates, and update delay.

Use the **Timezone** configured in MainWP Dashboard when choosing these times. Scheduled times depend on cron execution; a late cron trigger can delay a run.

***

## Important Notes

* Increasing sync frequency does not increase automatic-update frequency.
* Plugin and theme advanced automatic updates require both the global setting and trusted items. Ignored items are excluded.
* The update delay and the next scheduled run can both affect when an eligible update is installed; there is no universal 24-hour completion deadline.
* MainWP uses cron for background work. Follow [Manage WP Cron on a Low-Traffic MainWP Dashboard](/customization/manage-wp-cron-on-low-traffic-mainwp-dashboard) for reliable cron execution.

***

## Self-Check Checklist

* [ ] Daily sync time and frequency are configured
* [ ] Required automatic-update types and trust settings are enabled
* [ ] Update schedule and delay match your needs
* [ ] Settings are saved
* [ ] WP Cron runs reliably on your Dashboard

***

## Related Resources

* [Manage Updates](/sites/updates/manage-updates) - Full update management documentation
* [MainWP Dashboard Settings](/sites/management/mainwp-dashboard-settings) - All Dashboard settings
* [Disable WP Cron](/customization/disable-wp-cron) - Set up server-side cron


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