What It Does
WP Multitool is not distributed through the WordPress.org repository, so this module wires plugin updates into the normal WordPress update system instead. Save the license key from your Polar purchase, and update notices appear on your Plugins page exactly like any other plugin — one click updates as usual. Under the hood it checks wpmultitool.com for new versions (cached for 6 hours), validates your license, manages the activation slot for single-site licenses, and downloads signed, expiring update packages. On the Lite build the module stays dormant: Lite has no license keys, so there is no Updates page and no update-server traffic.
Features
- Updates appear in the standard WordPress update UI (Plugins page, Dashboard > Updates) — no custom update flow to learn
- Updates & License admin page: save your key, validate it, check for updates on demand, deactivate this site, or clear the key
- License key is masked in the UI after saving (first and last four characters shown)
- Update checks are cached for 6 hours, and the cache is dropped immediately after a successful upgrade so a stale "update available" notice does not persist after upgrading
- Defensive version comparison: an update is only offered when the advertised version is genuinely newer than what is installed
- Single-site license support: saving a key on a 1-site plan activates this site's slot automatically; "Deactivate this site" frees the slot so you can move the license to another install
- Clear admin notice when the site is not activated on the license (instead of a silent "no updates")
- Signed download URLs expire for security; the module refreshes them automatically right before download, so an update started hours after the check still works
- Plugin details popup (view version, changelog) served from the update server like a WordPress.org plugin
- Edition-aware: the Lite build registers no update surface at all — no menu page, no AJAX handlers, no server requests
- Clearing the key also frees the Polar activation slot (best-effort) so the license is not left tied to an abandoned site
How to Use
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Get your license key
After purchase, your license key is available in your Polar customer portal (linked from your receipt email). It starts with WPMTH_.
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Save the key
Go to WP Multitool > Updates, paste the key, and click "Save Key". The module validates it against the license server and, on single-site plans, activates this site automatically.
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Check the status
The Current Status table shows the license status, whether this site is activated, the expiry date, and the last server check. "Check for Updates Now" forces a fresh check any time.
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Update like any other plugin
When a new version is released, the normal update notice appears on your Plugins page. Click "Update now" — WordPress downloads and installs it exactly like a WordPress.org plugin.
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Move the license to a new site
On 1-site licenses, click "Deactivate this site" on the old install first. That frees your activation slot so saving the key on the new site activates cleanly.
Settings
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| License Key | Empty |
Your Polar license key. Used only to authenticate update checks and downloads against wpmultitool.com. Treat it like a password — it can be revoked from your Polar portal if leaked. |
FAQ
What data does the module send, and where?
Update checks go to wpmultitool.com and include your license key (as an authorization header), plugin edition and version, activation ID, WordPress and PHP versions, and your site URL. On single-site licenses, activating or deactivating the site also calls Polar directly (api.polar.sh) with the license key, your site URL, and your WordPress and PHP versions. Nothing is sent at all until you save a license key.
How often does it check for updates?
Whenever WordPress runs its normal plugin update checks, with the server response cached for 6 hours. In practice that means a couple of lightweight checks per day. "Check for Updates Now" bypasses the cache.
Why do I see "updates are paused: this site is not activated"?
Your license is a 1-site plan and its activation slot is held by another install. Open Updates & License on the other site and click "Deactivate this site" there, then click "Validate" here to claim the slot.
I am on the Lite edition — where is the Updates page?
The Lite build has no license keys, so the Auto Updater deliberately registers nothing: no Updates page, no update checks. To update Lite, download the new zip from your account and install it via the Plugins page — the Quick Updater module makes that a drag-and-drop.
The update download failed with an expired URL. What now?
Download URLs are signed and expire for security. The module normally refreshes an expired URL automatically just before downloading. If it still fails (for example, the license server was briefly unreachable), open WP Multitool > Updates, click "Check for Updates Now", and retry the update.
What happens when my license expires?
The plugin keeps working — only update delivery stops. The status table shows your expiry date; renewing through Polar restores updates with the same key.
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