Update Delegate Plugin

The Update Delegate Plugin allows you to grant update permissions to additional addresses. Useful when third parties need to modify Asset metadata without being the primary update authority.

Summary

The Update Delegate is an Authority Managed plugin that allows the update authority to grant update permissions to other addresses. Additional delegates can modify most Asset data but cannot change core authority settings.

• Grant update permissions to third parties
• Add multiple additional delegates
• Works with both Assets and Collections
• Delegates cannot modify the root update authority

Out of Scope

Permanent update delegation, owner-level permissions (this is authority managed), and Token Metadata update authority (different system).

Quick Start

Jump to: Add to Asset · Update Delegates · Collection

1. Add the Update Delegate plugin with the delegate address
2. Optionally add additional delegates
3. Delegates can now update Asset metadata

Common Use Cases

• Third-party services: Allow platforms to update metadata on your behalf
• Game programs: Grant your game program authority to modify Asset attributes
• Team collaboration: Multiple team members can update without sharing keys
• Marketplaces: Allow marketplaces to update listing-related metadata
• Dynamic content: Services that automatically update Asset data

Works With

Arguments

additionalDelegates

Additional delegates allow you to add more than one delegate to the updateDelegate plugin. Additional delegates can do everything that the update authority can do except:

• add or change the additional delegates array (apart from remove themselves).
• change the plugin authority of the updateAuthority plugin.
• change the root update authority of the collection.

Adding the Update Delegate Plugin to an Asset

import { publicKey } from '@metaplex-foundation/umi'
import { addPlugin } from '@metaplex-foundation/mpl-core'
const assetAddress = publicKey('11111111111111111111111111111111')
const delegate = publicKey('22222222222222222222222222222222')
await addPlugin(umi, {
  asset: assetAddress,
  plugin: {
    type: 'UpdateDelegate',
    authority: { type: 'Address', address: delegate },
    additionalDelegates: [],
  },
}).sendAndConfirm(umi)

Updating the Update Delegate Plugin

The Update Delegate Plugin can be updated to modify the list of additional delegates or change the plugin authority.

import { publicKey } from '@metaplex-foundation/umi'
import { updatePlugin } from '@metaplex-foundation/mpl-core'
const assetAddress = publicKey('11111111111111111111111111111111')
const newDelegate = publicKey('33333333333333333333333333333333')
const existingDelegate = publicKey('22222222222222222222222222222222')
await updatePlugin(umi, {
  asset: assetAddress,
  plugin: {
    type: 'UpdateDelegate',
    additionalDelegates: [existingDelegate, newDelegate], // Add or remove delegates
  },
}).sendAndConfirm(umi)

Updating Update Delegate Plugin on Collection

import { publicKey } from '@metaplex-foundation/umi'
import { updateCollectionPlugin } from '@metaplex-foundation/mpl-core'
const collectionAddress = publicKey('11111111111111111111111111111111')
const delegate1 = publicKey('22222222222222222222222222222222')
const delegate2 = publicKey('33333333333333333333333333333333')
await updateCollectionPlugin(umi, {
  collection: collectionAddress,
  plugin: {
    type: 'UpdateDelegate',
    additionalDelegates: [delegate1, delegate2], // Updated delegates list
  },
}).sendAndConfirm(umi)

Common Errors

Authority mismatch

Only the update authority (or existing plugin authority) can add/modify the Update Delegate plugin.

Cannot modify root authority

Additional delegates cannot change the root update authority or modify the additional delegates list (except removing themselves).

Notes

• Authority Managed: update authority can add without owner signature
• Additional delegates have almost full update permissions
• Delegates cannot change the root update authority
• Delegates cannot modify the additional delegates list (except remove themselves)
• Works on both Assets and Collections

Quick Reference

Additional Delegate Permissions

FAQ

What can additional delegates do?

Almost everything the update authority can do: update metadata, add/remove plugins, etc. They cannot change the root update authority, modify the additional delegates list, or change the Update Delegate plugin authority.

Can additional delegates add more delegates?

No. Only the root update authority (or plugin authority) can add or remove additional delegates.

How do I remove myself as an additional delegate?

Additional delegates can remove themselves from the list by updating the plugin without their address in the additionalDelegates array.

Is there a limit to additional delegates?

There's no hard limit, but more delegates increase account size and rent. Keep the list reasonable.

Does Update Delegate work on Collections?

Yes. Adding Update Delegate to a Collection allows delegates to update collection metadata and collection-level plugins.

Related Plugins

• Attributes - Store on-chain data that delegates can update
• ImmutableMetadata - Make metadata unchangeable (overrides delegates)
• AddBlocker - Prevent delegates from adding new plugins

Glossary