WordPress Maintenance Mode: Enable, Disable & Troubleshoot

Managing a WordPress website involves frequent updates, content changes, and design modifications. Most of these updates happen seamlessly without affecting user experience. However, for significant changes like redesigns, troubleshooting, or structural updates, it’s best to enable maintenance mode to prevent visitors from encountering a broken or incomplete site.

What is Maintenance Mode?

Maintenance mode temporarily disables public access to your website while displaying a notice informing visitors that the site is undergoing maintenance. WordPress has a built-in maintenance mode that appears during automatic updates, displaying a basic message:

“Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance. Check back in a minute.”

However, this default message is limited, and you may want more control over the display and functionality of your maintenance mode page.

When Should You Enable Maintenance Mode?

Using maintenance mode is ideal for:

Website redesigns and structural changes
Fixing bugs or troubleshooting issues
Updating themes and plugins
Making significant navigation or functionality adjustments
Rolling out major product or service updates

Why Is Maintenance Mode Important?

Enabling maintenance mode helps maintain user trust and prevents confusion by clearly indicating that your site is temporarily unavailable. It also allows you to:

Communicate an expected downtime duration
Provide alternative contact methods or links to social media
Collect email addresses for relaunch notifications
Avoid a poor user experience caused by a broken website

How to Enable Maintenance Mode in WordPress

Using Plugins

While you can manually enable maintenance mode through code, plugins offer a more user-friendly and customizable approach. Here are two highly-rated options:

1. WP Maintenance Mode & Coming Soon

A widely used plugin offering:

Pre-designed landing page templates
Customizable fonts, colors, and backgrounds
Countdown timer
Contact and newsletter signup forms
Social media integration
GDPR compliance
SEO-friendly options

2. CMP – Coming Soon & Maintenance Plugin

Includes all features of WP Maintenance Mode plus:

Video and gradient backgrounds
Additional premium templates
Google Analytics support
URL inclusion/exclusion settings

Both plugins provide an intuitive interface, allowing you to easily activate and customize your maintenance page.

What to Include on Your Maintenance Page

To enhance user experience and keep visitors informed, your maintenance page should include:

Contact Information: Email, phone numbers, or live chat links for customer support
Social Media Links: Encourage engagement and updates via social platforms
Estimated Downtime: If possible, provide a countdown or estimated completion time
Newsletter Signup: Let users subscribe for updates on when the site will be back online

Maintenance Mode vs. Coming Soon Mode

Though both options restrict public access to your site, they serve different purposes:

Maintenance Mode: Used for existing sites undergoing temporary updates or fixes
Coming Soon Mode: Used for new websites under development before launch

A coming soon page often includes a countdown timer and an email signup form to generate excitement and build an audience before launch.

Troubleshooting: Stuck in Maintenance Mode?

Sometimes, WordPress may get stuck in maintenance mode. If this happens:

Access your website files via FTP or cPanel File Manager
Locate and delete the .maintenance file in the root directory
Clear your cache and refresh the site

Take Full Control of Your Website’s Maintenance

By using maintenance mode effectively, you ensure a smooth experience for visitors while making essential updates. Choose the right plugin, customize your maintenance page, and keep your audience informed to maintain trust and engagement.

Would you like assistance setting up a maintenance page for your site? Let us know!