How to Fix WordPress Stuck In Maintenance Mode

Occasionally you may find WordPress stuck in Maintenance mode when updating core files, themes, or plugins. When doing these functions, WordPress temporarily goes into Maintenance Mode to apply the changes. But sometimes, your site can get stuck in this mode, showing a message saying, “Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance. Check back in a minute”. This means the website is temporarily offline due to updates.

Certainly, Maintenance Mode is designed to keep your site safe while updates happen. But what if your site gets stuck in this mode for a long time? That’s when you know there’s an issue that needs fixing. When your WordPress is stuck in Maintenance Mode, users can’t access your content.

This can hurt your website’s traffic, user experience, and even your business if running an online store. The longer your site stays in this mode, the worse the impact.

This tutorial shows you how to get out when WordPress is stuck in Maintenance Mode. We cover why it happens, what causes it, and straightforward steps you can follow to get your site back online. By the end, you’ll know how to avoid this issue in the future and ensure smooth updates for your WordPress site.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• WordPress gets stuck in Maintenance Mode if updates are interrupted or if there are compatibility issues.
• Fix the issue by accessing your site via FTP or File Manager and deleting the .maintenance file in the root directory.
• Then clear your website cache to ensure the update applies correctly.
• To prevent this problem, check plugin/theme compatibility and avoid bulk updates.
• Keeping plugins and themes updated regularly helps maintain your site’s smooth performance.

What Causes WordPress to Get Stuck in Maintenance Mode?

When you update WordPress, it temporarily goes into Maintenance Mode to keep your site safe while things are being updated. WordPress creates a .maintenance file that tells visitors your site is down for a time.

Once the updates finish, this file is automatically deleted, and your site returns to normal. But sometimes, things don’t go as planned, and your site gets stuck in Maintenance Mode.

One of the most common reasons this happens is when an update is interrupted. This could be because of a slow internet connection, a server issue, an update taking too long, or you accidentally close the browser tab. If the update stops halfway, WordPress may not remove the .maintenance file, leaving your site stuck.

Another reason this can happen is when you try to update numerous plugins or themes simultaneously. If you update many things simultaneously, the server may struggle to process everything, causing the site to freeze in Maintenance Mode. It’s best to update plugins and themes one at a time to avoid this issue.

Compatibility issues between WordPress, plugins, or themes can also cause problems. If a plugin or theme isn’t fully compatible with the version of WordPress you’re using, it could cause the update to fail, leaving your WordPress stuck in Maintenance Mode.

As a result, the following message appears:

If you see this message, try the following simple solution to remove it:

How to Fix WordPress Maintenance Mode

When your WordPress gets stuck in Maintenance Mode, it can be frustrating, especially if you’re unsure how to fix it. But don’t worry—this common problem occurs when updates are interrupted or take too long.

The good news is that fixing this issue is straightforward. You can restore your site with these easy steps. Here’s how to get out of Maintenance Mode and get your site running smoothly again:

Firstly, access your website’s files through a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) client like FileZilla. Refer to the following to see how you can connect to your web server using FTP Clients:

– How to Configure a Site in FTP Client FileZilla

– How to Configure a Site in WinSCP

Once connected, find the root directory of your WordPress site. This is where all your website files are stored. If you’re a Hosted.com user, your root directory will be public_html. Now, look for the file named .maintenance—this keeps your site in Maintenance Mode.

Delete the .maintenance file. This will manually WordPress disable Maintenance Mode, and your site should return to normal.

Important: Navigate to the public_html folder using the Hosted.com File Manager feature, which you can access by going to cPanel → Files → File Manager.

After deleting the .maintenance file, it’s a good idea to clear your WordPress website’s cache. Sometimes, even after fixing this issue, the old maintenance message may still appear because it’s cached.

You can clear the cache from your caching plugin (if you have one) or use your Hosting.com control panel to flush the cache. This ensures your visitors will see the updated version of your site without the maintenance message lingering.

If you’re a Hosted.com client, navigate to Hosted’s cPanel → LiteSpeed Web Cache Manager and click Flush All under Flush LSCache.

You may also scroll down and click WordPress cache.

On the next screen, click Flush All to clear the WordPress cache.

If the error isn’t a compatibility problem, try re-running the update to ensure your site is using the latest version.

How to Prevent WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode

Nobody likes dealing with a website stuck in Maintenance Mode, especially when you’re trying to keep things running smoothly. Luckily, there are a few simple things to prevent this issue. Follow these tips to avoid common problems and ensure your WordPress updates happen without issues.

One of the easiest ways to prevent your site from getting stuck in Maintenance Mode is to check theme and plugin compatibility before updating. Sometimes, a plugin or theme may not be fully compatible with your WordPress version. Updating without checking this could cause the update process to break, leaving your site stuck.

To avoid this, go to the plugin or theme details page and see if the developer has noted compatibility with your version of WordPress. Many developers also release update logs, so check those to ensure everything will work smoothly after the update.

If you notice any warnings or potential issues, it’s better to wait for a newer version that is fully compatible or reach out to the plugin’s support team. However, if you’re downloading a theme or plugin from a WordPress repository, you should look at the plugin details to check its compatibility:

Alternatively, you can check it while installing your required plugin via the WordPress admin dashboard:

It’s also best to avoid running too many updates simultaneously. By updating your themes and plugins as soon as they become available instead of saving them all for later, you can reduce the workload for WordPress during each update.

To keep your website running smoothly, check out our detailed tutorial on WordPress maintenance.

FAQS

Other Related Tutorials & Blogs:

– The Role of Backups in WordPress Hosting Security

– Safeguarding Your Website: Common WordPress Security Issues

– How to Password Protect A WordPress Site – The Ultimate Guide

– How to Fix ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT Error

– How to Enhance Website Performance with WordPress CDN Plugins