While updating your WordPress website’s plugin or themes (to their latest versions), you may see a message on your website that says, “Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance. Check back in a minute.”
In this blog post, I will share how you can get your website out of maintenance mode.
Let’s First Understand Why It Happens
WordPress creates a .maintenance file in your site’s root directory during updates.
This file should be automatically deleted once the update is complete.
If the update fails or is interrupted, this file remains (doesn’t get deleted automatically) and thus causes your site to be stuck in maintenance mode.
Steps To Resolve
- Step #1: Access Your Website’s File System
To resolve the issue, you’ll have to access your site’s file system (through cPanel or FTP client):
cPanel:Navigate to “File Manager” if your hosting provider supports cPanel.
FTP Client: Tools like FileZilla can help you access and manage your website files.Connect to your site’s root directory, typically named public_html or similar.
- Step #2: Locate and Delete the .maintenance File
In your root directory, look for a file named .maintenance.
This hidden file is responsible for keeping your site in maintenance mode. - Step #3: Delete the file
Right-click and delete the .maintenance file to remove your site from this mode. - Step #4: Check
Refresh your website to check if it’s back online. - Step #5: Clear Your Cache
Even after deleting the file, your browser might still display the maintenance message. Clear your browser cache to ensure you see your site’s latest version. Or, if you have been using a cache plugin like W3 Total Cache, clear the website cache.
Check for Pending Updates
- Head to Dashboard > Updates on your WordPress admin panel.
- Ensure all updates for plugins, themes, and WordPress core files have been completed.
- If an update is unfinished, complete it to avoid repeated maintenance mode errors.
Tips to Avoid Maintenance Mode Errors in the Future
Update One Plugin or Theme at a Time
Updating multiple plugins or themes simultaneously can cause interruptions, so update them individually.
Avoid Closing or Refreshing During Updates
Stay on the update page until the process completes to avoid incomplete updates.
Update During Off-Peak Hours
Schedule updates during times with low traffic to minimize disruptions if maintenance mode persists longer than expected.
Troubleshooting: Still Stuck in Maintenance Mode?
If the above steps don’t work, your web development’s support team can often resolve the issue. Seek help from a WordPress developer.
Consulting a developer may help uncover deeper issues, such as file permissions or incomplete updates.