How do I activate maintenance mode in WordPress?

Maintenance mode is an essential tool for any WordPress website owner who wants to make updates or changes to their website safely. With it, visitors can see a message about service work instead of encountering errors or an incomplete page. In this article, you’ll learn how to enable maintenance mode in WordPress in two ways: manually via a file .maintenance and using popular plugins. Don’t worry, all the steps are described in plain language, so even if you’re not a technical expert, you can do it!

Manually enable maintenance mode using a file .maintenance

One of the easiest ways to activate maintenance mode in WordPress is to create a special file .maintenance. To do this, you need access to your website’s server via FTP (file transfer protocol). FTP allows you to transfer files between your computer and the server where your website is located.

Steps to activate maintenance mode via FTP

1. Connect to an FTP server using a program like FileZilla. You received the FTP server access data (host, user, and password) from your web host when you created your account.
2. Navigate to the root directory of WordPress, which is where files such as wp-config.php, , wp-contentwp-admin , and wp-includes.
3. Create a new file on your computer and name it .maintenance (note the dot at the beginning of the name).
4. Open the file .maintenance in any text editor (e.g. Notepad on Windows or TextEdit on Mac) and paste the code below:<?php $upgrading = time(); ?>This code tells WordPress that the site is in the process of being updated and automatically displays a maintenance message.
5. Upload a file .maintenance to the WordPress root directory using FTP. If everything went well, you will see a message about maintenance mode when you visit the site.

How do I turn off maintenance mode?

Once you are done updating or working on the site, to disable maintenance mode, you just need to delete the file .maintenance from the root directory using FTP. Once the file is deleted, the page will return to normal operation.

Maintenance mode using plug-ins

If you’re not comfortable editing files on your server via FTP, there are easier solutions. You can use pre-built plugins that allow you to enable maintenance mode in a few clicks. Here are three of the most popular plugins to consider.

1. WP Maintenance Mode & Coming Soon

WP Maintenance Mode & Coming Soon is an easy-to-use plugin that allows you to quickly set up maintenance mode on your website.

Main Features:

• Personalization of messages displayed to visitors.
• Option to add a subscription form to the newsletter.
• Countdown function until work is completed.

How do I activate the plugin?

1. Log in to the WordPress admin panel.
2. Go to the Add New plugin.>
3. Search for “WP Maintenance Mode & Coming Soon”.
4. Click Install and then Activate.
5. Go to WP Maintenance Mode Settings > and configure the plugin according to your needs.

2. SeedProd

SeedProd is a powerful tool for creating professional “Coming Soon” pages and maintenance mode. With a simple builder, you can create an attractive look for your work page.

Main Features:

• Drag-and-drop wizard – no coding required.
• Pre-made maintenance page templates.
• Integration with email marketing tools (e.g. Mailchimp).

How do I activate the plugin?

1. In the WordPress admin panel, go to Add New Plugins>.
2. Search for “SeedProd”.
3. Install and activate the plugin.
4. Go to SeedProd > Pages, select the “Maintenance Mode” option, and set up your website.

3. Minimal Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode

Minimal Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode is a lightweight and flexible plug that allows you to quickly turn on maintenance mode.

Main Features:

• Simple setup with no unnecessary options.
• Customizable appearance of the maintenance page.
• Option to add your own HTML and CSS code.

How do I activate the plugin?

1. Go to the Add New plugin > in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Search for “Minimal Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode”.
3. Install and activate the plugin.
4. Go to Settings > Maintenance Mode and select the appropriate settings.

Summary

Enabling maintenance mode in WordPress is simpler than you might think. If you have access to an FTP server, you can manually create a file .maintenance and quickly secure the page during the update. However, if you prefer more convenient solutions, use one of the recommended plugins. This will let your visitors know that work is in progress, and you can make changes to your website with peace of mind.