Troubleshooter Series

Stuck in ‘Maintenance Mode’
in WordPress?

Fixing the Issue

Preventing the Issue

Troubleshooter Series

Stuck in ‘Maintenance Mode’
in WordPress?

If your WordPress site ever gets stuck in maintenance mode, don’t panic! It’s a common issue that happens when updates don’t complete properly.

Here’s how I fix it and my top tips to prevent it from happening again.

Fixing the Issue

Method 1: Delete the .maintenance File via FTP

  1. Connect to your site using an FTP client (like FileZilla) or your web host’s File Manager.
  2. Navigate to your root directory (often called public_html).
  3. Look for a file named .maintenance (you may need to enable “Show hidden files” in your settings).
  4. Delete the .maintenance file.
  5. Refresh your website – it should now be back to normal!

Method 2: Increase PHP Memory Limit

If your site frequently gets stuck in maintenance mode, try increasing your PHP memory limit:

  • Edit your wp-config.php file (found in the root directory via FTP or File Manager).
  • Add the following code before the line that says “That’s all, stop editing! Happy publishing.”:

define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’);

  • Save the file and reload/refresh your site.

Preventing the Issue

Method 1: Keep Your Browser Tab Open During Updates

When updating WordPress core files, plugins, or themes from the admin dashboard, always monitor the update process.

  1. Do not close or refresh the browser tab while updates are running.
  2. Wait until you see “Disabling Maintenance mode… All updates have been completed.” before navigating away.
  3. If updates take too long, check your internet connection and server performance

Method 2: Avoid Updating Too Many Plugins or Themes at Once

Updating multiple plugins or themes simultaneously can slow down the process and increase the risk of conflicts or timeouts.

  1. Update plugins one by one to quickly identify potential issues.
  2. Before updating, check the changelog and compatibility of each plugin with your current WordPress version.
  3. If an update causes a problem, disable the plugin and restore a backup if necessary.

Method 3: Test Updates in a Staging Environment

Instead of applying updates directly to your live website, use a staging site to test updates first.

  1. Many hosting providers offer staging environments—set one up for testing.
  2. Update plugins/themes in the staging site first, and check for errors.
  3. Once everything works fine, apply the updates to your live site

In Conclusion

The “Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance” error can make your site inaccessible, impacting user experience and potentially harming your brand reputation. That’s why it’s essential to identify and fix the issue quickly.

✅ Keep your browser tab open during updates to avoid interruptions.
✅ Avoid bulk updates—update plugins and themes one at a time.
✅ Check compatibility before updating plugins or themes.
✅ Optimize your hosting plan for better performance and storage.

By following these steps, you can ensure a smooth update process and keep your WordPress site running without interruptions.