WordPress maintenance mode is a useful feature that appears when WordPress, a plugin, or a theme is being updated. Normally, the maintenance message disappears automatically after the update is completed. However, sometimes an update gets interrupted, and your website can remain stuck in maintenance mode.
If visitors see a message such as “Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance. Check back in a minute,” there is usually no need to panic. In most cases, you can fix the problem in just a few minutes.
What Is WordPress Maintenance Mode?
WordPress automatically activates a temporary maintenance mode when it performs certain updates. During this process, WordPress creates a small file called .maintenance in the website’s root directory.
The file tells WordPress to display a maintenance message while an update is running.
Once the update finishes successfully, WordPress normally removes this file automatically.
However, if the update is interrupted because of a server timeout, connection problem, low server resources, or another issue, the .maintenance file may remain on the server. As a result, your website can continue showing the maintenance message.
Why Does WordPress Get Stuck in Maintenance Mode?
There are several common reasons why WordPress may remain in maintenance mode:
- A plugin update was interrupted.
- A WordPress core update failed.
- A theme update did not complete properly.
- The hosting server timed out during an update.
- The internet connection was interrupted.
- The server ran out of available resources.
- Multiple updates were running at the same time.
- File permissions prevented WordPress from completing the update.
Fortunately, removing the stuck maintenance mode is usually straightforward.
How to Remove WordPress Maintenance Mode
The easiest solution is to remove the .maintenance file from your WordPress root directory.
Before making any changes, it is a good idea to create a backup of your website.
Step 1: Log in to Your Hosting Account
First, log in to your web hosting control panel.
Depending on your hosting provider, you may have access to cPanel, Plesk, DirectAdmin, or another file manager.
Open the File Manager and locate the directory where your WordPress website is installed.
For many websites, this will be:
public_htmlStep 2: Find the .maintenance File
Inside your WordPress root directory, look for a file named:
.maintenanceThis is a hidden file, so you may need to enable the option to Show Hidden Files in your hosting File Manager.
The .maintenance file is normally located in the same directory as files such as:
- wp-admin
- wp-content
- wp-includes
- wp-config.php
Step 3: Delete the .maintenance File
Once you find the .maintenance file, right-click it and select Delete.
Do not delete other WordPress files or folders.
After deleting the file, open your website in a new browser tab and refresh the page.
In most cases, your website should immediately return to normal.
How to Remove Maintenance Mode Using FTP
If you cannot access your hosting File Manager, you can use an FTP client such as FileZilla.
Connect to your website using your FTP credentials and navigate to the WordPress installation directory.
Look for:
.maintenanceDelete the file and then refresh your website.
If the file is hidden, enable the option to display hidden files in your FTP client.
What If the Website Is Still in Maintenance Mode?
If deleting the .maintenance file does not solve the problem, there may be another issue with the update.
Try the following troubleshooting steps.
1. Clear Your Browser Cache
Sometimes your browser may display an older cached version of the page.
Try opening your website in:
- A private/incognito window
- Another browser
- Another device
You can also clear your browser cache and reload the website.
2. Clear Your WordPress Cache
If you use a caching plugin or server-level caching, clear the cache after removing the maintenance file.
Depending on your setup, you may need to clear:
- WordPress page cache
- Server cache
- CDN cache
- Browser cache
3. Check Plugin Updates
If the maintenance mode started after a plugin update, check whether the plugin was successfully updated.
Log in to WordPress Dashboard → Plugins and look for any plugins that require updates or appear incomplete.
Do not immediately update everything again if you are unsure what caused the problem. Check the website first and consider creating a backup.
4. Check WordPress Core Updates
Go to:
Dashboard → Updates
Check whether WordPress reports that an update is incomplete or requires attention.
If an update failed, make a backup before attempting the update again.
5. Check Theme Updates
If the problem started after updating your theme, check:
Appearance → Themes
Make sure your active theme is installed correctly and that there are no update errors.
How to Prevent WordPress Maintenance Mode Problems
Although you cannot completely prevent update failures, you can reduce the chances of getting stuck in maintenance mode.
Keep Regular Backups
Always maintain recent backups of your WordPress files and database. A reliable backup gives you a recovery option if an update causes problems.
Keep WordPress Updated
Regularly update WordPress core, plugins, and themes. Keeping your website updated can improve security, compatibility, and stability.
Avoid Updating Too Many Things at Once
Instead of updating dozens of plugins simultaneously, consider updating them in smaller groups. This makes it easier to identify which update caused a problem.
Use Reliable Hosting
Server performance can affect WordPress updates. A hosting account with sufficient resources can help reduce update failures caused by timeouts or resource limitations.
Monitor Your Website After Updates
After updating WordPress, plugins, or themes, quickly check the homepage, important pages, forms, and other key functions.
Is It Safe to Delete the .maintenance File?
Yes, if WordPress is genuinely stuck in maintenance mode and no update is currently running, deleting the .maintenance file is the standard way to remove the stuck maintenance screen.
However, you should avoid deleting files randomly from your WordPress installation. The .maintenance file is specifically related to WordPress maintenance mode, while other files may be essential to your website.
A WordPress website stuck in maintenance mode can look like a serious problem, but it is often one of the easiest WordPress issues to fix. In most cases, you simply need to access your WordPress root directory, enable hidden files, find the .maintenance file, and delete it. After clearing your cache and refreshing the website, the maintenance message should disappear.
