Fix WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode

WordPress automatically enters maintenance mode when you update plugins, themes, or the WordPress core. This is a built-in feature to prevent site visitors from encountering broken pages during the update process. However, if the update process is interrupted, such as by a server timeout or accidental browser closure, WordPress can get stuck in maintenance mode. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to fix this issue step-by-step.

What Causes WordPress to Get Stuck in Maintenance Mode?

When WordPress updates plugins, themes, or core files, it temporarily creates a .maintenance file in your site’s root directory. If the update process fails or is interrupted, this file may not get deleted automatically, causing your site to remain in maintenance mode indefinitely. Visitors will see a message like:

Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance. Check back in a minute.

This can be frustrating, but the good news is that fixing it is relatively simple.

How to Fix WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode

Follow these steps to resolve the issue and get your website back online:

1. Access Your Site via FTP or File Manager

To fix the issue, you need to delete the .maintenance file. Here’s how to do it:

• Using FTP:
  1. Use an FTP client like FileZilla to connect to your site.
  2. Navigate to the root directory of your WordPress installation.
• Using cPanel File Manager:
  1. Log in to your hosting account’s cPanel.
  2. Navigate to File Manager.
  3. Click On Settings , Check Show Hidden Files and Save.
  4. Go to the root directory of your WordPress installation (usually called public_html or your site’s folder).
• Using Direct Admin
  1. Log in to your hosting direct admin
  2. find file manager and open it
  3. go to public_html folder (or domain name folder in some cases)

2. Locate and Delete the .maintenance File

Once you are in the root directory:

1. Look for a file named .maintenance (it might be hidden by default, so ensure hidden files are visible).
2. Right-click on the .maintenance file and delete it.

3. Clear Your Cache

After deleting the .maintenance file, your site should be back online. However, you may still see the maintenance mode message due to caching. To clear it:

• Clear your browser cache.
• If you use a caching plugin like WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache, clear the plugin’s cache as well.
• Clear your hosting cache (if applicable).

4. Check for Failed Updates

Interrupted updates could leave plugins or themes partially updated, leading to further issues. Follow these steps to resolve them:

1. Go to your WordPress admin dashboard.
2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins or Appearance > Themes.
3. Check if any updates failed. Reattempt the updates if necessary.

5. Prevent WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode Problem

To avoid getting stuck in maintenance mode in the future:

• Don’t Interrupt Updates: Let updates run fully before closing your browser or navigating away.
• Optimize Your Server: Ensure your hosting environment is robust enough to handle updates without timing out.
• Update Plugins and Themes Individually: Updating them one at a time reduces the likelihood of conflicts.
• Backup Your website Before updates: read our complete article about “How to Update WordPress, Plugins, and Themes Safely Without Issues” for more details.

Troubleshooting If the Issue Persists

If your site is still experiencing issues after deleting the .maintenance file and this issue continues every time updateing a theme or plugin like woocommerce, consider the following:

• Increase PHP Memory Limit: A low memory limit can interrupt updates. You can increase it by adding this line to your wp-config.php file:

  define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '1024M');

• Check Server Logs: Your hosting account’s error logs might provide clues about what caused the interruption.
• Restore from Backup: If all else fails, restore your site from a recent backup using your backup plugin or your hosting provider’s backup system.

Final Thoughts

Getting stuck in maintenance mode can be a headache, but it’s a straightforward problem to fix by removing the .maintenance file and ensuring your updates complete successfully. By taking preventive measures and maintaining a robust hosting environment, you can minimize the risk of encountering this issue in the future.

If you found this guide helpful, share it with others or check out our blog for more WordPress troubleshooting tips!