How to Put Your WooCommerce Store in Maintenance Mode (Step-by-Step) 

The fastest way to enable WooCommerce maintenance mode is with a plugin like SeedProd. In one click, you can hide your store, show a custom message or countdown, and keep customers informed, without writing code.

It only takes four simple steps — install the plugin, design your page, choose which store pages to hide, and switch on maintenance mode. This keeps your shop looking polished and secure while you make updates behind the scenes.

Without it, shoppers might land on broken pages during updates, which can hurt sales. Maintenance mode ensures they only see a professional, branded message until your store is live again.

In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to set up WooCommerce maintenance mode, step by step.

Quick Steps:

What Is WooCommerce Maintenance Mode?

WooCommerce maintenance mode lets you temporarily hide your store and show a custom message while you make updates. It prevents shoppers from seeing errors and keeps your site looking professional.

A proper maintenance page returns an HTTP 503 Service Unavailable status with a Retry-After header. This tells search engines the downtime is temporary, protecting your SEO.

Logged-in admins can bypass maintenance mode to preview changes, while visitors see the holding page. This is different from WordPress’s brief automatic update screen, as you control when maintenance starts and ends.

When and Why to Use WooCommerce Maintenance Mode

Maintenance mode is useful anytime your store might look broken or confusing to shoppers.

Here are common situations and the best way to handle them:

Situation	Best Mode	Time Needed	What Shoppers See	Analytics
Installing updates or plugins	Full 503 maintenance	15–30 minutes	“We’ll be back soon” message	Little to no data lost
Adding products in bulk	Coming Soon page (no 503)	A few hours	Countdown or launch notice	Traffic still tracked
Changing design or theme	503 with branded message	Several hours or a day	“Site improvements in progress”	Visits may dip
Fixing urgent security issues	Immediate 503	As short as possible	Quick “Under maintenance” note	Short gap in data
Testing new features	Use a staging site (no downtime)	N/A	N/A	No impact

Using the right mode keeps customers informed, protects your SEO, and helps you avoid lost sales.

Note: Before making any changes to your website, make sure you back up your site to avoid making any mistakes. For helps with this, see my guide on how to backup a WordPress website. This also helps make sure nothing breaks while you temporarily disable your WooCommerce store.

Should You Use Code or a Plugin for WooCommerce Maintenance Mode?

Before you set up WooCommerce maintenance mode, decide whether you want the speed and safety of a plugin or the manual control of adding code.

Using a Plugin (Best for Most Users)

A plugin like SeedProd is the easiest way to enable WooCommerce maintenance mode. You don’t have to touch code, and you can design a custom page with your logo, brand colors, and even an email opt-in form. It’s also safer as you won’t risk breaking your site by editing theme files.

Using Code (For Advanced Users)

If you’re comfortable with PHP, you can add a small code snippet to your theme’s functions.php file. This will show a basic “Maintenance” message to visitors.

Note: Editing your theme files directly can cause errors if you make a mistake. Always back up your site before adding code, and remember that you won’t get design options like you do with a plugin.

Note: If you’re not using SeedProd, you can try basic plugins like LightStart or CMP Coming Soon. They’re free and simple, but don’t offer the same control over WooCommerce pages or design flexibility.

How to Put WooCommerce in Maintenance Mode (Step-by-Step)

Here’s exactly how to put WooCommerce in maintenance mode using SeedProd without code or plugin conflicts.

Step 1. Install a WooCommerce Maintenance Mode Plugin

First, you’ll need to get SeedProd up and running on your WordPress site.

1. Download SeedProd: Visit the SeedProd website and select the plan that best suits your needs. (There’s a free version available, too, but for the most powerful features, we recommend SeedProd Pro.)
2. Install the Plugin: Once you’ve downloaded SeedProd, go to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Plugins » Add New, and upload the plugin file.
3. Activate SeedProd: After installation, click the “Activate” button.
4. Start Building: You’ll see a new “SeedProd” menu in your WordPress dashboard. Click it, then click the “Set up a Maintenance Mode Page” button. Now you’re ready to create a maintenance page that wows your visitors.

Step 2. Design Your WooCommerce Maintenance Page

A good WooCommerce maintenance page does more than say, “We’ll be back soon.” It’s a chance to reassure customers, build trust, and even collect leads. With SeedProd’s drag-and-drop builder, you can create a polished design in minutes.

Choose a Maintenance Mode Template (Or Start from Scratch)

SeedProd includes a library of professionally designed templates, so you don’t need to start from scratch. Pick one that matches your brand, then make it your own.

If you prefer full control, choose a blank template and design it from the ground up. Just hover over the template you like and click the checkmark to use it.

Customize Your Maintenance Mode Page

The visual builder makes editing simple. Drag and drop text, images, videos, countdown timers, or forms directly onto your layout — no coding needed.

For example, you can add a countdown timer to show when your store will reopen. Click the block to style it, set the date and time, and customize it to fit your page.

You can also add pre-made sections like FAQs, features, or calls to action. Try including a discount code or opt-in form to bring visitors back once your store reopens.

Want a high-converting WooCommerce maintenance page?

Here’s what I always include when building one with SeedProd:

• Brand colors, logo, and fonts
• Clear message and downtime estimate
• Countdown timer to relaunch
• Email opt-in form
• Social links or support contact
• Optional: progress bar or coupon code

Pro Tip: SeedProd’s drag-and-drop blocks and pre-built sections make it easy to add all these elements. You can even display WooCommerce products or related offers directly on your maintenance page.

Once your page looks the way you want, click “Save” at the top right of the builder.

Step 3. Hide WooCommerce Store Pages While You Work

Next, protect your WooCommerce storefront so shoppers can’t access your shop, cart, or checkout pages during updates.

1. Open Access Controls: In the SeedProd builder, go to Page Settings » Access Controls. This is where you’ll manage which parts of your store remain visible.
2. Include WooCommerce URLs: Select the “Include URLs” option, then paste the pages you want to hide, such as your shop, cart, and checkout.
3. Add Default WooCommerce Pages: If you’re using a new WooCommerce setup, include these default pages, replacing “example.com” with your domain:

• https://example.com/shop
• https://example.com/cart
• https://example.com/checkout
• https://example.com/my-account

4. Protect Product Pages: To hide all product listings, use wildcard URLs so every product or category page stays hidden:

• https://example.com/product/*
• https://example.com/product-category/*
• https://example.com/product-tag/*

The asterisk (*) acts as a wildcard, meaning any URL that starts with those paths will be covered. Once configured, SeedProd automatically blocks these pages from public view while you work on your store.

Step 4. Activate WooCommerce Maintenance Mode

1. Publish: Click the dropdown arrow next to the “Save” button in the SeedProd builder and select “Publish.”

2. Preview: Once your page is live, click “See Live Page” to make sure everything displays correctly.

3. Enable Maintenance Mode: In your WordPress dashboard, go to SeedProd » Pages. Under “Maintenance Mode,” toggle the switch from “Inactive” to “Active.”

Your WooCommerce store is now in maintenance mode. Visitors will see your custom page while you safely make updates in the background.

Here’s an example of what your WooCommerce maintenance page might look like when it’s live:

Turning Maintenance Mode Off

When your updates are done, go back to SeedProd » Pages and toggle “Maintenance Mode” back to “Inactive.”

Your WooCommerce store is now back online and ready for shoppers.

Bonus Tip: Build Hype While You’re Offline

If you want to capture leads while your WooCommerce store is in maintenance mode, create a coming soon page with a waitlist form.

With SeedProd, it’s easy to build a buzz-worthy landing page and add an email signup form,

• Design a waitlist landing page with SeedProd
• Grow your list while you’re offline
• Keep customers updated when you relaunch

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Create a Maintenance Mode Experience That Works for You

Enabling WooCommerce maintenance mode helps protect your customers’ experience during site updates or redesigns. Instead of seeing broken pages, visitors view a professional message that keeps your brand trustworthy and consistent.

This feature also gives you time to make important changes safely — whether you’re fixing bugs, adding new products, or adjusting your theme. Your store remains private until everything is ready to relaunch.

The easiest way to do this is with a reliable plugin like SeedProd. It handles the technical setup for you, so there’s no need to edit code or risk downtime.

For more practical WooCommerce tips, check out these helpful guides:

• Best WooCommerce Affiliate Plugins to Maximize Your Sales
• Best WooCommerce Plugins To Skyrocket Your Sales
• How to Customize Your WooCommerce Checkout Page
• Best WooCommerce SEO Plugins for Better Rankings
• How to Make a Custom WooCommerce Thank You Page
• How to Speed Up Your WooCommerce Store (10 Easy Ways)

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