How I Put WordPress in Maintenance Mode (Fast & Easy) 

You can put WordPress in maintenance mode in just a few minutes. The easiest way is to use a plugin like SeedProd or WP Maintenance Mode. You can also add a small code snippet with WPCode.

Maintenance mode hides your site from visitors and shows a custom message instead. This keeps your site looking professional and protects your SEO while you work on updates.

In this guide, I will show you two easy ways to turn it on, what to add to your page, when to use it, and how to fix common problems.

Quick Steps to put WordPress in Maintenance Mode:

Why Maintenance Mode Is Important

Maintenance mode protects both your visitors and your site. Here is why I always use it for bigger changes:

For major updates, you can also work on a staging site if your host offers it. Hosts like Bluehost and SiteGround include this feature on many plans.

What Are the Best WordPress Maintenance Mode Plugins?

I’ve tested a lot of maintenance mode plugins over the years. Some are simple and free, while others offer more control over design and visitor access. Here’s a quick comparison of the most popular options:

If you just need something quick and free, WP Maintenance Mode and CMP both get the job done. But I always go with SeedProd because it gives me full control over how my maintenance page looks and works. I can match my branding, grow my email list, and even let certain users bypass the maintenance screen, all without touching a line of code.

How to Put WordPress in Maintenance Mode

You can enable maintenance mode in WordPress with a plugin or by adding a small code snippet. Both methods hide your site from visitors and show a custom message while you work. Below are two easy options you can use.

Method 1: Enable Maintenance Mode with SeedProd

After trying many plugins over the years, I always come back to SeedProd. It’s actually a complete WordPress website builder that lets you design any type of page with drag-and-drop.

SeedProd is more than just a page builder — it’s a powerful maintenance mode plugin for WordPress that makes it easy to show a custom message while your site is down.

But what I really love is how easy it makes setting up maintenance mode. You can create and customize a professional maintenance page in just a few clicks, no coding needed.

I use SeedProd Pro on all my sites and recommend it to my clients because it gives you everything you need: pre-made templates, email capture forms, countdown timers, and complete control over how your maintenance page looks.

That said, you can use the free version of SeedProd to build a complete maintenance page quickly and easily.

Here’s my step-by-step process for setting up maintenance mode with SeedProd:

Step 1: Install SeedProd to Enable Maintenance Mode in WordPress

First, you’ll need to install and activate SeedProd.

After you buy the plugin and download it, go to your WordPress dashboard, click Plugins » Add New » Upload Plugin and upload the SeedProd Pro zip file.

Click “Install Now” and then “Activate.” Don’t forget to enter your license key under SeedProd » Settings to get all the pro features and updates.

Step 2: Create a Custom Maintenance Page in WordPress

Next, go to SeedProd » Pages in your WordPress menu and find the Maintenance Mode section. Here, click “Set Up a Maintenance Mode Page.”

This is where SeedProd Pro really shines. You’ll see dozens of professional templates designed specifically for maintenance pages.

I usually pick one that matches my site’s style, but you can also start with a blank template if you prefer.

Hover your mouse over any maintenance mode page template you prefer and click the checkmark icon to launch it in the drag-and-drop page builder.

Step 3: Customize Your WordPress Maintenance Page Design

This is where I take full advantage of SeedProd Pro’s features to create a WordPress maintenance mode page that actually works for my business. You can customize everything using the drag-and-drop editor.

Here’s what I usually include when customizing my WordPress maintenance mode page:

• A countdown timer showing when the site will be back
• An email signup form to capture leads while the site is down
• Social profile buttons to keep visitors connected
• My logo and brand colors using the style settings
• A contact form, so people can still reach me
• Custom images and videos to make the page more engaging

The best part is, you can see how your changes look in real-time. Just click any element to edit it, or drag in new blocks from the left sidebar.

I often use the Advanced blocks like the email opt-in forms, which connect directly to my email marketing service.

Step 4: Control Who Sees the Maintenance Page

Before activating maintenance mode, I always check the access settings. Click Page Settings at the top of the editor, then Access Controls.

This lets you choose who can still see your regular site while maintenance mode is on. I usually:

• Keep access open for administrators and editors
• Allow specific user roles to bypass maintenance mode
• Exclude important pages like login or contact forms
• Set up bypass cookies for team members who need access

Step 5: Activate Maintenance Mode in WordPress

Once everything is set up, click “Save” to store your changes. Then go back to SeedProd » Pages and find the Maintenance Mode section. Here you can toggle the switch to enable maintenance mode. You can always come back and disable it later with one click.

To see how your page looks to visitors, open your site in an incognito browser window or check it on your phone. Since you’re logged in as an admin, you’ll still see your regular site when browsing normally. This lets you keep working while maintenance mode is on.

However, visitors who are not logged in to your website will see your maintenance page. For example, this is what my website visitors see when Maintenance mode is active.

This is how to show a maintenance page in WordPress without touching code. Just drag, drop, and turn it on.

Method 2: Enable Maintenance Mode Without a Plugin (WPCode)

If you don’t want to use a page builder, WPCode is a great way to temporarily disable your WordPress site with a simple snippet. It’s a beginner-friendly way to enable maintenance mode in WordPress without writing or editing any code manually.

Here’s how to set it up:

Install the free WPCode plugin from Plugins » Add New. After activating it, go to Code Snippets » Library and search for “Maintenance Mode.”

Hover over the snippet and click Use snippet. WPCode will add the code for you automatically.

That’s it. Visitors will now see your maintenance message, while you can still access your site as an admin.

This setup gives you full control over your WPCode maintenance mode message while keeping the rest of your site safe.

What to Put on a WordPress Maintenance Page

A good maintenance page tells visitors what is happening and when the site will be back. It should look clean and match your brand.

• Clear headline – Let people know the site is under maintenance
• Short message – Explain why the site is offline in simple terms
• Estimated time – Share when you expect to be live again
• Logo and branding – Keep the page in line with your site style
• Contact options – Add a link to your email or social profiles
• Optional signup form – Let visitors join your email list for updates

If you use a plugin like SeedProd, you can add all of these elements with drag and drop. This keeps your page professional while you make changes in the background.

When to Use WordPress Maintenance Mode

Most updates in WordPress are quick. You can publish posts, update plugins, or change your theme without showing a maintenance page.

Use maintenance mode when:

• Doing a full site redesign
• Making big changes to an online store
• Testing new plugins that affect site layout or speed
• Moving your site to a new hosting provider
• Setting up a membership or course system
• Editing key forms or checkout pages

These updates take more time and can make your site look broken while you work.

How to Turn Off WordPress Maintenance Mode

When your updates are done, turn off maintenance mode so visitors can see your site again. The steps are different depending on how you enabled it.

Turn Off Maintenance Mode in SeedProd

• Go to SeedProd » Pages in your WordPress dashboard
• Find the Maintenance Mode section
• Toggle the switch to Inactive
• Visit your site in a private or incognito browser to confirm it is live

Turn Off Maintenance Mode in WPCode

• Go to Code Snippets » All Snippets
• Find the maintenance mode snippet
• Toggle it to Inactive or delete it
• Refresh your site to make sure it is live

If you still see the maintenance page, clear your browser cache, plugin cache, and any CDN cache you use.

Common WordPress Maintenance Mode Problems

Maintenance mode is usually simple to set up, but sometimes things don’t go as planned. I’ve run into a few of these myself, especially when juggling updates on client sites. Here are some common issues and how to fix them fast.

Putting your WordPress site in maintenance mode doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you choose SeedProd for its powerful features or WPCode for a simpler solution, the key is to keep your visitors informed while you work on your site.

Just remember to test your maintenance page in an incognito window, let visitors know when you’ll be back, and turn off maintenance mode once you’re finished. Your visitors will appreciate knowing what’s happening instead of finding a broken site.

Related Articles:

• Coming Soon vs Maintenance Mode: Learn The Difference
• How to Create a Modern WordPress Under Construction Page
• How to Put WooCommerce in Maintenance Mode
• Best Coming Soon Page Examples

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Stacey Corrin Writer

Stacey has been writing about WordPress and digital marketing for over 10 years and on other topics for much longer. Alongside this, she's fascinated with web design, user experience, and SEO.

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