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How to Put WordPress in Maintenance Mode (Every Time)

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

Escrito por: avatar de autor Stacey Corrin
avatar de autor Stacey Corrin
Stacey lleva más de 10 años escribiendo sobre WordPress y marketing digital, y mucho más tiempo sobre otros temas. Además, le fascinan el diseño web, la experiencia de usuario y el SEO.
     Revisado por: avatar del revisor Turner John
avatar del revisor Turner John
John Turner es el cofundador de SeedProd. Cuenta con más de 20 años de experiencia empresarial y de desarrollo y sus plugins se han descargado más de 25 millones de veces.

The first time I needed to update WordPress, I was nervous my visitors would see a broken website. Now, after working on WordPress for more than 10 years, I’ve found a simple way to keep things looking professional while I make changes behind the scenes.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to put WordPress in maintenance mode without using any code. This is the same method I use for everything from plugin updates to full redesigns, and it works whether you’re just getting started or running a busy site.

You’ll learn how to create a custom WordPress maintenance page, control who can access your site while it’s hidden, and even collect leads while you’re working on updates.

Quick Summary: Here’s what you’ll learn in this guide:

When Should You Put WordPress in Maintenance Mode?

Most WordPress updates are pretty quick. You can add new posts, update plugins, or even change your theme without showing visitors a maintenance page. I do these kinds of updates all the time without putting my sites in maintenance mode.

But sometimes, you need to work on bigger changes that take more time. Here’s when I always use maintenance mode:

  • When doing a full site redesign
  • Making major changes to my online store
  • Testing new WordPress plugins that affect how my site works
  • Moving to a new WordPress hosting provider
  • Setting up complex features like membership systems
  • Making changes to important forms or checkout pages

He aquí por qué:

If visitors try to use your site while you’re making these changes, they might see broken pages or get error messages. Even worse, you could lose important data like new orders or form submissions during the update.

The best way to handle big changes is to use a staging site. It’s like a private copy of your website where you can test changes safely.

I use staging sites on all my important projects. Good hosting companies like Bluehost and SiteGround include staging features with their plans.

But if you don’t have a staging site, maintenance mode is your next best option. Instead of showing visitors a broken site, they’ll see a message explaining that you’re making improvements.

Example of a custom WordPress maintenance mode page with a welcome message

You can even use this chance to point them to your social media profiles or get them to join your email list while they wait.

Having said that, let’s take a look at my preferred method for putting WordPress in maintenance mode. It’s one that I use for every website that I work on and doesn’t require any coding.

How to Put WordPress in Maintenance Mode Using SeedProd (No Code)

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 drag-and-drop WordPress builder interface with sidebar blocks

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 builder, it’s a powerful WordPress maintenance page plugin that makes it easy to show a professional message while your site is offline.

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.

Upload SeedProd plugin zip file in WordPress admin

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.

Activate SeedProd Pro by entering license key in plugin settings

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.”

Set up a new maintenance mode page in SeedProd dashboard

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

Choose a premade maintenance mode page template in SeedProd

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 maintenance page that actually works for my business. You can customize everything using the drag-and-drop editor.

Visually edit your maintenance mode layout using SeedProd builder

Here’s what I typically add:

  • 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
Add a countdown timer to your WordPress maintenance page with SeedProd

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.

Live preview while customizing WordPress maintenance mode page

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.

Choose who can view your site while in maintenance mode using access control settings

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. Click the switch to turn it from “Inactive” to “Active”. This is how you turn on maintenance mode in WordPress using SeedProd.

Click switch to activate maintenance mode in SeedProd plugin

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.

What visitors see when WordPress maintenance mode is active with SeedProd

💡 Quick Comparison: WordPress Maintenance Mode Options

Not sure which method is right for you? Here’s how they compare:

MétodoLo mejor paraProsContras
SeedProdBeginners who want full controlDrag-and-drop builder, templates, email forms, access controlsRequires plugin
WPCodeUsers who want simple code controlLightweight, works with any themeNo visual editing
Customizer / Site EditorSmall CSS changes or classic themesBuilt-in, no extra plugin neededNot supported by all themes
functions.phpDevelopers or advanced usersTotal controlRisky, no live preview, lost on theme update

How to Enable Maintenance Mode Without a Plugin (WPCode Method)

If you don’t want to use a WordPress page builder but still need an easy way to enable maintenance mode, the free WPCode plugin works great. 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:

First, install and activate the free WPCode plugin. Go to Plugins » Add New, search for “WPCode”, and click “Install Now” followed by “Activate”.

Install and activate the free WPCode plugin from the WordPress plugin directory

After activation, go to Code Snippets » Library in your WordPress dashboard. Then, search for “Maintenance Mode” in the snippets library.

Search and use a pre-built maintenance mode snippet in WPCode

When you find the maintenance mode snippet, hover your mouse over it and click the “Use snippet” button. WPCode will automatically add the code for you.

You can customize the maintenance message to make it more personal. Once you’re happy with the message, toggle the switch from “Inactive” to “Active” and click the “Update” button at the top of the page.

Use WPCode to insert maintenance mode snippet without editing functions.php directly

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

Visitors see this maintenance message when mode is enabled using WPCode

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

Maintenance Mode FAQs & Solutions

While maintenance mode is usually straightforward, I’ve run into a few common issues over the years. Here’s how to fix them:

Why is WordPress stuck in maintenance mode?
The most common problem happens when WordPress gets stuck showing the default maintenance message after updating plugins or WordPress themes. If this happens, refer to my detailed guide on how to fix WordPress stuck in maintenance mode.
Why is my maintenance page not showing?
If visitors can still see your regular site even though maintenance mode is active, it’s usually because:

· Your browser is showing a cached version of your site
· You’re still logged in as an admin
· Your caching plugin needs to be cleared

Try viewing your site in an incognito browser window or clearing your cache to see the maintenance page.
Why can’t I access WordPress admin?
If you accidentally lock yourself out of the WordPress admin area while setting up maintenance mode, don’t panic. You can usually fix this by:

· Clearing your browser cookies and cache
· Using a different browser to log in
· Deactivating the plugin through FTP if needed
How to put WordPress in maintenance mode without plugins?
You can add code to your theme’s functions.php file or create a .maintenance file in your WordPress root directory. However, I don’t recommend these methods unless you’re comfortable with code. Using a plugin like SeedProd is safer and gives you more features.
Does maintenance mode affect SEO?
Short-term maintenance mode won’t hurt your WordPress SEO. Search engines understand that sites need occasional maintenance. However, leaving your site in maintenance mode for more than a day might affect your rankings. If you need longer, consider using a staging site instead.
Where is the maintenance file in WordPress?
The WordPress maintenance file (.maintenance) is located in your site’s root directory, the same place where you find wp-config.php. WordPress creates this file temporarily during updates and should remove it automatically when updates finish. If your site gets stuck, you can delete this file using FTP or your hosting file manager.
How do I edit my WordPress maintenance page?
If you want to edit or customize your maintenance page, the easiest way is to use SeedProd. It lets you visually design the page with drag-and-drop blocks — no code needed.
What’s the difference between maintenance mode and a password protected page?
A WordPress password protected page hides specific content, while maintenance mode covers your whole site. You can style both with SeedProd, but they serve different purposes.

Protect Your Site with Maintenance Mode

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.

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avatar de autor
Stacey Corrin Escritor
Stacey lleva más de 10 años escribiendo sobre WordPress y marketing digital, y mucho más tiempo sobre otros temas. Además, le fascinan el diseño web, la experiencia de usuario y el SEO.

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Comentarios

  1. lo mas importante es: ¡que funcione! y no hacer perder el tiempo a los usuarios con una cosa tan simple como un sitio de mantenimiento. No es posible cambiar la imagen de fondo grande. los enlaces de vista previa no funcionan. muy muy triste. bon voyage :)

    1. Hola Marcel, sentimos que tengas problemas con tu página de mantenimiento. Podemos asegurarte que cambiar tu imagen de fondo y previsualizar tu diseño es posible con SeedProd. Sin embargo, con el método de código manual, eso no será posible. Por favor, consulte nuestra documentación del modo de mantenimiento, o si necesita más ayuda, no dude en enviar un ticket de soporte.

  2. ¡Hola! He seguido las instrucciones (creo! LOL) y mi tablero de wordpress tiene el naranja "modo de mantenimiento activo" información en la parte superior, PERO cualquiera que compruebe mi sitio web, dice que no ven el modo de mantenimiento agradable page.... sólo ven los escombros de la construcción en mi sitio web ;) ¿No estoy seguro de qué comprobar a continuación? Gracias.

  3. Hola, me encanta vuestro producto, pero estoy en la versión gratuita y sólo puedo ver la página de mantenimiento en la vista móvil... No quiero que otros vean el sitio web en el escritorio, ya que aún no lo he lanzado. ¿Hay alguna forma de quitarla y/o sustituirla por una página de mantenimiento? Gracias.

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