I’ve tried just about every way to put a WordPress site in maintenance mode. That includes free plugins, drag-and-drop builders, and even adding code by hand. Whether I’m working on a full redesign or fixing a plugin issue, I always want the site to look professional while it’s offline.
If you need to hide your site while you make updates, this guide will help. I’ll explain what maintenance mode is, why it matters for visitors and SEO, and how to choose the right method for your site.
You’ll see how I use SeedProd for quick, no-code setup. I’ll also compare other free plugin options and show you how to enable maintenance mode using WPCode. Plus, I’ve included tips for what to put on your maintenance page, how to control who sees it, and how to fix common issues if something goes wrong.
This works whether you’re running a personal blog or a busy business site. It’s the easiest way to keep things looking good while you make changes behind the scenes.
Quick Steps to put WordPress in Maintenance Mode:
What Does Maintenance Mode Do in WordPress?
Maintenance mode lets you hide your site from visitors while you work on it. It shows a message instead of a broken page, which helps protect your brand and SEO while you make updates.
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
Here’s why:
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.
💡 Tip For major updates, use a staging site if your host offers it. Hosts like Bluehost and SiteGround include this feature on most 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:
| Plugin | Best For | Free? | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| SeedProd | Full design control | ✅ | Drag-and-drop builder, email opt-in, countdown, access control |
| WP Maintenance Mode | Simple sites | ✅ | Basic templates, GDPR options, contact forms |
| CMP by WP Maintenance | Custom design fans | ✅ | More templates, video backgrounds, SEO settings |
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 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 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.
How to Enable Maintenance Mode Without a Plugin (WPCode Method)
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.
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.
If this happens, refer to my detailed guide on how to fix WordPress stuck in maintenance mode.
To fix it, connect to your site via FTP or your hosting file manager. Look in your root directory and delete the .maintenance file. Once that file is gone, your site should load normally again.
Clear your WordPress cache (especially if you’re using a caching plugin)
Check your browser cache or view your site in incognito mode
Make sure you saved and exited the plugin correctly
This often happens after a plugin or theme update. If needed, clear your CDN cache (like Cloudflare) to refresh your live site.
In SeedProd, go to Page Settings » Access Control
Add roles like Editor or Administrator to the “bypass” list
You can also set a bypass cookie for specific users
Once that’s set, refresh the page or open it in a new browser to confirm it’s working.
Clear your plugin cache and browser cache
Make sure you clicked “Save” after editing the page
If using a page builder, confirm you’re editing the correct version
Sometimes changes take a few minutes to show, especially on CDN-enabled sites.
Use a different browser or incognito window to access the login page
If needed, log in through your hosting dashboard or file manager
You can also disable the plugin temporarily by renaming its folder via FTP
This will turn off maintenance mode and let you back in so you can fix the settings.
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
Thanks for reading! We’d love to hear your thoughts, so please feel free to leave a comment with any questions and feedback.
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the most importen thing is: it must simply work! and dont waste time of users which such a simply thing like a maintenance site. Its not possible to change the big background picture. the preview links doesn`t work. very very sad. bon voyage :)
Hi Marcel, we’re sorry to hear that you’re having trouble with your maintenance page. We can assure you that changing your background image and previewing your design is possible with SeedProd. However, with the manual code method, that won’t be possible. Please check out our maintenance mode documentation, or if you need more help, do feel free to submit a support ticket.
Hello! I have followed the instructions (I think! LOL) and my wordpress dashboard has the orange “maintenance mode active” info at the top, BUT anyone who checks my website, says they don’t see the nice Maint Mode page…. they only see the construction debris on my website ;) Not sure what to check next? Thank you!
Hi Debbie, when I clicked on the link you shared, I could see your coming soon page, which indicates that it’s working. If you need any more help, please contact our support team here https://www.seedprod.com/contact/
Hi there, Loving your product, however I’m on the free version, and can only see the maintenance page on mobile view… I do not wish for others to view the website in desktop as I haven’t even launched it yet! Anyway this can be taken down and/or also replaced with a maintenance page? Thanks!
Hi Truly Camies, thank you for your question. If you reach out to our support team here we can answer this for you in more detail.