In Brief
WordPress creates a temporary .maintenance file during updates that should delete itself automatically
If your site gets stuck, you need to manually delete this file from your site’s root folder
You can delete it using your hosting control panel (cPanel) or an FTP program like FileZilla
The file is hidden by default, so you’ll need to enable “show hidden files” to see it
Prevent this problem by updating plugins one at a time instead of all at once
Your WordPress site is showing “Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance. Check back in a minute” and the message won’t go away.
You’ve waited far longer than a minute, yet your visitors still can’t access your website.
This is frustrating, and every moment your site stays offline means potential customers are being turned away.
But here’s the good news: this problem looks worse than it actually is.
Your website isn’t broken.
Your content is safe.
WordPress has simply got stuck during an update and left a temporary file in place that shouldn’t be there.
This guide explains exactly how to fix WordPress stuck in maintenance mode. You’ll learn how to delete the problem file using two different methods, what to do if the simple fix doesn’t work, and how to prevent this from happening again.
Most people can sort this in under five minutes.
Table of Contents
What Causes WordPress to Get Stuck in Maintenance Mode
When you update plugins, themes, or WordPress itself, the system creates a temporary file called .maintenance in your site’s root folder, on the server.
This file tells WordPress to display a maintenance message to visitors while updates happen behind the scenes.
Once updates finish, WordPress automatically deletes this file and your site returns to normal.
The problem occurs when something interrupts this process before it completes.
Your browser might have closed mid-update. Your server might have timed out because updates took too long. Or you might have tried updating too many plugins at once, causing the process to stall.
When any of these interruptions happen, WordPress doesn’t get the chance to delete the .maintenance file.
Your site remains stuck showing the maintenance message even though the updates have either finished or failed.
The reassuring part is that your website content, pages, and settings are all still there. You simply need to remove that one file and everything should return to normal.
How to Fix WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode
The solution is straightforward: delete the .maintenance file from your site’s root directory.
There are two main ways to do this, depending on what access you have to your hosting account.
Method 1: Using Your Hosting Control Panel
Most hosting providers give you access to a control panel, usually cPanel or maybe Plesk, where you can manage your website files directly through your browser. This is often the quickest method if you’re not familiar with FTP.
First thing to do is take a backup.
Then log into your web hosting account and look for File Manager in your control panel. Open it and find your site’s root folder, usually called public_html or www.
Before you can see the .maintenance file, you’ll need to enable ‘hidden files’. Look for a Settings button (often a gear icon in the top right corner) and tick the option to show hidden files.
Once hidden files are visible, scroll through your root folder and find the file named .maintenance. Right-click on it and select Delete. Refresh your website in a new browser tab and the maintenance message should be gone.
Method 2: Using FTP
If you don’t have access to a control panel file manager, or you prefer working with FTP, you can use a program like FileZilla to connect to your server. FileZilla is free and works well for this task.
Take a backup.
Then open FileZilla and connect to your website using the FTP details provided by your hosting company. These details typically include a server address, username, and password. If you can’t find them, contact your hosting provider’s support team.
Once connected, find your root folder in the right-hand panel (usually public_html or www). To see hidden files in FileZilla, click on Server in the top menu and select Force showing hidden files.
Locate the .maintenance file, right-click on it, and choose Delete. Close FileZilla and refresh your website. The maintenance message should now be gone.
What to Do If the Simple Fix Doesn’t Work
Sometimes deleting the .maintenance file isn’t enough. If your site still shows the maintenance message, or if you can’t find the file at all, there are a few extra steps worth trying.
First take a backup.
Check for Plugin Conflicts
A plugin that failed to update properly can keep your site stuck. To test this, use your file manager or FTP to find the wp-content folder inside your root directory. Inside wp-content, you’ll see a folder called plugins.
Rename this folder to something like plugins_disabled. This temporarily deactivates all your plugins.
Now check if your website loads.
If it does, the problem is related to one of your plugins.
Rename the folder back to plugins, then log into your WordPress dashboard. Go to Plugins and reactivate them one at a time, checking your site after each one. When the problem returns, you’ve identified the troublesome plugin and can delete it or find an alternative.
Clear Your Browser and WordPress Cache
Your browser might be showing you a cached version of the maintenance page even after you’ve fixed the problem. Clear your browser cache completely and try again. If you use a caching plugin on your WordPress site, clear that cache too once you can access your dashboard.
How to Prevent This Problem in Future
A few simple precautions can stop your site from getting stuck in maintenance mode again.
Update Plugins One at a Time
A common cause of this problem is trying to update multiple plugins simultaneously. When you click “Update All” in WordPress, you’re asking your server to handle several processes at once.
If your server is slow or runs out of resources, the process stalls.
Update plugins individually instead. Wait for each update to complete before starting the next one. It takes a bit longer but dramatically reduces the risk of getting stuck.
Check Compatibility Before Updating
Before updating any plugin or theme, always check that it’s compatible with your version of WordPress.
You can see this information on the plugin’s page in your WordPress dashboard. If a plugin hasn’t been tested with your WordPress version, wait until the developer confirms compatibility.
Keep your WordPress core version updated. Running an outdated version of WordPress with newer plugins often causes conflicts that can interrupt update processes.
Don’t refresh or close the browser while updates are running. Interrupting the process is the most common reason sites get stuck.
How to Update WordPress Plugins Safely (Without Breaking Your Website)
When to Get Professional Help
If you’ve tried everything in this guide and your site still won’t come out of maintenance mode, something more complex is likely at play.
Database errors, server configuration problems, or file permission issues can all cause persistent problems that need expert attention.
Consider getting professional help if you’re uncomfortable accessing your site files, if deleting the .maintenance file causes other errors, or if the problem keeps recurring.
A WordPress specialist can diagnose the root cause and put measures in place to prevent future issues.
Regular WordPress maintenance that includes proper update procedures and monitoring significantly reduces the likelihood of your site getting stuck.
Many small business owners find that having a professional handle their updates gives them peace of mind and frees up time to focus on running their business.
Fixing WordPress Maintenance Mode: Quick Recap
WordPress getting stuck in maintenance mode is common and usually easy to fix.
In most cases, you simply need to delete the .maintenance file from your site’s root folder using your hosting control panel or FTP software like FileZilla. Remember to enable hidden files so you can see it.
Once your site is back online, check that everything is working as expected.
Always update plugins one at a time, check compatibility before updating, and consider whether professional maintenance might save you time and stress in the long run.
How to Customise the Maintenance Message
The default “Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance” message is functional but bland. You could replace it with something branded that reassures visitors and looks more professional.
First take a backup.
Using Code
Create a file called maintenance.php and upload it to your /wp-content/ folder. WordPress automatically checks for this file and uses it instead of the default message.
Here’s a simple example:
<?php
header('HTTP/1.1 503 Service Temporarily Unavailable');
header('Retry-After: 600');
?>
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en-GB">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<title>Site Maintenance</title>
<style>
body { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center; padding: 50px; background: #f5f5f5; }
.container { max-width: 600px; margin: 0 auto; background: #fff; padding: 40px; border-radius: 8px; }
h1 { color: #333; }
p { color: #666; line-height: 1.6; }
</style>
</head>
<body>
<div class="container">
<h1>We'll be back shortly</h1>
<p>We're updating our website to bring you a better experience. This should only take a few minutes.</p>
</div>
</body>
</html>Customise the text, colours, and styling to match your brand. The 503 header is important because it tells search engines the downtime is temporary.
Using a Plugin
If you prefer not to touch code, plugins like SeedProd or LightStart (formerly WP Maintenance Mode) let you design custom maintenance pages with drag-and-drop builders. You can add your logo, contact details, and even email signup forms.
Frequently Asked Questions
This message appears because WordPress creates a temporary file during updates to prevent visitors from seeing a half-finished site. When updates complete normally, WordPress removes this file automatically. If something interrupts the update process, the file remains and your site stays stuck showing this message until you delete it manually.
Yes, completely safe. The .maintenance file is only a temporary flag that WordPress creates during updates. Deleting it won’t affect your website content, database, or settings. You’re simply removing a leftover file that WordPress should have deleted automatically when updates finished.
The .maintenance file is hidden by default and won’t appear in normal file listings. In your hosting file manager, look for a settings option to “show hidden files” or “show dotfiles”. In FileZilla, click Server then “Force showing hidden files”. The file sits in your root directory, usually called public_html or www.
Normal maintenance mode typically lasts between 30 seconds and a few minutes, depending on how many updates are running. If the maintenance message persists for more than five minutes, something has probably gone wrong and you’ll need to fix it manually by deleting the .maintenance file.
You can’t completely prevent maintenance mode because it’s a necessary part of how WordPress handles updates safely. However, you can reduce the risk of getting stuck by updating plugins individually rather than all at once, choosing reliable hosting, and not closing your browser mid-update.
Both let you access and manage your website files. Your hosting file manager works through your browser and is usually easier for beginners. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) requires separate software like FileZilla but offers more features and can be faster for managing multiple files. Either method works for deleting the .maintenance file.
Most hosting providers let you access cPanel by logging into your hosting account and clicking a cPanel link, or by adding /cpanel to your domain (like yourdomain.co.uk/cpanel). If you can’t find it, contact your hosting provider. Some managed WordPress hosts use their own control panels instead of cPanel.
Yes. If a plugin conflicts with another plugin or with your WordPress version during an update, the update process can fail and leave your site stuck. Plugin conflicts are one of the most common causes of update failures. Updating plugins one at a time and checking compatibility beforehand reduces this risk.
If your site gets stuck in maintenance mode regularly, something underlying needs attention. Common causes include insufficient server resources, outdated PHP versions, or incompatible plugins. Frequent issues suggest your hosting plan may be underpowered or that certain plugins on your site consistently cause problems during updates.
Usually not. Most small business owners can fix this themselves by following the steps in this guide. Deleting a single file doesn’t require technical expertise, just careful following of instructions. However, if you’re uncomfortable accessing your site files or if problems persist after trying these fixes, professional help is worthwhile.