Fix WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode (2025 Quick Guide)

 

Over 20% of WordPress site owners get stuck in maintenance mode during updates — leaving visitors locked out and admins stressed.

This quick rescue guide explains why your site says “Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance”, how to safely remove the stuck .maintenance file, and how to prevent this problem next time. Whether you run a small blog or a busy e-commerce site, this fix takes under 5 minutes.

Quick Fix Checklist: Is Your Site Really Stuck?

• Does your homepage show “Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance”?
• Did you recently run updates for WordPress core, plugins, or themes?
• Have you tried refreshing after waiting 2–5 minutes?
  If yes, your site’s .maintenance file likely didn’t clear — here’s how to fix it.

Step-by-Step: Remove the .maintenance File

What’s Happening?

During updates, WordPress drops a temporary .maintenance file in your site’s root directory. If the update is interrupted, the file sticks around, locking your site.

Method 1: Fix with FTP

• Skill Level: Beginner
• Time Required: ~5 minutes
• Tools Needed: FTP client (FileZilla, Cyberduck)

1. 1. Open your FTP client and connect to your site.
   2. Navigate to your site’s root directory (e.g., /public_html/).
   3. Find the file named .maintenance.
   4. Delete .maintenance.
   5. Refresh your site — it should be back online!

Verify: Visit your site in an incognito window to confirm the fix.

Method 2: Fix with File Manager

• Skill Level: Beginner
• Time Required: ~5 minutes
• Tools Needed: Hosting account with File Manager

1. 1. Log into your hosting dashboard (e.g., cPanel).
   2. Open File Manager.
   3. Go to your WordPress root directory.
   4. Look for .maintenance.
   5. Delete it.
   6. Refresh your site.

Pro Tip: If you don’t see it, enable “Show Hidden Files.”

Pro Tips to Prevent This in the Future

• Back up your site before updates (try UpdraftPlus).
• Run updates during low-traffic hours to avoid timeouts.
• Limit plugin conflicts — deactivate unused ones.
• Use a staging site for big changes.

Advanced Troubleshooting: Still Stuck?

If deleting .maintenance doesn’t work:

• Check wp-config.php for forced maintenance settings.
• Review file permissions and server error logs.
• Contact Jim for hands-on help.

Helpful Links

• WordPress and PHP: ‘It Does Not Work with Your Version of PHP’ – How Do I Update PHP?
  
• Why Should I Maintain My Own WordPress Website’s Backups?
  
• WordPress Troubleshooting and How to Fix Common Errors
  

 

 Still need help? Email [email protected] — fast WordPress rescue and support!