How I Put WordPress in Maintenance Mode (Every Time) 

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 know exactly how to handle these updates without stress using maintenance mode.

In this guide, I’ll show you how I set up maintenance mode on every WordPress site I manage. It’s the same process I use for quick plugin updates or bigger site redesigns, and it keeps your site looking professional even when it’s under construction.

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

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.

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.

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 I Put WordPress in Maintenance Mode Using 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.

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.

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:

1. Install and Set Up SeedProd

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.

2. Create Your Maintenance Page

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.

3. Customize Your Maintenance Page

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.

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

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.

4. Set Up Access Controls

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

5. Turn On Maintenance Mode

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”.

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.

How I Add Maintenance to functions.php

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 lets you add maintenance mode without editing any theme files.

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”.

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

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.

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

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:

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.

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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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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