How to Put Your WooCommerce Store in Maintenance Mode (Step-by-Step) 

The fastest way to enable WooCommerce maintenance mode is with a plugin like SeedProd. In one click, you can hide your store, show a custom message or countdown, and keep customers informed, without writing code.

Without it, shoppers might land on broken pages during updates, which can hurt sales. Maintenance mode ensures they only see a polished, branded message until your store is live again.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to set up WooCommerce maintenance mode step by step.

Quick Steps:

What Is WooCommerce Maintenance Mode?

WooCommerce maintenance mode lets you temporarily hide your store and show a custom message while you make updates. It prevents shoppers from seeing errors and keeps your site looking professional.

A proper maintenance page returns an HTTP 503 Service Unavailable status with a Retry-After header. This tells search engines the downtime is temporary, protecting your SEO.

Logged-in admins can bypass maintenance mode to preview changes, while visitors see the holding page. This is different from WordPress’s brief automatic update screen, as you control when maintenance starts and ends.

When and Why to Use WooCommerce Maintenance Mode

Maintenance mode is useful anytime your store might look broken or confusing to shoppers.

Here are common situations and the best way to handle them:

Situation	Best Mode	Time Needed	What Shoppers See	Analytics
Installing updates or plugins	Full 503 maintenance	15–30 minutes	“We’ll be back soon” message	Little to no data lost
Adding products in bulk	Coming Soon page (no 503)	A few hours	Countdown or launch notice	Traffic still tracked
Changing design or theme	503 with branded message	Several hours or a day	“Site improvements in progress”	Visits may dip
Fixing urgent security issues	Immediate 503	As short as possible	Quick “Under maintenance” note	Short gap in data
Testing new features	Use a staging site (no downtime)	N/A	N/A	No impact

Using the right mode keeps customers informed, protects your SEO, and helps you avoid lost sales.

Note: Before making any changes to your website, make sure you back up your site to avoid making any mistakes. For helps with this, see my guide on how to backup a WordPress website. This also helps make sure nothing breaks while you temporarily disable your WooCommerce store.

Should You Use Code or a Plugin for WooCommerce Maintenance Mode?

Before you set up WooCommerce maintenance mode, decide whether you want the speed and safety of a plugin or the manual control of adding code.

Using a Plugin (Best for Most Users)

A plugin like SeedProd is the easiest way to enable WooCommerce maintenance mode. You don’t have to touch code, and you can design a custom page with your logo, brand colors, and even an email opt-in form. It’s also safer as you won’t risk breaking your site by editing theme files.

Using Code (For Advanced Users)

If you’re comfortable with PHP, you can add a small code snippet to your theme’s functions.php file. This will show a basic “Maintenance” message to visitors.

Note: Editing your theme files directly can cause errors if you make a mistake. Always back up your site before adding code, and remember that you won’t get design options like you do with a plugin.

Note: If you’re not using SeedProd, you can try basic plugins like LightStart or CMP Coming Soon. They’re free and simple, but don’t offer the same control over WooCommerce pages or design flexibility.

How to Put WooCommerce in Maintenance Mode (Step-by-Step)

Here’s exactly how to put WooCommerce in maintenance mode using SeedProd without code or plugin conflicts.

Step 1. Install a WooCommerce Maintenance Mode Plugin

First, you’ll need to get SeedProd up and running on your WordPress site.

1. Download SeedProd: Visit the SeedProd website and select the plan that best suits your needs. (There’s a free version available, too, but for the most powerful features, we recommend SeedProd Pro.)
2. Install the Plugin: Once you’ve downloaded SeedProd, go to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Plugins » Add New, and upload the plugin file.
3. Activate SeedProd: After installation, click the “Activate” button.
4. Start Building: You’ll see a new “SeedProd” menu in your WordPress dashboard. Click it, then click the “Set up a Maintenance Mode Page” button. Now you’re ready to create a maintenance page that wows your visitors.

Step 2. Design Your WooCommerce Maintenance Page

A successful WooCommerce maintenance mode page does more than just say, “We’ll be back soon.” It’s an opportunity to engage your visitors, build excitement, and even capture leads. And with SeedProd’s easy-to-use tools, you can create a stunning maintenance page in minutes.

Choose a Maintenance Mode Template (Or Start from Scratch)

SeedProd offers a wide range of professionally designed maintenance mode templates, so you don’t have to start from scratch. Find a template that aligns with your brand, then customize it to your liking.

Alternatively, you can choose a blank template to start from scratch.

Hover over any maintenance template you like and click on the checkmark icon to use it.

Customize Your Maintenance Mode Page

The drag-and-drop builder makes designing your page a breeze. Add text, images, videos, countdown timers, and more – all without touching a single line of code.

For example, I added a countdown timer to this maintenance mode page by dragging it over to the template. Then, you can click on the block to choose the style, set the date and time, and set other customization options.

You can also click any pre-made sections, like Header, FAQ, Features, or Call to Action, to add them to your maintenance mode page. For instance, you can offer users a coupon to ensure they return when maintenance is over.

Want a high-converting WooCommerce maintenance page?

Here’s what I always include when designing one with SeedProd:

• Brand colors, logo, and fonts
• Clear message + downtime estimate
• Countdown timer to relaunch
• Email opt-in to grow your list
• Social links or support contact
• Optional: progress bar or coupon code

Pro Tip: SeedProd’s easy-to-use blocks and sections let you add all of these elements and more. Experiment with different layouts and content to create a conversion-friendly maintenance page. You can even suggest WooCommerce products with the special WooCommerce blocks.

Once you’re happy with your masterpiece, hit that “Save” button at the top right of the SeedProd builder.

Step 3. Hide WooCommerce Store Pages While You Work

Now that your maintenance page looks sharp, let’s protect your WooCommerce storefront while you work your magic.

Enabling maintenance mode is quite straightforward:

1. Control Access: From the SeedProd builder, go to Page Settings » Access Controls. This is where you choose which parts of your site to protect. Use this feature to hide WooCommerce pages like your shop, cart, and checkout while you work.

2. Include WooCommerce URLs: Select the “Include URLs” option. Now, you can paste in the web addresses of the pages you want to hide during maintenance.

3. Add Essential Pages: If you’re using a new WooCommerce installation, make sure to include these default pages (replacing “example.com” with your domain, of course):

• https://example.com/shop
• https://example.com/cart
• https://example.com/checkout
• https://example.com/my-account

4. Protect Product Pages: If your store already has products, use these URL patterns to cover all your bases:

• https://example.com/product/*
• https://example.com/product-category/*
• https://example.com/product-tag/*

(Don’t worry, the asterisk (*) is just a wildcard. It ensures that any URL starting with those patterns gets included.)

Now, when activating maintenance, SeedProd will automatically hide these WooCommerce pages, preventing any accidental access while you’re making updates.

Step 4. Activate WooCommerce Maintenance Mode

It’s time to make it official. With your WooCommerce pages protected and your stunning maintenance page ready to go, here’s how to put your store into maintenance mode:

1. Publish: Click the dropdown arrow next to the “Save” button in the SeedProd builder and select “Publish.”

2. Preview: SeedProd will let you know your page is live. Click the “See Live Page” button to double-check everything looks perfect.

3. Activate Maintenance Mode: Head back to your WordPress dashboard and go to SeedProd » Pages. Under the “Maintenance Mode” section, click the toggle to switch it from “Inactive” to “Active.” This will enable WordPress maintenance mode for your store.

And that’s it! Your WooCommerce store is now in maintenance mode. Your custom page will greet visitors, assuring them you’ll be back soon, and you’re free to make updates without worry.

Here’s an example of how my WooCommerce maintenance mode page looks live on the front end of my test website:

Of course, your maintenance mode page will likely look different from this, thanks to all of SeedProd’s customization options. But this is what your visitors will see when they land on your WooCommerce shop page.

Turning Maintenance Mode Off

Once you’re finished with your updates, you can take your site out of maintenance easily. Simply go back to SeedProd » Pages and toggle the “Maintenance Mode” switch back to “Inactive.”

That’s all it takes to reopen your WooCommerce store to the world!

Bonus Tip: Build Hype While You’re Offline

If you want to capture leads while your WooCommerce store is in maintenance mode, create a coming soon page with a waitlist form.

With SeedProd, it’s easy to build a buzz-worthy landing page and add an email signup form,

• Design a waitlist landing page with SeedProd
• Grow your list while you’re offline
• Keep customers updated when you relaunch

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Create a Maintenance Mode Experience That Works for You

Putting your WooCommerce store in maintenance mode isn’t just about hiding a few pages. It’s one of the easiest ways to temporarily disable your WooCommerce store and protect your customer experience while you handle updates behind the scenes.

Whether you’re refreshing your design, fixing an issue, or preparing for a big launch, maintenance mode gives you breathing room to work behind the scenes, without confusing or frustrating your visitors.

With SeedProd, you can do it all visually — no code, no stress, and your store stays professional the whole time.

Want to take full control of your site’s look, feel, and function? Get started with SeedProd today and build maintenance pages that keep customers coming back.

Want more tips and tricks to boost your WooCommerce success? See these in-depth guides:

• Best WooCommerce Affiliate Plugins to Maximize Your Sales
• Best WooCommerce Plugins To Skyrocket Your Sales
• How to Customize Your WooCommerce Checkout Page
• Best WooCommerce SEO Plugins for Better Rankings
• How to Make a Custom WooCommerce Thank You Page
• How to Speed Up Your WooCommerce Store (10 Easy Ways)

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