Advanced Fixes for WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode

By /

Advanced Fixes for WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode – Safe Steps

WordPress website stuck in maintenance mode showing maintenance screen and warning icon

Exact Problem

Your WordPress site continues to display the message:

“Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance. Check back in a minute.”

The message either:

  • Returns after being removed, or
  • Never disappears even though updates appear finished

This article applies only when the basic fix did not resolve the issue.

If you have not already removed the .maintenance file, start with:

WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode After Update? How to Fix It Safely

Platform

WordPress (self-hosted)

Transparency Note

These steps follow WordPress core update behavior.
WordPress creates the .maintenance file at the start of an update and removes it only after all update tasks and cleanup complete successfully.
When cleanup fails, maintenance mode can persist.

Short Explanation

When WordPress remains in maintenance mode after an update, it means the update did not complete cleanly.
In advanced cases, WordPress retries the failed update and re-enters maintenance mode to prevent incomplete files from loading.

The steps below focus on identifying and stopping the failure point so the site can exit maintenance mode normally.

Table of Contents

Quick Cause Summary

WordPress stays in maintenance mode when:

  • An update repeatedly fails
  • A plugin or theme cannot complete its update
  • WordPress cannot remove temporary update files
  • Removing the message without fixing the cause triggers a loop

Why This Happens

WordPress enters maintenance mode at the start of an update and exits it only after cleanup finishes.

Maintenance mode remains active when:

  • A plugin update fails every time WordPress loads
  • A theme update interrupts execution
  • File permissions prevent WordPress from deleting temporary files
  • The update process stops before cleanup completes

When any of these occur, WordPress does not remove the temporary .maintenance file, causing the site to remain in maintenance mode. This behavior is part of WordPress’s update system, as documented in the official WordPress documentation.

Quick Check Before Fixing Anything

What You SeeWhat It Means
Maintenance message returns after deletionUpdate loop is active
Site loads briefly, then locks againAutomatic retry is happening
Admin area does not loadPlugin or theme likely failing
Issue started immediately after updateUpdate-related failure

If most of these match your situation, continue below.

How to Fix WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode

Follow the steps in order. Stop immediately once the site loads normally.

Step 1 – Confirm WordPress Is Not Actively Updating

Purpose
Avoid interrupting a legitimate update.

  1. Wait at least 10 minutes
  2. Open the site homepage in a new browser tab
  3. Try loading /wp-admin

Expected

  • Pages load normally → STOP
  • Maintenance message remains → continue
WordPress site showing “Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance. Check back in a minute.” message after a failed update

Step 2 – Disable All Plugins Completely

Purpose
Check whether a plugin update is repeatedly failing and forcing maintenance mode.

Steps

  1. Navigate to your website’s root directory.
    (This folder is commonly named public_html, but it may also be www, htdocs, or your domain name, depending on your host.)
  2. Navigate to:
    /public_html/wp-content/plugins/
  3. Rename the folder:
    plugins → plugins-disabled
  4. Go to:
    /public_html/
  5. Delete the file:
    .maintenance
  6. Reload the website immediately.

Expected

  • Site loads → plugin issue confirmed → continue to Step 3
  • Maintenance message remains → continue to Step 4
Video example: Root directory view inside a hosting file manager (interface may differ by provider).

Step 3 – Identify the Plugin Causing the Loop

Only continue if the site loaded in Step 2.

Steps

  1. Rename plugins-disabled back to plugins.
  2. Open:
    /public_html/wp-content/plugins/
  3. Rename one plugin folder at a time:
    plugin-name → plugin-name-off
  4. Reload the site after each rename.

Expected

  • Site remains stable → continue testing
  • Site breaks again → last renamed plugin is the cause → STOP and remove the plugin or update it properly.

When you rename the folder back to plugins, the maintenance error may reappear immediately. This is normal. Proceed to rename individual plugin folders one by one until the site stays online.

  • If WordPress loads normally → that plugin is safe
  • If WordPress re-enters maintenance mode → the last plugin you touched broke execution

[SCREENSHOT PLACEHOLDER – single plugin renamed | alt: Disabling one WordPress plugin via folder rename]

Step 4 – Disable the Active Theme Safely

Purpose
Determine whether a theme update is blocking normal loading.

Steps

  1. Navigate to:
    /public_html/wp-content/themes/
  2. Identify the active theme (matches your site design or was recently modified).
  3. Rename it by adding -off.

Example
astra → astra-off

Next

  1. Delete .maintenance.
  2. Reload the site.

Expected

  • Site loads → theme update caused the issue → STOP
  • Maintenance message remains → continue

Step 5 – Check Whether WordPress Can Create and Remove Files

Purpose
WordPress must be able to save and delete files to exit maintenance mode.

Steps

  1. Right-click a folder such as:
    /public_html/wp-content/
  2. Open Permissions.

Correct values

  • Folders: 755
  • Files: 644

Expected

  • Permissions correct → continue
  • Permissions incorrect → fix or reset

If unsure, use your host’s Reset Permissions option or ask support to reset WordPress file permissions.

After fixing

  1. Delete .maintenance.
  2. Reload the site.
WordPress folder permissions set to 755

Screenshot example: Root directory view inside a hosting file manager (interface may differ by provider).

What Not to Do

  • Do not repeatedly delete .maintenance without fixing the cause
  • Do not run bulk updates again
  • Do not edit database tables manually
  • Do not reinstall WordPress prematurely

If the Issue Still Persists

If the site still does not load after completing all steps above, the issue is likely caused by hosting-level limits or locked update states that cannot be resolved safely from the file manager alone.

Continue with: 
Hosting-Specific Fixes for WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode

If hosting-level fixes do not resolve the issue, controlled repair methods may be required:
WP-CLI & Database Repair for WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode

How to Prevent This Issue

  • Run updates one at a time
  • Avoid closing the browser during updates
  • Keep unused plugins disabled
  • Monitor the site immediately after updates

Frequently Asked Questions

What permissions should WordPress folders and files use?

Folders should use 755. Files should use 644.

Why does maintenance mode keep returning?

Because WordPress retries a failed update that never completes cleanup.

Is my site data damaged?

No. This issue involves incomplete updates, not content loss.

Can this happen without updating anything?

Yes. WordPress can enter maintenance mode during core updates or background update checks. If the update process is interrupted or cannot complete cleanup, maintenance mode can persist even when no plugin or theme update was manually started.

Summary

  • WordPress creates .maintenance during updates
  • Maintenance persists when cleanup fails
  • Plugin or theme conflicts are the most common cause
  • Correct permissions are required for cleanup
  • Hosting-Specific Fixes for WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode
  • WP-CLI & Database Repair for WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode
  • How to Prevent WordPress from getting Stuck in Maintenance Mode

Written by TechHelpTips Editorial Team
We publish clear, step-by-step guides for common website and WordPress issues, focusing on safe, non-destructive fixes that help restore normal site functionality without unnecessary changes.

Scroll to Top