Site Stuck in Maintenance Mode
WordPress creates a '.maintenance' file during updates, which is automatically deleted once the update finishes. If an update was interrupted (lost connection, timeout), this file can be left behind, leaving your site stuck in maintenance mode.
Why this happens
During any WordPress or plugin update, a temporary .maintenance file is created to show a 'briefly unavailable' message and prevent visitors from seeing a half-updated site. It's supposed to delete itself automatically once the update finishes - but if the update is interrupted (a lost connection, a server timeout), that file is left behind and the message never goes away on its own.
Step-by-step fix
- Go to your site's root folder (where wp-config.php is) using File Manager.
- Look for a file named .maintenance.
- Delete that file.
- Refresh your site - it should be back to normal.
- If a plugin or theme update was left incomplete, manually update it again.
How to prevent it happening again
- Avoid closing your browser or navigating away while an update is actively running.
- Make sure your hosting connection is stable before starting a major update, especially WordPress core updates.
- If an update seems to hang for more than a few minutes, check for a leftover .maintenance file rather than waiting indefinitely.
😩 Still stuck, or want it fixed without doing it yourself?
I fix WordPress errors like this every day. Send me your error and I'll get your site back up - most fixes are completed within 24 hours.