How to Put Your WordPress Site into Maintenance Mode

Introduction

As a website owner, you may find it necessary to take your WordPress site offline for a while. This could be to redesign it, update plugins, or carry out some critical maintenance task. During this period, you might not want visitors to gain access to your website so you can avoid errors, missing content, etc. In this article, we will guide you on how to put your WordPress site into maintenance mode, its importance, the best practices to follow, and more.

What is WordPress Maintenance Mode?

Maintenance mode is a feature built into WordPress that allows you to show visitors a temporary message while working on updates or site design. The custom message will inform visitors that your site is undergoing maintenance, provide relevant details like when it will be back up, and prevent them from accessing your site.

Why Do You Need to Put Your WordPress Site into Maintenance Mode?

Putting your WordPress site into maintenance mode is necessary for the following reasons:

1. To improve user experience
2. To avoid data loss during updates
3. To enable safe and risk-free changes

How to Put Your WordPress Site into Maintenance Mode

You can use a plugin to put your WordPress site into maintenance mode. Here are two popular options:

1. WP Maintenance Mode

WP Maintenance Mode is an easy-to-use plugin that is customizable and intuitive. Simply follow these steps:

1. Install and activate the plugin
2. Go to Settings > WP Maintenance Mode to customize your settings
3. Under the General tab, select “Enable” to Activate maintenance mode
4. Choose a theme or upload a custom one under the Design tab
5. Under the Content tab, customize the message that visitors will see
6. Add extra modules under the Modules tab, such as countdown timers and social media links

2. Under Construction Page

Under Construction Page is another popular plugin for creating a custom landing page while you put your site into maintenance mode.

1. Install and activate the plugin
2. Go to Settings > Under Construction Page to customize your settings
3. Change the Status to “Activated”
4. Choose a pre-designed template or create your own under the Design tab
5. Customize the message that visitors will see under the Content tab
6. Set an automatic end date and time, enable social sharing, and more under the Settings tab

Best Practices to Follow During Your Site in Maintenance Mode

Here are a few best practices to keep in mind while your site is in maintenance mode:

1. Use a Coming Soon Page instead of a generic maintenance message
2. Disable the Site’s Indexing
3. Use a 503 HTTP Response Code
4. Test your Maintenance Mode Page

Conclusion

In conclusion, putting your WordPress site in maintenance mode can help prevent errors, data loss, and makes sure that your visitors remain informed about your website. By following the guidelines discussed, you can enable your updates to be successful while keeping your website visitors up-to-date.