How to set up WordPress maintenance mode

If you are setting up a new WordPress site or restructuring an existing site, it is recommended to use maintenance mode until the site is ready. The mode shields your site from visitors, at the same time you can use it to inform visitors about the upcoming relaunch.

There are many free plugins that you can use to put your WordPress site into maintenance mode.

Maintenance mode in WordPress can be turned on manually or with a free plugin. To enable maintenance mode manually, please create a file named "maintenance" in the root directory and paste the following PHP code:"<?php = time(); ?>".

Plugin examples for WordPress maintenance mode

There are many plugins to put WordPress into maintenance mode. For example, these ones:

• Easy Coming Soon (go here to download on wordpress.org)
• Coming soon and Maintenance mode (go here to download it)
• Minimal Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode (go here for info and download link)

Importantly, you should choose a maintenance plugin that is compatible with your current WordPress version. You can tell this by the icon with the checkmark and the message "Compatible with your version of WordPress" when you see the plugins via the search in your WordPress backend.

More information about maintenance mode

Whichever plugin you choose, the function is always the same: it integrates a maintenance mode into your WordPress installation so that the content of your site is no longer visible to visitors. If you use the maintenance mode features to inform your visitors about the duration of the changes, you should include your phone number or email address on the maintenance page. Also note: Most WordPress maintenance mode plugins consist of a free and a paid version. In the free version, the functionality is severely limited, so you can't change the font color or use high-resolution background images, for example. But for the essential purpose of the maintenance mode, namely to "lock" your site and inform visitors about it, the capabilities of the free version are still sufficient.