MainWP is an awesome tool. It helps you manage multiple WordPress sites from one dashboard. It saves loads of time. But once in a while, things don’t go as planned.
One common issue? Maintenance mode gets stuck. Your site freezes in maintenance and you can’t log in—or update plugins or themes. It can be frustrating. But don’t worry. We’ve got a simple fix!
Let’s break it down in a fun and easy way. Here’s how to solve the problem and get back to running your websites like a boss!
What is Maintenance Mode?
When you update WordPress, plugins, or themes, WordPress puts your site in maintenance mode. This mode shows a quick message like:
“Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance. Check back in a minute.”
It’s supposed to last only a few seconds. But sometimes, things go wrong. A slow server, an interruption—boom! You’re stuck there until you fix it manually.
How You Know It’s Stuck
Your site shows that same maintenance message for minutes… or hours. Meanwhile, MainWP won’t complete updates. It just spins endlessly.
Also, you can’t get into the WP dashboard of your child sites. Updates are stuck. Visitors can’t see your site. Yikes!
Why Does This Happen?
MainWP tells your child sites to run updates. But if an update fails, the system may not delete the file responsible for the maintenance mode.
This happens because WordPress uses a hidden file called .maintenance. It creates this file when updates start and deletes it at the end. If anything goes wrong—like you refresh too soon, lose internet, or your server times out—that file stays there.
How to Fix It (The Fun Part)
You just need to delete one file. Yep, that’s it! Here’s how to do it step-by-step.
Step 1: Connect to Your Site
You’ll need either:
- A File Manager in cPanel or your hosting dashboard
- Or an FTP client like FileZilla
Both options work. Choose what’s easier or available to you.
Step 2: Go to the Root Directory
Open your site files and go to the root folder. This is usually called:
public_html- Or your domain folder (like
example.com)
Look for a file named: .maintenance
Step 3: Delete the .maintenance File
Right-click and delete it. Boom. That’s it. Now go back to your site. Refresh the page. Everything’s normal again!
If You Don’t See the File
Sometimes, the .maintenance file is hidden. Here’s how to make it visible:
- If using FileZilla: Go to Server > Force Showing Hidden Files
- If using cPanel File Manager: Click Settings in the top-right and check “Show Hidden Files (dotfiles)”
Now you’ll see it. Delete that little troublemaker!
Extra Tip: Clear Caches
After fixing it, clear any caches for good measure. This includes:
- Browser cache
- WordPress cache (with plugins like WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache)
- Your CDN cache (like Cloudflare)
This makes sure you and your visitors see the updated, working site.
What About MainWP?
Once your child site is back, go to your MainWP dashboard. It should automatically show the update as completed or failed. You might want to:
- Run a sync to refresh site status
- Review recent logs to see what update caused the issue
If you see pending updates, try them again—but one at a time. That way, you’ll catch any problem plugins before they freeze things again.
Prevent This in the Future
You can’t always avoid the issue, but here are a few pro tips:
- Keep backups before updates
- Update plugins one by one on smaller or slower servers
- Use trusted plugins with good update histories
- Don’t close the browser tab when updates are running
Also, make sure your hosting service is solid. Some cheap hosts crash too easily during updates.
Advanced Fix (Just in Case)
If the file is gone, but your site still thinks it’s in maintenance mode, try editing your wp-config.php or disabling faulty plugins manually.
Here’s what to do:
- Open your
wp-content/pluginsfolder. - Rename suspicious or recently updated plugin folders (e.g. rename
plugin-nametoplugin-name-disabled) - Try accessing the site again
This helps if a plugin broke while updating.
When All Else Fails
Still stuck? Don’t panic. Here are your last-resort options:
- Contact your web hosting support
- Use MainWP’s support or community forum
- Reach out to a WordPress developer
The WordPress community is huge. Someone has always seen your exact issue before.
Summary
You don’t need to be a coder to fix maintenance mode. Here’s a quick recap:
- Problem: Site stuck in maintenance mode
- Cause: WordPress didn’t delete the .maintenance file
- Fix: Delete
.maintenancefrom your root folder
Lastly, keep your cool. This problem sounds scarier than it is. You’ve got this!
Now pat yourself on the back, grab a coffee, and enjoy your smoothly running MainWP setup. Happy updating! 🎉
