{"id":1396,"date":"2019-11-27T12:45:10","date_gmt":"2019-11-27T04:45:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intelliwolf.com\/?p=1396"},"modified":"2019-12-08T13:14:45","modified_gmt":"2019-12-08T05:14:45","slug":"wordpress-maintenance-mode","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress-757293-2559390.cloudwaysapps.com\/wordpress-maintenance-mode\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Put A WordPress Site Into Maintenance Mode
(With Countdown Timer)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sometimes you need to do some work on a live site that might break the layout or functionality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should always test any changes on a staging site, but eventually the changes will make their way to the live site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The standard practice is to put the website into maintenance mode while you make the changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The website will look the same to you, but to people not logged in, your website will look something like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

It's a good idea to check your analytics and make these changes during a quieter period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It's also a great idea to give people a sense of how long they might need to wait before the site is back. That's why we use a countdown timer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to put a site into maintenance mode with a countdown timer:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Install & activate<\/a> the WP Maintenance Mode plugin by Designmodo<\/li>
  2. Set the countdown<\/a> module timer and turn it on<\/li>
  3. Activate<\/a> Maintenance Mode.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Let's go through those steps in detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Install & Activate the WP Maintenance Mode Plugin<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    There are many maintenance mode plugins around, but the one that I've used for many years is WP Maintance Mode by Designmodo. It has everything I need, is lightweight and stable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I've tried other plugins, but they're just not as suited to what I need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Go to Plugins -> Add New<\/em> in the WordPress admin area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Search for \"maintenance mode\". Click \"Install Now\" next to the one by Designmodo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Once WP Maintenance Mode is installed, click \"Activate\".<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Set the Countdown Timer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The next step is to set the countdown timer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This won't turn maintenance mode on just yet, it's just a configuration step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Go to the WP Maintenance Mode settings either through the Installed Plugins<\/em> page or find it under Settings -> WP Maintenance Mode<\/em> in the sidebar of the WordPress admin area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Skip over to the Modules<\/em> tab and look for Countdown<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Set the Countdown (remaining time)<\/em> for how long you expect to need to make the changes. Try to be reasonably accurate, but it's better to overestimate the length of time you'll need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Note<\/strong>: if the timer runs out, maintenance mode will not<\/strong> deactivate. The timer will just be \"stuck\" at 0:00:00:00.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    Change the Show countdown<\/em> dropdown to \"Yes\".<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Set the Start date<\/em>. This is the time from which the remaining time<\/em> in the previous step is calculated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I usually just click \"Now\".<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    You'll see the time (and date if you've used this before on the site) change to the current time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Click \"Done\".<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Scroll to the bottom and click \"Save settings\".<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Activate Maintenance Mode<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    You can play with the design if you like, or change the words. That's all done in the Design<\/em> tab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When you're ready to turn maintenance mode on and start making those changes to the website, go to the General<\/em> tab and change the Status<\/em> from \"Deactivated\" to \"Activated\".<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Scroll to the bottom of the page and click \"Save Settings\".<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Congratulations, Maintenance Mode is now active.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you go to the website in a browser where you're not logged in, you'll see a message that looks like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    However, when you're signed in, you'll see the website as it normally is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    There's also a helpful nag across the admin area of the site reminding you not to forget to deactivate maintenance mode when you're finished making the changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    How to Deactivate Maintenance Mode<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Deactivating maintenance mode is as simple as going back to the WP Maintenance Mode settings (Settings -> WP Maintance Mode<\/em>) and under the General<\/em> tab changing the Status<\/em> from \"Activated\" to \"Deactivated\". Be sure to scroll to the bottom and click \"Save changes\".<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It's also a good idea to go to Plugins<\/em> and deactivate WP Maintenance Mode. The website won't break if you forget this step, but it's good practice to deactivate any plugins that you're not currently using.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There's no need to delete WP Maintenance Mode. You can just keep it installed and inactive until the next time you need to make changes to the live website.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Sometimes you need to do some work on a live site that might break the layout or functionality. You should always test any changes on a staging site, but eventually the changes will make their way to the live site. 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