WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode: Fix

What this problem is

WordPress shows: Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance and never returns to normal.

Why it happens

• An update process was interrupted (timeout, connection drop)
• File permissions prevented update completion
• Low PHP limits caused the update to fail mid-way

Prerequisites

• FTP/File Manager access

Diagnosis

Check if the file .maintenance exists in the WordPress root (same level as wp-config.php).

Detailed steps

Step 1) Delete the .maintenance file

Remove .maintenance from the site root.

Expected result: the site loads normally again.

Step 2) Verify core folders are intact

Confirm wp-admin and wp-includes are present and not partially updated.

Step 3) Re-run the failed update (recommended)

• Update WordPress core from wp-admin if accessible, or
• Use a manual update via FTP if wp-admin is not accessible

Expected results

• Maintenance mode cleared
• Updates complete without leaving the site in a broken state

What to do if it fails

• Check file ownership/permissions and retry
• Review wp-content/debug.log and hosting error logs
• Disable plugins temporarily if they interfere with updates

Best practices

• Update during low-traffic windows
• Keep backups and use staging when possible
• Ensure sufficient PHP timeouts and memory before updating