There are two options for putting your WordPress website in maintenance mode. First, you can easily do so by using cPanel or a plugin.
[Option 1 – cPanel]
- Once you have successfully logged into your cPanel, go to WordPress Dashboard.
- Under Core, locate the Maintenance mode option and click on the slider to enable or disable it.
This method is easy because you do not have to fiddle with any WordPress plugins. However, there is no way to customise the landing page so visitors will see only the default message.
[Option 2 – WP Maintenance Mode plugin]
- Install and activate the WP Maintenance Mode plugin. Access your WordPress Dashboard, manoeuvre over to Plugins, and click on Add New. You can search for the plugin there.
- Go to Settings and click on WP Maintenance Mode.
- Fill in all of your preferred details under the General tab. If you want to leave the default design, you can immediately enable the maintenance mode by selecting the “Activated” option.
- If you would like to customise the page visitors will see (add the background image, colours, etc.), you can do so at the Design tab.
- When you are ready, click Save settings.
Here is how a default maintenance mode website built with the WP Maintenance Mode plugin looks: