A failed update leaves the site stuck in ‘Briefly unavailable’ message.
Site Stuck in Maintenance Mode
Key Points: WordPress update failed mid-process, leaving a hidden file behind that keeps the site offline.
You update a plugin or theme, and instead of a refreshed site, you get this lovely message: “Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance. Check back in a minute.” But the minute has passed — and it’s still there. Forever.
🔍 What Happened?
- WordPress creates a
.maintenancefile during updates - If the update crashes or times out, this file doesn’t get deleted
🛠️ Fix It Instantly
- Connect to your server via FTP or File Manager
- Go to the root of your WordPress installation
- Delete the file named
.maintenance
⚠️ Prevention Tip
Don’t update multiple large plugins/themes at once. And always check for server timeouts before running batch updates.