How to Fix Briefly Unavailable for Scheduled Maintenance Error in WordPress

Do you encounter the WordPress problem “Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance”? This issue typically occurs when you try to update the core, plugins, or themes of WordPress but it could not finish due to any reason and leaves your site stuck in maintenance mode.

Let’s see how to fix “Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance” error in WordPress. We’ll also explain why it happens and how to prevent it in the future.

Why Does The WordPress Maintenance Mode Error Occur?

Technically speaking, the WordPress maintenance mode page is not an error. It is a notification page.
WordPress downloads the required update files to your server during the update process, extracts, and then install it.

During this process, WordPress puts your site on maintenance mode and shows “Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance. Check back in a minute.” notice.

To do this, WordPress crates a temporary .maintenance file in website’s root folder.

If all goes according to plan, this message should only be visible for a brief period. WordPress will automatically remove the maintenance file to turn off maintenance mode after a successful update.

Sometimes, due to slow server response or low memory, they update script times out and WordPress does not get a chance to terminate the maintenance mode.

The website keeps showing maintenance mode notice, and you must fix it manually.

How to Fix WordPress Maintenance Mode Error?

You can do it using FTP, simply go to website’s root folder and remove .maintenance file.
This is a hidden file which your FTP client may not show. Please adjust FTP client’s settings accordingly

After removing .maintenance file, your site will work as usual.

How to Avoid WordPress Maintenance Mode in the Future?

If you get this error frequently, consider getting a better hosting plan or moving to a server with better resources. Managed WordPress hosting may also solve this problem.

You should also try to update plugins and theme one at a time.