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How Do I Change the Maintenance Page in WordPress?

Published in WordPress 2 mins read

You can change the WordPress maintenance page by using a plugin or by manually editing your theme's template files.

Using a Plugin

  1. Install and activate a maintenance mode plugin: Popular options include Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode and WP Maintenance Mode.
  2. Customize the maintenance page: These plugins provide a user-friendly interface to create a custom maintenance page with features like:
    • Setting a custom message: Display a personalized message to your visitors.
    • Adding a countdown timer: Create anticipation for your website's return.
    • Including social media links: Keep your audience engaged while your website is under maintenance.
    • Uploading a background image: Enhance the visual appeal of your maintenance page.
  3. Enable maintenance mode: Once you've customized the page, activate maintenance mode within the plugin's settings.

Manually Editing Theme Files

  1. Find the maintenance.php file: This file is usually located in your theme's directory. If your theme doesn't have a dedicated maintenance.php file, you can create one.
  2. Edit the file: Add or modify the HTML content within the maintenance.php file to create your custom maintenance page. You can use any HTML elements and CSS styles to design your page.
  3. Save the changes: Save the changes to your maintenance.php file.

Example:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <title>Website Under Maintenance</title>
    <style>
        body {
            font-family: sans-serif;
            text-align: center;
            padding: 100px;
        }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <h1>Our website is currently under maintenance.</h1>
    <p>We'll be back soon. Please check back later.</p>
</body>
</html>

Note: While using a plugin is often easier, editing the maintenance.php file offers more control over the design and functionality of your maintenance page.

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