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How to Disable WordPress Construction Mode and Restore Website Access

Last updated on Aug 08, 2025

How to Disable WordPress Construction Mode and Restore Website Access

**Description:**A step-by-step guide for WordPress users to diagnose and resolve unexpected construction mode issues—covering plugin settings, wp-config checks, and manual deactivation methods. This article is designed for Eco Web Hosting shared hosting customers with basic technical knowledge.

What Is WordPress Construction Mode?

Construction mode (also known as "maintenance mode") displays a holding page to visitors while you work on your site. Many maintenance plugins, themes, or even WordPress core updates can trigger this mode.

Common messages include:

  • "This site is under construction."

  • "Website coming soon."

  • "Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance."

1. Check for Active Maintenance/Construction Plugins

Many WordPress sites use plugins (e.g., Coming Soon, Maintenance, Under Construction) to enable construction mode.

A. Disable via WordPress Dashboard

  1. Log in to your WordPress admin area (yourdomain.com/wp-admin).

  2. Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.

  3. Look for plugins with names like:

    • Maintenance

    • Under Construction

    • Coming Soon

    • SeedProd, WP Maintenance Mode, etc.

  4. Click Deactivate next to the relevant plugin.

  5. Visit your website in a private/incognito window to confirm normal access is restored.

2. Manually Deactivate Construction Plugins (If Locked Out)

If you can’t access the WordPress dashboard, disable plugins manually via the hosting control panel.

A. Using File Manager in cPanel or StackCP

  1. Log in to your Eco Web Hosting control panel.

  2. Navigate to File Manager.

  3. Go to the folder:public_html/wp-content/plugins/

  4. Locate the folder for your maintenance/construction plugin (e.g., maintenance, coming-soon).

  5. Rename the plugin folder—for example, change maintenance to maintenance.disabled.

    This will force WordPress to deactivate the plugin.

  6. Reload your website to check if access is restored.

3. Check for WordPress Core Maintenance Mode

Sometimes, WordPress updates leave a .maintenance file in your website root, causing the “Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance” message.

A. Remove the .maintenance File

  1. Open File Manager in your hosting control panel.

  2. Go to the public_html/ directory (your main website folder).

  3. Look for a file named .maintenance.

  4. Delete the .maintenance file.

  5. Refresh your website—normal access should return.

4. Inspect wp-config.php for Forced Maintenance Settings

Some custom code or plugins may add directives to wp-config.php that force maintenance mode.

A. Review and Edit wp-config.php

  1. In File Manager, open public_html/wp-config.php.

  2. Look for lines similar to:

    define("WP_MAINTENANCE_MODE", true);

  3. If present, change true to false, or comment out the line by adding // at the start:

    // define("WP_MAINTENANCE_MODE", true);

  4. Save the file and refresh your site.

5. Troubleshooting: Theme or Plugin Conflicts

If construction mode persists:

  • **Switch to a Default Theme:**Rename your current theme folder (public_html/wp-content/themes/your-theme) to force WordPress to use a default theme.

  • **Disable All Plugins Temporarily:**Rename the entire plugins folder to plugins.disabled, then reload your site. If the site returns, rename the folder back and reactivate plugins one by one to find the culprit.

6. Practical Example: Removing a Stubborn Maintenance Plugin

**Scenario:**You installed "WP Maintenance Mode" but can’t access the dashboard.

Solution:

  1. Use File Manager to navigate to:public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-maintenance-mode/

  2. Rename the folder to wp-maintenance-mode.disabled.

  3. Your site should now be publicly visible.

7. Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: I still see a construction page after disabling plugins. Why?**A: Your browser or a caching plugin may be showing an old version. Try clearing your browser cache or disabling any caching plugins.

**Q: Will disabling the plugin affect my site?**A: Disabling only the construction/maintenance plugin will not harm your site’s content or settings.

8. Need More Help?

If you’ve followed these steps and your site is still stuck in construction mode, please submit a support ticket via your Eco Web Hosting client area. Include:

  • Your website domain

  • The steps you’ve tried

  • Any error messages or screenshots

Our support team will be happy to assist further!

**Tip:**Always back up your site before making manual changes via File Manager or editing wp-config.php. You can use the JetBackup tool in your control panel for quick backups and restores.