Codex Digest
You’re about to update your WordPress site, and you’re nervous.
What if a plugin breaks your layout?
What if a visitor lands on your site mid-update and sees a mess?
That’s the problem. WordPress doesn’t automatically protect your visitors during site updates. We’ve all seen broken designs or “fatal error” messages from incomplete changes.
But don’t worry! With just a few clicks, you can activate Maintenance Mode, hide your changes, and control what visitors see. This step-by-step guide (with a full video walkthrough) shows you two ways to handle WordPress Maintenance Mode, one via Hostinger and another using the SeedProd plugin.
Whether you’re updating plugins, changing your theme, or fixing layout issues, you want your visitors to have a smooth experience. Showing them a half-broken homepage isn’t just embarrassing, it affects trust and can even cause confusion if you’re running a business or portfolio site.
Maintenance Mode is your way of saying, “Hang tight, we’re working on it.” And in this guide, I’ll show you how to do it safely and cleanly, no matter your skill level.
Let’s start with the simplest route, using your hosting provider.
In this tutorial, I’ll be using Hostinger. After logging into your Hostinger dashboard, you’ll want to go to the Websites section and select the WordPress site you’re working on.
On the left panel, click the WordPress tab to expand the options. Then choose Overview. Right there, you’ll see a toggle for Maintenance Mode.
Switch it ON.
Hostinger will immediately show you a confirmation message: Maintenance Mode is active. That’s it. No coding, no plugins.
Now, if you open your site in a browser, you’ll see the default maintenance screen. It’s basic, but it gets the job done. Your visitors won’t see the backend chaos; they’ll just know the site is temporarily offline for updates.
Once your updates are done, head back to the same dashboard and toggle Maintenance Mode OFF.
Prefer to watch the steps?
Here’s the full video, where I walk you through both methods, starting with Hostinger and then diving into a custom Maintenance Mode using SeedProd.
If you want more control over how your maintenance page looks, especially if you’re building a brand or running an online business, then SeedProd is a great option.
To get started, log in to your WordPress dashboard. Go to Plugins > Add New, then search for SeedProd.
Click Install, then Activate.
Once the plugin is active, you’ll see SeedProd in the left panel. Open it, and you’ll be taken to a dashboard showing different page types: Coming Soon, 404, Login, and yes, Maintenance Mode.
Click Edit under the Maintenance Mode section.
Now this is where the magic happens. SeedProd gives you a drag-and-drop interface where you can fully customize your maintenance page. Add your logo, change the background, edit text, insert countdown timers, it’s all possible.
Once you’re happy with how it looks, just click Save, then Activate.
To confirm, visit your website in a private window. You’ll see your custom maintenance page live, designed just the way you wanted. And anytime you’re ready to go live again, just toggle it OFF with a single click.
If you just want something fast and functional, say, you’re making quick plugin updates, Hostinger’s built-in Maintenance Mode is perfect. It’s clean, instant, and doesn’t require plugins.
But if you care about presentation, branding, or want to add elements like a contact form, then SeedProd gives you the customization you need.
Whichever method you use, the goal is the same: protect your site’s experience while you update behind the scenes.
You don’t need to be a developer to keep your WordPress site polished during updates. Whether you prefer a one-click solution like Hostinger or a customizable one like SeedProd, activating Maintenance Mode is one of the simplest ways to keep your visitors informed and your reputation intact.
And now, you have both options at your fingertips.
📩 Want more WordPress walkthroughs like this?
Join our newsletter for weekly tips, plugin highlights, and time-saving tutorials.
