A quick and efficient fix for WordPress stuck in maintenance mode difficulties is learning how to use WP-CLI. When WordPress updates themes, plugins, or core files, it briefly puts your site in maintenance mode using a temporary .maintenance file. But when an update fails or times out, that file does not get deleted, leaving your site stuck with a message like:
“Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance. Check back in a minute.”
This can hurt user experience and cost you traffic or sales—especially on eCommerce or high-traffic sites. The good news is, you can exit maintenance mode instantly using WP-CLI (WordPress Command Line Interface), a powerful tool that lets you manage your site from the command line.
 What You Need Before You Begin
Before using WP-CLI, ensure the following:
• Your hosting environment supports SSH access.
• WP-CLI is installed (most managed and VPS hosting providers include this by default).
• You have SSH credentials or root access to the server.
• You know the path to your WordPress installation.
Steps to Exit Maintenance Mode with WP-CLI
Step 1: Connect to Your Server via SSH
• Open your terminal and connect to your server:
• Replace your-username and yourdomain.com with your actual credentials.
Step 2: Navigate to Your WordPress Directory
• Use the cd command to move to the directory where WordPress is installed. Example:
cd public_html
Or:
cd /var/www/html
• Use ls to list files and verify you are in the right place.
Step 3: Delete the .maintenance File
• Run the following WP-CLI command:
wp maintenance-mode deactivate
• If WP-CLI throws an error or doesn’t support that specific command, simply delete the file manually:
rm .maintenance
• Once removed, refresh your site. The maintenance message should disappear instantly.
Bonus: How to Prevent Getting Stuck in Maintenance Mode
• Update plugins/themes one at a time, not all at once.
• Avoid updates during peak traffic times.
• Use a staging site to test updates.
• Always back up your site before making changes.
• Use WP-CLI for updates—it is faster and less likely to time out.
Example command to update plugins safely:
wp plugin update –all
Conclusion
Getting stuck in WordPress maintenance mode can be frustrating, but with WP-CLI, resolving it is both fast and reliable. By simply removing the .maintenance file through a few lines in your terminal, you can restore your site in seconds—without touching FTP or cPanel.
WP-CLI also empowers you to automate updates, manage plugins, and troubleshoot faster than the WordPress dashboard allows. So if you are comfortable with the command line, it is a smart skill to adopt.
