WordPress is stuck in maintenance mode and I can't access the dashboard — how do I fix it?

Don't waste time setting up an FTP client. Just log into your hosting provider's portal, open File Manager via cPanel or Plesk, find the .maintenance file in the root folder, right-click, and delete it. Won't take you 30 seconds.

if u cant see the file dont panic click the gear icon at the top right of the file manager and check show hidden files (dotfiles). system hides it becuse of the dot at the beginning.

We made the exact same mistake two years ago during a big sale week. In a panic, we restored yesterday's database backup and wiped out about 3,000 euros worth of customer orders placed in the last 8 hours. Whatever you do don't restore from a backup—just delete that tiny file and you're good.

The system locking up just because you refreshed the tab isn't normal on its own. Your server's PHP execution timeout (max_execution_time) and memory limit (memory_limit) are likely set way too low. The server got bogged down trying to run four plugins at once and froze the tab—talk to your hosting provider about bumping those limits.

Ah the classic WordPress courtesy of telling you to 'check back in a minute' while leaving you staring at the same screen for hours. Don't worry nothing happened to your site; once that single file is deleted, the shop will be right back up.

Among the plugins you updated, was there a payment gateway or a major e-commerce plugin that updates database tables? After deleting the file, did you do an end-to-end test order to check if the cart and checkout pages are working properly?

Once the issue is resolved, make sure to set up a 1-click staging environment from your hosting panel. No site doing over 1.000 Euro in daily revenue should ever update plugins directly in production; you test it on a clone first, and if everything looks good, you push it live.

Just deleting the .maintenance file in the root directory is enough; it won't harm your database or orders in any way.

I agree.

I partly agree, partly disagree. The biggest time-waster for us was not knowing who had the final say.

Any unwritten clause becomes a point of disagreement later as both sides remember it differently. like just leaving this note, it might be useful.

Let me summarize what's been said so far. The real issue isn't the number, but what it's based on.

That's all, sorry if I went on too long.

You're right.

Yes that's exactly how it is with wordpress maintenance mode. The harder it is to reverse a decision the slower you should make it.

If you get three different answers on a topic the question was asked wrong.

I feel the same way. If code ownership isn't in the contract, you have no bargaining power when leaving.

Of course, it varies if your situation is different.

Thanks, this was very helpful. If it's your first time, start small; scaling comes later.

If you have questions, write them; I'll answer as best I can.

Noted, thanks.

Correct in theory, but it doesn't work that way in practice. The harder it is to reverse a decision, the slower you should make it.

Just leaving this note, it might be useful.

i'll try it.