Maintenance mode can be caused by many factors, from simple file corruption to more complex plugin conflicts or an existing .maintenance file.

While it can be stressful, fixing a WordPress site stuck in maintenance mode is often straightforward.

We’ve run into this error many times on our own websites, so we’re here to help you learn how to easily exit maintenance mode.

What Causes WordPress to Get Stuck in Maintenance Mode?

Maintenance mode is a temporary state used by WordPress during updates or while making significant changes. However, sometimes, the process gets stuck, leaving your site inaccessible.

That’s because when WordPress goes into maintenance mode, it creates a temporary .maintenance file. If the file still exists on your site, then it could get stuck in a maintenance mode loop.

As a result, you might see an error message saying, ‘Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance. Check back in a minute.’

Now, there are several factors that can cause this error and leave the .maintenance file on your server.

Some of these include:

• Incomplete Updates: An update process interrupted due to server issues or plugin conflicts can leave the .maintenance file intact, keeping your site offline.
• Faulty Plugins: Incompatible or outdated plugins can interfere with WordPress’ core functionality, leading to maintenance mode issues.
• Theme Conflicts: Similar to plugins, incompatible themes can clash with your WordPress installation, unintentionally starting maintenance mode.
• Server Problems: Issues on your web hosting server can sometimes cause unexpected behaviors, including getting stuck in maintenance mode.

That said, let’s look at different ways to fix the WordPress stuck in maintenance mode error.

Fixing WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode

Now that you understand the reasons for this error, a simple way of resolving this error is to delete the .maintenance file.

The .maintenance file location is usually in the root directory of your website. You can access it using an FTP client or File Manager from your hosting provider’s cPanel.

Accessing .maintenance File Using FTP

There are many FTP services you can use for viewing WordPress files. For this tutorial, we will use FileZilla.

If you haven’t used or set up a FTP client before, then please see our guide on how to use FTP to upload files to WordPress.

Once you’re connected to your site, simply head to the public_html folder in the panel on the right.

You should now see different WordPress core files in the folder.

From here, you can find the .maintenance file location. Simply right-click the file and select the ‘Delete’ option.

Removing .maintenance File Using File Manager

If you’re not comfortable using an FTP client, then you can also access your WordPress files using cPanel.

First, you’ll need to log in to your WordPress hosting provider account. For this tutorial, we will be using Bluehost.

In the dashboard, go to the ‘Websites’ tab from the menu on the left. Then click the ‘Settings’ option under your website.

After that, you will need to switch to the ‘Advanced’ tab.

Simply scroll down to the cPanel section and click the ‘Manage’ button.

Once the cPanel opens, head to the Files section.

From here, go ahead and click the ‘File Manager’ option.

Next, you will see your website files and folders. Simply go to the public_html folder from the menu on the left.

After that, you can locate the .maintenance file in the root folder. Go ahead and select the file, and then click the ‘Delete’ option at the top.

Removing the file should restore your website and make it exit maintenance mode.

As a precaution, you should also clear the cache of your WordPress website.

Tips to Stop WordPress From Getting Stuck in Maintenance Mode

Preventing your WordPress website from getting stuck in maintenance mode is crucial for maintaining website uptime and an excellent user experience.

Let’s explore some proactive steps you can take to stop your site from running into this error.

1. Don’t Update Multiple Plugins and Themes at Once

It’s best to update your plugins one by one instead of all at once. This way, you can separate any issues that might cause WordPress to go into maintenance mode.

After each plugin update, you can also carefully observe your website’s performance to identify any unexpected behavior. This will tell you if one plugin update in particular is causing any errors.

2. Check Compatibility for Plugins and Themes

Another way to prevent WordPress maintenance mode from appearing is to verify whether your plugins and themes are compatible with the latest WordPress versions.

Outdated plugins and themes can often cause conflicts, causing your site to go into maintenance mode. Updating them to the latest versions also helps with bug fixes and security enhancements.

To learn more, please see our guide on how to properly update WordPress plugins.

3. Upgrade Your Web Hosting Service

A reliable hosting environment is essential for WordPress website stability. If you continually encounter errors, it might be time to consider upgrading to a plan with the necessary resources to handle your website’s traffic and demands.

You should also ensure your hosting provider performs regular server maintenance and updates to prevent performance issues.

For example, we use SiteGround on our website, and we’ve had a great experience. For more options, you can see our pick of the most reliable and best WordPress hosting providers.

You may also want to see our guide on when you should change your WordPress web hosting to learn more.

4. Hire WordPress Experts to Maintain Your Website

If you lack the time or expertise to prevent and fix errors on your website, then you should consider hiring a WordPress professional. They can manage your website’s maintenance and updates so you can focus on growing your business.

WordPress experts can put into practice measures that reduce the risk of your website getting stuck in maintenance mode. For instance, they will make sure that all your software is up-to-date, monitor your website’s uptime, and fix errors that come up.

One of the best and most affordable WordPress support agencies you can hire today is WPBeginner Pro WordPress Maintenance Services. We have over 16 years of experience, and our team has helped over 100,000 users with WordPress.

Our experts will handle everything behind the scenes for a stress-free experience. For instance, you will get consistent WordPress core, theme, and plugin updates, routine cloud backups and malware removal, and continuous uptime monitoring.

Plus, our 24/7 WordPress support can help you resolve maintenance mode issues and fix other bugs to improve website performance.

Alternatively, you could choose our on-demand Emergency Support Services for a one-time fix. If you encounter an error or are unable to exit maintenance mode, then this plan is perfect for you.

We hope this article helped you learn how to fix WordPress stuck in maintenance mode. You may also want to see our guide on WordPress database maintenance and how to contact WordPress support.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Fix WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode (The Easy Way) first appeared on WPBeginner.

Migrating from Webflow to WordPress can seem complicated, but it’s worth it. WordPress is flexible, more affordable, and offers many customization options through plugins and themes (no coding required). WordPress also gives you complete control over your site.

Since the switch from Webflow to WordPress isn’t super straightforward, we went through the entire process to help you out. In this guide, we will help you move your site, step by step.

You’ll learn how to set up WordPress and transfer your content from Webflow. Our goal is to make the switch as easy and smooth as possible.

Here is a quick overview of the steps you’ll be following to move your site from Webflow to WordPress:

Why Migrate From Webflow to WordPress?

Many users choose Webflow for its easy-to-use design tools and simple website creation.

However, they quickly realize Webflow’s limitations. It is a closed platform with fewer customizations, limited integrations, and predatory pricing.

That’s why we recommend that users avoid Webflow and use WordPress instead.

We have used and tested all top website builders, and none comes close to WordPress. It powers more than 43% of all websites, including many big-name brands.

Here are just a few things that make WordPress a much better choice than Webflow:

• Cost-Effective: Many affordable hosting options are available for WordPress. It is a free and open-source platform that allows you to control your costs.
• Customization: It has excellent no-code page builders, thousands of themes (design templates), and many plugins (59,000+). Together, these tools give you unlimited customization options.
• Integrations: As the most popular website builder, WordPress has integrations for most third-party tools. You’ll be able to use any marketing, eCommerce, or growth tool on your site.
• Scalability: Upgrade hosting plans as your site grows and only pay for the resources you need.

Switching to WordPress gives you more control and better options. You’ll find managing your site easier and save money in the long run.

Let’s dive into the steps to make this transition smooth and successful.

Step 1: Sign Up for WordPress Hosting

To start the migration, you’ll need a WordPress hosting provider. A good hosting provider ensures your website runs smoothly and can handle traffic.

We recommend using Bluehost, an official WordPress-recommended hosting provider. Bluehost is currently offering our users a free domain name and a huge discount on web hosting.

You can start at $1.99/month, which makes it an affordable and reliable choice.

Alternatives: If you want other options, consider Hostinger or SiteGround. Both are well-regarded and offer excellent performance.

For the sake of this tutorial, we will show you screenshots of Bluehost. However, the basic process is similar for all top WordPress hosting providers.

Go to the Bluehost website and click the ‘Get Started Now’ button.

You will then see the pricing page, asking you to choose a plan.

The Basic plan is suitable for most websites.

Click ‘Select’ to choose a plan and continue.

In the next step, Bluehost will ask you to choose your domain.

If you already have a custom domain you used for your Webflow website, you can enter it into the ‘Use a domain you own’ box.

Alternatively, you can choose your free domain name here or click ‘I’ll create my domain later’ to skip this step.

Next, provide your personal information and payment details to complete the purchase.

Bluehost will now send you an email with your login details. You can use those to log in to your hosting account dashboard.

Upon first login, Bluehost will automatically install WordPress for you. Click the ‘Edit Site’ button to launch the WordPress dashboard.

Need help installing WordPress? See our complete WordPress installation tutorial for detailed step-by-step instructions.

Now that you have installed WordPress, the next step is to choose a theme (design templates) for your website.

Step 2: Choose a WordPress Theme

After installing WordPress, the next step is to choose a theme for your website. It will control the look and feel of your site.

There are thousands of paid and free WordPress themes available.

However, new users may feel overwhelmed by the many choices. To help you select the perfect theme, our team has compiled a list of the most popular WordPress themes.

We recommend choosing a simple layout with plenty of white space. Based on our experience building websites for our businesses, we’ve found that clean, minimal layouts look more professional and user-friendly.

Don’t overthink your choice. You can always change your WordPress theme if you find a better one.

Later in this article, we will discuss designing pages in WordPress using no-code page builders. It will give you even more control over your site’s design.

For now, let’s start exporting data from Webflow so that you can import it into your new WordPress site.

Step 3: Export Your Webflow Website

While Webflow allows you to export some of your content, you cannot export all of it.

Here is what you can export:

• Site Export includes HTML, CSS, JS, and images/media (only with Workspace plans).
• Export CMS components, such as blog posts.

Exporting Webflow Website

You cannot import Webflow pages directly into your WordPress website. However, you may want to save your website before moving your content to WordPress.

If you are on a Webflow Workspace plan, you can use the Code Export feature to export your website and save it to your computer.

Log in to your Webflow account and launch the Designer tool.

You will now enter the Webflow Designer UI.

Take your mouse to the top-right corner of the screen and click the ‘Export code’ button.

This will open the Export Code popup.

At the bottom of the popup, you need to click on the ‘Prepare ZIP’ button to continue.

Webflow will then prepare your files, which you can download to your computer.

Note: If you are not using the Workspace plan, you will have to manually save your pages to your computer. Alternatively, you can use the HTTrack website copier to crawl your website and download all your pages to your computer.

Step 4: Export Your Blog Posts

Webflow allows you to export CMS components like blog posts, which can be imported into WordPress.

Inside the Webflow designer, switch to the ‘CMS’ tab (located in the left toolbar) and click on ‘Blog Posts’.

Next, you have to click the ‘Export’ button at the top to download your blog posts in CSV format.

Step 5: Recreating Webflow Pages in WordPress

Now that you have your Webflow content stored on your computer, you can start bringing it to your new WordPress website.

While you cannot import individual pages from Webflow directly into your WordPress website, you can easily recreate them.

To do that, you will need a no-code page builder like SeedProd. It is a drag-and-drop design tool that allows you to create stunning web pages without writing any code.

First, you need to install and activate the SeedProd plugin. For details, see our tutorial on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Once you have activated the plugin, go to the SeedProd » Landing Pages in the WordPress admin area and click the ‘Add New Landing Page’ button.

Next, you’ll be asked to choose a template.

SeedProd comes with several beautiful templates. You should pick one that resembles the pages you want to recreate.

Next, provide a name for your page and choose a URL slug.

We recommend using the same URL slug as the page you had on Webflow. This will allow you to maintain your search traffic and SEO rankings.

Click ‘Save and Start Editing the Page’ to continue.

This will bring you to the SeedProd page builder interface. You can use your mouse to move anywhere on the screen, click on an item, and start editing it.

You can also add new elements from the left column by dragging and dropping them where you want to display them.

SeedProd makes it very easy to design any page. You can change layouts, use custom colors, add your logo, and more.

For more details, see our tutorial on how to create a landing page in WordPress.

Want to try a different page builder? Try Thrive Architect, another excellent no-code page builder for WordPress.

Step 6: Import Blog Posts into WordPress

Luckily, importing blog posts from Webflow to WordPress is a little simpler.

You will need to install and activate the WP All Import plugin. After activation, go to the All Import » New Import page in the WordPress admin area.

Click the “Upload a file” option and select the CSV file you downloaded earlier.

The plugin will automatically detect the content type (posts) and select it for you.

Click the ‘Continue to Step 2’ button for the next step.

The plugin will then show you a preview of the data in the file. Click ‘Continue’ to proceed to the next step.

Now, you will be asked to map fields to the WordPress post fields. For instance, you can drag the name field to the WordPress post title area.

After matching fields to corresponding areas in WordPress, just click on the ‘Continue to Step 4’ button.

Next, you need to define a unique identifier for your posts. Use the ‘Auto-detect’ button to generate an ID. It is used internally by WordPress and will not be displayed on your website.

Finally, click “Confirm & Run Import” to complete the process.

The plugin will notify you once the import is complete.

Step 7: Import Images

WP All Import will not automatically upload your images from Webflow to WordPress.

Your website will still display images hosted on your Webflow site, which will become an issue when your Webflow website is deleted.

Fortunately, there’s an easy way to import external images into the WordPress media library using a plugin.

First, you need to install and activate the Auto Upload Images plugin.

After activation, go to the Posts » All Posts page. Select all your blog posts and select ‘Edit’ under the ‘Bulk Actions’ dropdown menu.

Click the ‘Apply’ button to continue.

WordPress will show a Quick Update option for all posts. Just click the ‘Update’ button, and WordPress will update all your blog posts without making any changes to them.

This will trigger the upload function, and the plugin will import any external images found in your blog posts to the media library.

For more details, see our tutorial on how to easily import external images in WordPress.

Step 8: Change Domain Name Settings

If you were using a custom domain name on your old Webflow website, then you can now point it to your new WordPress site.

To do that, you need to change your domain’s nameserver settings. DNS or domain nameserver settings point your domain name to your hosting provider.

Your WordPress hosting provider will provide you with the nameservers information you need to use. It typically looks like this:

• ns1.bluehost.com
• ns2. bluehost.com
• ns3. bluehost.com

For more details, see our tutorial on how to change domain nameservers.

Step 9: Set Up Permalinks

WordPress allows you to choose an SEO-friendly URL structure for your website by changing permalinks.

You need to match your WordPress permalinks to the same URL structure you had on your old Webflow website.

To do that, go to the Settings » Permalinks page in the WordPress admin area.

You will need to choose the Post name option to match your URLs with your Webflow URL structure.

Don’t forget to click the ‘Save Changes’ button to update your permalink settings.

Step 10: Install Essential WordPress Plugins

Now that you have imported your content to your website, the next step is to install some essential WordPress plugins.

Plugins are like apps for your WordPress website. Like apps on your phone, plugins add new features and functionality to your WordPress website.

The following are some of the most popular WordPress plugins that add essential features to a new WordPress website:

• WPForms – Allows you to add contact forms to your WordPress website.
• All in One SEO for WordPress: The most comprehensive SEO tool kit for WordPress. It will help you get more free traffic from search engines.
• Duplicator: It allows you to set up automated backups for WordPress. You can also automatically upload those backups to the cloud and restore them with 1-click if needed.
• MonsterInsights: It helps you easily install Google Analytics in WordPress and shows you easy-to-understand website traffic reports right inside your dashboard.
• PushEngage: Want to send instant notifications to users on mobile and desktop devices? PushEngage is the best push notification service on the market and helps you bring back website visitors, increase pageviews, and boost conversions.

Need more tools and tips to grow your new WordPress website? See our full list of must-have WordPress plugins for all types of websites.

Learn WordPress (Free Resources)

WordPress is quite easy to use, but sometimes, you may need a little help navigating it.

Here are some learning resources that will help you quickly get familiar with WordPress:

• WordPress Training Courses: Free WordPress video training courses designed for beginners. We recommend starting with WordPress 101, which has 33 lessons covering WordPress basics for new users.
• WPBeginner on YouTube: Our YouTube channel has over 931 videos and 972,000 subscribers. It offers detailed video tutorials, tips and tricks, and practical advice on growing your business with WordPress.
• WPBeginner Solution Center: Are you wondering which plugin or tool to use? Our Solution Center is a curated collection of the best WordPress tools and plugins, thoroughly tested and reviewed by our team.
• WordPress Glossary: A dictionary of common WordPress terms explained for beginners. It is an ideal place for WordPress beginners to start and familiarize themselves with the WordPress lingo.

Need help with a specific WordPress topic? Simply type your question in Google and add “WPBeginner” at the end.

We have been publishing WordPress resources, tutorials, and how-to guides for the past 15+ years. There is a good chance we already have a step-by-step tutorial on that topic.

Alternative: Get Professional Help With Webflow Migration

Webflow is a closed proprietary platform, and it doesn’t make migrating your website to WordPress easy at all.

Following the steps in our tutorial above can be time-consuming and stressful for beginners. Even after following the steps, you may still not be able to get all your data transferred to WordPress.

A more straightforward solution would be to get professional WordPress help with the migration.

You can hire professional WordPress developers and discuss your requirements. Then, you can pay them by the hour to troubleshoot your migration issues.

For example, you could choose our Premium WordPress Support Services and contact our developers for on-demand migration assistance.

We also offer a quick site launch service where we design a completely custom and attractive WordPress website that fits your needs. You can then purchase a dev hours add-on, and our team can handle your Webflow migration as well.

If you have any questions about these services, then you can just chat with our support agent on our Website Design Services page.

We hope this article helped you migrate from Webflow to WordPress. You may also want to see our tutorial on how to get more traffic to your WordPress site or check out all the different ways to make money online with WordPress.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Migrate From Webflow to WordPress (Step by Step) first appeared on WPBeginner.

That’s why we recommend always having an up-to-date SSL certificate on your website.

And luckily, renewing an SSL certificate is easier than you might think. We’ve guided a lot of WordPress users through the SSL renewal process, and we are here to share our expert advice.

In this article, we will provide step-by-step instructions on how to renew an SSL certificate.

What Is an SSL Certificate, and Why Should You Renew It?

An SSL certificate acts like a digital passport for your website. It verifies the identity of your website and creates a secure connection between your web server and a user’s browser.

This encrypted connection makes sure that any data exchanged between the website and the user, such as login credentials or credit card information, stays confidential and secure.

Most SSL certificates expire after 1 or 2 years, depending on the type of certificate you are using and your certificate authority (CA). Some certificates lapse before that, like Let’s Encrypt, which expires after 90 days.

If you don’t renew your certificates, then users will see a security warning on their web browsers when they visit your site.

This could scare users away from your website, showing that it might not be safe to visit. As a result, your website traffic will decrease.

It will also negatively impact your WordPress SEO, as sites that have HTTPS have an advantage in search engine rankings over HTTP sites.

That’s why it’s best to renew your SSL certificate to keep your site secure and your visitors happy.

That said, let’s look at how you can renew a certificate for your WordPress site. We will show you 2 methods, and you can use the links below to jump to the method you want to use:

Method 1: Automatically Renew SSL Certificate From Hosting Provider

Most WordPress hosting providers offer a free SSL certificate when you purchase domain hosting. They’re usually automatically renewed when the time comes, and you’re also notified via email.

However, you can also manually renew them from your hosting service’s control panel.

For instance, in Bluehost, you can head to the ‘Renewal Center’ from the menu on the left.

After that, you can select the SSL certificate for your website.

Then, simply click the ‘Renew Now’ button to continue.

Next, complete the checkout process and renew your SSL certificate. You can also choose to renew it for more than one year.

Depending on your hosting provider, you can also renew SSL for your domain or set up auto-renewal.

Method 2: Manually Renew SSL Certificate for Your WordPress Site

You can also manually renew your SSL certificates and replace them when they expire.

The exact steps will vary depending on your SSL certificate provider, so it’s a good idea to check your provider’s documentation or contact support if needed.

We will go over the steps to renew your SSL certificate with Bluehost, but the general process should be the same regardless of which web hosting company you currently use.

Step 1: Generating a New Certificate Signing Request (CSR)

To get started, log in to your hosting provider.

From here, you can click on the ‘Settings’ option beneath your website.

After that, you can switch to the ‘Advanced’ tab and scroll down to the ‘cPanel’ section.

The cPanel is a place where you can manage your website and server settings, such as managing domain names, creating email accounts, and even manually renewing your SSL certificate.

Go ahead and click the ‘Manage’ button in the cPanel section.

Once you land in cPanel, you can head over to the Security section.

From here, look for the ‘SSL/TLS’ option and click on it.

On the next screen, you’ll need to click the link under ‘Certificate Signing Requests (CSR).’

A Certificate Signing Request (CSR) is a cryptographic file generated by a server or device that is used to apply for an SSL/TLS certificate.

When applying for an SSL/TLS certificate, the CSR is submitted to a Certificate Authority (CA), which verifies the information provided and issues the SSL certificate if the request is approved.

Here, you’ll be asked to enter the following information:

• Domain(s)
• City
• State
• Country
• Company

It’s also helpful to provide the email where you can be contacted for verification of domain ownership. You can even provide a passphrase, which is used to confirm the identity of the website owner.

Once the required fields are completed, click ‘Generate.’

You should see a success message that says that you’ve generated the Certificate Signing Request.

Below that, you should see a CSR, which is an encrypted block of text that includes information about your site that the CA needs to issue your new SSL certificate.

Make sure to copy this code and keep it handy because you’ll need it to renew your certificate.

Below that, you’ll also see a decoded version of the CSR that details information such as your domain name, organization name, and geographic location.

Step 2: Send Certificate Signing Request to Certificate Authority

Now that you’ve generated a Certificate Signing Request (CSR), the next step is to send it to your Certificate Authority (CA) to purchase the certificate.

Ensure that you send the ‘Encoded Certificate Signing Request’ to the authority of your choice.

There are many popular SSL certification authorities. Some of these include Let’s Encrypt, Google Trust Services, Sectigo, GeoTrust, DigiCert, and more.

You can now follow the steps and provide all the information requested by the CA to renew your SSL certificate.

Step 3: Complete SSL Certificate Validation

For your SSL certificate to be renewed and valid again, the CA will ask to confirm ownership of your domain.

The certificate authority can confirm your domain identity in multiple ways. The most common way is through email, where you can enter the email address associated with your domain.

Other ways might include DNS validation, which requires CNAME records. Or HTTP validation, where you’ll need to upload a file to the server you want to install SSL on.

Once the validation process is finalized and the certificate is renewed, you’ll get a file that will have a .crt extension (also called CRT file).

Step 4: Upload and Install New SSL Certificate

Next, you can upload and install the new SSL certificate on your website using cPanel.

For instance, in Bluehost, you’ll need to head to cPanel and go to the ‘SSL/TLS’ section.

From the panel on the right, navigate to the Certificates (CRT) section.

Now, click the ‘Generate, view, upload, or delete SSL certificates’ option.

Next, you can paste the certificate code in the text box or upload the CRT file that you received from the certificate authority.

There is also an option to add a description for your SSL certificate. Once that’s done, simply click the ‘Upload Certificate’ button.

Once it’s uploaded, you should see it under the Certificates in the Server section.

From here, simply click the ‘Install’ link for the SSL certificate you just uploaded.

Your new SSL certificate should now be active on your site after the installation process.

To check if it is working properly, you can visit multiple pages on your site and see if they have HTTPS in the URL.

We hope this article helped you learn how to renew an SSL certificate for your WordPress site. You may also want to see our ultimate WordPress security guide and our showcase of the best WordPress security plugins to protect your site.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Renew SSL Certificate (Step by Step for Beginners) first appeared on WPBeginner.