Taking a WordPress site offline: how to do it

Taking a WordPress site offline requires precision – whether it’s for a quick maintenance or a permanent shutdown.

Taking a WordPress site offline: temporary solutions

Taking a WordPress site offline is fairly easy, but a site doesn’t always need to disappear permanently. Use these methods to block access temporarily without risking data.

• Use maintenance mode plugins: Install WP Maintenance Mode or SeedProd. Activate the plugin, design a custom page with a countdown or contact form and restrict access to certain user roles. Example: In SeedProd, select a template, customize texts and activate the mode with one click – visitors will immediately see the lock page.

• Manual maintenance mode via.maintenance file: In the root directory of your WordPress installation, create a file called.maintenance. Insert this code: The page will now display a standard message. Delete the file when you are finished.

• htaccess advanced directives: Open the.htaccess file in the root folder. Insert the following lines: Copy, then Order deny,allow Deny from all. Note: Allow exceptions for your IP address to continue to have access: Allow from 123.45.67.89

• Don’t forget to delete the.maintenance file after updates – otherwise the site will remain blocked.

• Always test changes to the.htaccess locally first to avoid server errors.

Take your WordPress site offline permanently

If you no longer need a website, a plugin is not enough. This is about complete deletion and hosting cancellations.

• Create a backup: Back up all files via FTP (e.g. with FileZilla) and export the database via phpMyAdmin. Tools like UpdraftPlus automate this process.

• Delete files and database: Connect to the server via FTP. Delete all folders in the root directory (e.g. public_html). Open the hosting panel (cPanel/Plesk) and remove the MySQL database.

• Cancel domain and hosting: Log in to the hosting provider, cancel the package and deactivate the auto-renewal. For domains: Transfer them or let them expire.

• Remove Google Visibility: Use the Google Search Console to delete the page from the index. This way you avoid orphaned search results.

• Check legal obligations: Delete stored customer data in accordance with the GDPR and inform newsletter subscribers about the closure.