Title: Serious issue when Enabled
Last modified: February 14, 2017

---

# Serious issue when Enabled

 *  Resolved [esemlabel](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esemlabel/)
 * (@esemlabel)
 * [9 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/serious-issue-when-enabled/)
 * Hi there,
 * The main reason I use “lj maintenance mode” is for updating active theme files.
   
   But after enabling Maintenance Mode, the message page with 503 status appears
   only if a folder of the active theme exist on server. So when enabling 503 and
   delete active theme folder after that, the empty page with status code 200 will
   appear instead of 503, until the new revision of theme is finished copying, for
   example via ftp.
 * I think the maintenance page shouldn’t be dependent on existing of plugin’ or
   theme’s files at all, because mostly Maintenance Mode is enabled to update something
   like themes or plugin.
 * Thanks!

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

 *  Plugin Author [Lukas Juhas](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lukasneptun/)
 * (@lukasneptun)
 * [9 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/serious-issue-when-enabled/#post-8802964)
 * Hi there,
 * The plugin itself is not dependant on the theme, it’s a standalone plugin which
   uses core WordPress function so I don’t think this has something to do with the
   plugin.
 * It would probably worth trying this with different maintenance plugins as I think
   the same problem will occur just because WordPress is dependant on the theme 
   etc.
 * I fear that this is something I cannot control via plugin but I’m welcome to 
   suggestions.
 * At the end, is it worth developing a solution for a few seconds, maybe couple
   of minutes while new files get’s uploaded?
 * Wordpress handles updates by placing a “.maintenance” file in the root which 
   then gives you the message “briefly unavailable for maintenance” but of course
   that applies only for updates – not whilst copying files.
 * I would be more than happy if anyone has a good and simple idea of a workaround,
   otherwise I don’t think I can do much.
 * I hope that helps at least a bit.
 * Lukas
 *  Thread Starter [esemlabel](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esemlabel/)
 * (@esemlabel)
 * [9 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/serious-issue-when-enabled/#post-8803151)
 * Maybe you can use one of these solutions?
 * 1. The plugin can change the active theme to any temporary one with just a single
   empty index.php in it on a fly when enabling, and reactivate main theme when 
   disabling maintenance. BUT it is not a good idea since many themes do a lot on‘
   after_switch_theme’ hook. Unless you can bypass all main theme functions that
   uses this or similar hooks, grab their names – then temporary remove_action in
   foreach() when restoring main theme.
 * 2. Generate a copy of maintenance page from its settings page into /wp-content/
   maintenance.php file (delete on plugin deactivating). The WP will use this file
   not only when plugin’s maintenance mode is enabled, but for its plugins and core
   updates too, instead of boring ‘Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance.
   Check back in a minute.’ message. One more thing you need is creat .maintenance
   file with `<?php $upgrading = time(); ?>` in it, and delete on disabling maintenance
   mode. But remember to recreat .maintenance file on load if it was deleted after
   core or any other wp updates has finished, if ‘ljmm-enabled’ is still enabled.
   After creating /wp-content/maintenance.php file you will see active Drop-in on
   plugins page:
 * I prefer the 2 one, it looks more simple and fast.
 *  Plugin Author [Lukas Juhas](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lukasneptun/)
 * (@lukasneptun)
 * [9 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/serious-issue-when-enabled/#post-8803298)
 * Hi,
 * Thanks for your suggestions, I’m gonna look in to this but I cannot promise anything
   until I investigate further.
 * I can see where you getting at lookin at the [code in the core](https://github.com/WordPress/WordPress/blob/bdf608745086893f44b0abed7b44b233e35bacbb/wp-includes/load.php#L175-L228).
 * I’m gonna [“move” this over to github](https://github.com/lukasjuhas/lj-maintenance-mode/issues/30)
   and mark this here as resolved but If I’ll come up with solution I’m gonna let
   you know but this might take a bit of time as I need to spare time for this.
 * My main concern is that many times there might be problems with folder permissions–
   e.g. cannot create a file etc. but of course that can be handled with a fallback.
 * Thanks again!
 * Lukas

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

The topic ‘Serious issue when Enabled’ is closed to new replies.

 * ![](https://s.w.org/plugins/geopattern-icon/lj-maintenance-mode_c05e6b.svg)
 * [Maintenance Mode](https://wordpress.org/plugins/lj-maintenance-mode/)
 * [Frequently Asked Questions](https://wordpress.org/plugins/lj-maintenance-mode/#faq)
 * [Support Threads](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/lj-maintenance-mode/)
 * [Active Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/lj-maintenance-mode/active/)
 * [Unresolved Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/lj-maintenance-mode/unresolved/)
 * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/lj-maintenance-mode/reviews/)

 * 3 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [Lukas Juhas](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lukasneptun/)
 * Last activity: [9 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/serious-issue-when-enabled/#post-8803298)
 * Status: resolved