What is Maintenance Mode?
Maintenance mode refers to a feature that allows store owners to make changes to their online store without affecting the live version. This mode indicates that the store is undergoing construction, updates, or improvements, and serves as a way to test new features and designs without disrupting the customer experience.
During maintenance mode, the store is not accessible to customers, providing the owner with an opportunity to work on their store without losing business. The maintenance mode is a convenient and risk-free solution for online store owners to make updates and improvements to their store before they are made live.
Maintenance Mode Use Cases
Whether you're in the process of setting up your online store or your eCommerce store is currently unavailable, you have the option to enable maintenance mode. Here are some common scenarios where maintenance mode is useful:
Uncertain impact: When you're unsure about how changes will affect your live online store.
Unclear timing: When you're unsure about when to make your online store live again.
Testing new features and design modifications: When you want to experiment with new functionalities or design changes.
Temporary pause or deletion: When you need to temporarily pause or delete your eCommerce store.
What is the Store Access Restriction?
Store access restriction refers to the ability to control who can access your store while it is in maintenance mode. This feature can be used to limit access to specific individuals or groups, such as employees, while the store is undergoing updates, improvements, or other changes.
Store access restriction is often used in conjunction with maintenance mode to ensure that changes can be made to the store without disrupting the customer experience.
eCommerce allows you to restrict who can access to your storefront - online store.
How to Put Your Online Store into Maintenance Mode and Restrict Access?
Log in to your eCommerce admin panel
Navigate to the Settings → General → Maintenance mode
Here, tick the "Close Storefront for maintenance" box to enable the maintenance mode.
Next, generate a password to give access to your storefront.
Done! You have successfully enabled maintenance mode and created a password to control access to your online store. To provide access to specific users, simply share the generated password with them. They can then use this password to visit your storefront while it is in maintenance mode.
Best Practices for Using Maintenance Mode
Planning Your Maintenance
- Schedule During Off-Hours: If possible, schedule maintenance during times when your store typically has low traffic.
- Estimate Maintenance Duration: Have a clear timeframe for how long your maintenance will take.
- Backup Before Changes: Always back up your store data before making significant changes.
- Testing Plan: Create a checklist of features to test after making changes.
Customizing the Maintenance Page
While eCommerce provides a default maintenance page, consider:
- Clear Communication: Explain that your store is temporarily unavailable for improvements.
- Expected Return: If possible, provide an estimate of when your store will be back online.
- Alternative Contact: Provide an email or phone number where customers can reach you.
- Brand Consistency: Ensure the maintenance page reflects your brand's visual identity.
Managing Access During Maintenance
- Password Security: Create a strong, unique password for access to your store during maintenance.
- Limited Sharing: Only share access with team members who need to view or test the store.
- Change Passwords: If you've provided temporary access, consider changing the password once maintenance is complete.
After Maintenance
- Thorough Testing: Before taking your store out of maintenance mode, thoroughly test all key functions:
- Navigation
- Product pages
- Shopping cart
- Checkout process
- Payment processing
- Mobile responsiveness
- Staged Return: Consider a soft launch to a limited audience before fully opening your store.
- Monitor Performance: Keep a close eye on your store's performance after maintenance to quickly catch any issues.
By following these best practices, you can ensure that your maintenance periods are efficient, minimally disruptive, and result in improvements that enhance your customers' shopping experience.