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Suspend and Unsuspend a Site ​

Suspending a site takes it offline for visitors without deleting anything. Your files, database and settings stay in your account, and you can unsuspend the site at any time to bring it back.

This is useful when you want a site out of public view for a while, for example while a client project is on hold.

Suspending does not pause billing

A suspended site keeps accruing usage charges, the same as when it is online. Only deleting the site stops the charges. If you no longer need the site, take a Snapshot and then delete the site instead.

Automated backups stop while a site is suspended

Suspended sites do not receive automated backups. Scheduled backups pick up again once the site is unsuspended.

Before You Begin ​

The Suspend Site option is available when:

  • The site is on a paid plan.
  • The site is active, not expired and not already suspended. An expired site cannot be suspended.

If you don't see the option, the site does not meet one of these conditions.

How to Suspend a Site ​

Step 1: Go to Sites and open the site you want to suspend.

Step 2: Open the Settings tab and scroll down to the Danger Zone section.

Step 3: Click Suspend Site.

The Suspend Site option in the Danger Zone of the site's Settings tab

Tip: You can also click the Suspend Site (pause) icon in the site header.

Step 4: Read the confirmation message and confirm. The dialog reminds you that the site will become inaccessible but can be unsuspended later, and that suspending does not pause billing.

The Suspend Site confirmation dialog

You'll see a message that the suspension has started, and the site shows a Suspended badge in the dashboard. The suspension itself runs in the background, so the site can take up to a minute or so to go offline.

A suspended site in the dashboard, with the Suspended badge and the Unsuspend Site icon highlighted

What Happens While a Site Is Suspended ​

  • Visitors can't reach the site. Instead of your site, they see a page saying the site is currently suspended. It stays that way until you unsuspend it.
  • Your data is kept. Files, the database and your InstaWP settings for the site are not removed.
  • Billing continues. Usage charges keep accruing for as long as the site exists.
  • Automated backups stop until the site is unsuspended.

How to Unsuspend a Site ​

Step 1: Go to Sites and open the suspended site.

Step 2: Click the Unsuspend Site (play) icon in the site header, next to Magic Login.

Step 3: Click Confirm. The site will become accessible again.

The Unsuspend Site confirmation dialog

Unsuspending also runs in the background, so the site is not back instantly. It usually comes back online within about a minute of confirming. If it is still unreachable after a few minutes, contact support.

You can follow both steps in the site's Activity Log, which records Site Suspended, Site Unsuspend Requested and, once the site is back online, Site Unsuspended.

FAQs ​

Does suspending a site stop charges? ​

No. Suspending only takes the site offline. Usage charges continue while the site is suspended. To stop charges, delete the site.

My site shows as suspended, but I didn't suspend it. Why? ​

A site can also be suspended for other reasons, such as expiry or an exhausted disk quota. These suspensions can't be reversed with the Unsuspend Site button. See Why does my InstaWP site show up as suspended? or contact support.

Are my backups kept while the site is suspended? ​

Existing backups are not affected, but no new automated backups are taken until you unsuspend the site.

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