How to Unpublish Your Website on Wix
If you need to take your Wix website offline completely—whether for maintenance, redesign, or other reasons—you can unpublish it. This process ensures that your website is no longer accessible to visitors but remains in your Wix account for future use. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to unpublish your website safely and effectively.
Step 1: Log In to Your Wix Account
Visit Wix.com and log in to your account:
Enter your email address and password.
Alternatively, use a connected Google/Facebook account.
Once logged in, navigate to your dashboard.
Step 2: Select the Website to Unpublish
On the Wix dashboard:
Locate the site you want to unpublish.
If you manage multiple sites, select the correct one from the list.
Click Site Actions next to your website.
Step 3: Access the Publishing Settings
To begin the unpublishing process:
From the Site Actions menu, select Edit Site to open the Wix Editor.
Once the editor is fully loaded, go to the top menu bar and click Settings.
Select Website Settings from the dropdown.
Step 4: Unpublish the Site
In the Website Settings:
Scroll down to find the Site Status section.
Click the Unpublish button.
Confirm your choice in the pop-up notification by clicking Unpublish again.
Your website is now offline and will no longer be visible to visitors. However, all your site’s content remains saved in your Wix account.
Step 5: Inform Your Audience (Optional)
If the website was live and visitors regularly accessed it, inform them about your decision:
Use your social media channels to share updates.
Send an email newsletter to your subscribers.
Provide a brief explanation and timeline for when the site might return, if applicable.
Step 6: Continue Editing in Private
Although your site is unpublished, you can continue editing it in the Wix Editor without interruptions. Once your updates are complete:
Return to the Website Settings page.
Click Publish to make your site live again.
Step 7: Consider Alternatives During Downtime
If completely unpublishing isn’t ideal, you can use these alternatives:
Add a Maintenance Mode Page: Create a "Coming Soon" or "Maintenance" page and set it as your homepage.
Password Protect the Site: Restrict access by enabling password protection in your site’s settings.
Redirect Traffic: Redirect visitors to another domain or page temporarily.
FAQs About Unpublishing a Wix Website
1. Will my content be deleted when I unpublish my site? No, unpublishing your site doesn’t delete any content. Everything remains intact in your Wix account.
2. Can I republish the website later? Yes, you can republish your site at any time by clicking the Publish button in the Wix Editor.
3. What happens to my domain? If you’ve connected a custom domain to your Wix site, it will remain associated with your account but won’t display a live website until you republish.
4. Do search engines still list my site? Unpublished sites may still appear in search results for a short time. However, visitors won’t be able to access the content.
Unpublishing your Wix website is a straightforward process that allows you to take your site offline without losing any of your hard work. Whether it’s a temporary measure or part of a long-term strategy, Wix gives you full control to manage your site’s visibility. Follow the steps outlined here to ensure a smooth transition and maintain a professional online presence, even when your site is offline.
Hope this article helped you! If you need help with web design and need a specialist don't hesitate to give us a call at Emerald Sky Group.
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