How to Unpublish a Wix Site (Without Losing It)

Sometimes you need to take a site offline without losing it. You might be rebranding, rebuilding, pausing a project, or just not ready for people to see it yet. Wix lets you unpublish a site in a few clicks and bring it back whenever you like. Before you do, though, it's worth knowing what happens to your search rankings, and whether hiding the site would suit you better.

Unpublish your Wix site from the editor

1. Open your site in the Wix Editor.
2. Click Site in the top toolbar.
3. Click Unpublish Site.
4. Click Unpublish in the dashboard window that opens.
5. Click Unpublish again to confirm.

You can also unpublish from your site's dashboard. Wix notes that unpublishing is only possible on desktop, so you'll need a computer rather than your phone.

What happens when you unpublish

	After unpublishing
Visitors	See a Page Not Found error, even with the direct link
Your editor and content	Still there, ready to edit
Your domain and Premium plan	Not cancelled
Republishing	Possible any time

The SEO warning people miss

Here's the insight that matters if your site gets visitors from Google. Wix warns that if your site is unpublished for more than a few days, your SEO ranking may be affected. Search engines that find a missing site start dropping its pages, and climbing back can take time. So if your site already ranks, keep the offline period as short as you can, or consider the alternatives below.

Alternatives to unpublishing

What you want	Better option
Stop people finding it in Google	Hide the site from search engines
Hide one unfinished page	Hide the page from your menu
Rebuild without going offline	Edit and save without publishing
Get rid of it completely	Move the site to trash

Hide your site from search engines instead

1. Go to Search Engine Optimization (SEO) in your site's dashboard.
2. Select Go to SEO Settings.
3. Turn off the Let search engines index your site toggle.
4. Click Hide Site.

Your site stays live for anyone with the link, but Wix explains it won't be indexed. If it's already in Google, it takes some time to disappear.

Can I unpublish just one page?

No. Wix says unpublishing only works for the entire site. To keep a single page out of view, hide it from your site's menu, or set it so search engines don't index it.

Redesign without unpublishing

Many people unpublish while they redesign, but you don't need to. In Wix, changes you save in the editor don't go live until you click Publish. So you can rebuild your site in the editor while visitors keep seeing the current version, then publish the new design when it's ready. That avoids any SEO dip at all.

How to republish

1. Go to your site's editor.
2. Click Publish at the top right.
3. Click View Site to check it, if you like.
4. Click Done.

What about my domain and plan?

Unpublishing doesn't cancel anything you've set up. Wix confirms your domain and Premium plan stay in your account, and you can assign them to another site if you're moving on. If you no longer need them, cancel them separately in your account settings.

Before you take a business site offline

• Let regular customers know, especially if they book or buy through the site.
• Point people to your social profiles or email in the meantime.
• Note the date, so you don't leave it offline longer than planned.
• Check any links in your email signature, ads or social bios.

If you're unpublishing because you're moving platforms, plan the switch so your visitors and rankings follow you. My website migration tips cover the steps, and my guide to a successful website redesign helps if a fresh design is the goal.

How to check your site is offline

Wix says you can check your site's status on its dashboard, where an unpublished site shows a notification that it isn't live. For a second check, open your web address in a private browsing window. You should see a Page Not Found message rather than your site.

Unpublish or delete?

Unpublishing is temporary and keeps everything in place. Deleting moves the site to Trash, where it's permanently removed after a set period. If there's any chance you'll want the site again, unpublish it. You can always delete it later, but you can't undo a permanent deletion. For sites you're pausing while you work out what's next, unpublishing gives you breathing space without any risk of losing your work.

Use a holding message while you're offline

If customers are likely to look for you while the site is down, give them somewhere to go. Pin a post on your main social profile explaining you're updating your website and how to reach you in the meantime, and add a line to your email signature. It keeps enquiries coming in and stops people assuming you've closed.

My verdict

Open the editor, click Site, choose Unpublish Site and confirm. It's reversible, and your domain and plan stay put. But if your site ranks in Google, keep it offline for as little time as possible, or rebuild in the editor without publishing, which keeps your site live while you work.

Frequently asked questions

How do I unpublish my Wix site?

In the editor, click Site, choose Unpublish Site, then confirm by clicking Unpublish.

Can I unpublish a Wix site on my phone?

No. Wix says unpublishing is only possible on desktop.

Does unpublishing a Wix site cancel my domain?

No. Unpublishing doesn't cancel your domain or Premium plan.

Will unpublishing my Wix site hurt SEO?

Wix warns that being unpublished for more than a few days may affect your SEO ranking.

Can I unpublish a single page on Wix?

No. Unpublishing applies to the whole site, but you can hide individual pages from your menu.