Use maintenance mode only as one part of a safe release
A database migration changes a column while requests still use the old shape. Maintenance mode can reduce exposure during a short incompatible release, but it is not a substitute for backups, a rollback plan, or compatible schema changes.
Know how you will bring the site back
php artisan down
# Apply the reviewed release and required checks.
php artisan up
These commands affect availability. Use them as part of a deliberate deployment procedure, not as a casual debugging step on a live store. Keep the recovery command available even if the new application fails to boot.
Prefer compatible transitions where practical
Adding a nullable column, deploying code that understands both shapes, backfilling safely, and only later removing the old field can avoid a long maintenance window. The exact sequence depends on data size and application behavior.
Queued jobs and cron tasks also interact with the release. Check how maintenance mode affects your workers and scheduled commands, and avoid a migration racing against an old worker still writing the old format.
Test the release on a representative copy before production. Verify the homepage, a database-backed page, and an authenticated create/edit path after deployment. A successful migration command does not prove templates compile or that a no-dev dependency install contains every function used by a view. Keep the previous release and a targeted database recovery plan until the important paths pass.