---
title: "“Error: Could not load language common/maintenance!” in OpenCart 1.5"
description: "When working with OpenCart, or any program, there is always the possibility for errors to occur. This article describes a particular error in OpenCart that occurs when placing the OpenCart site into..."
url: https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/opencart/common-maintenance-error-opencart/
date: 2013-03-01
modified: 2021-08-16
author: "Scott Mitchell"
categories: ["OpenCart"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# “Error: Could not load language common/maintenance!” in OpenCart 1.5

When working with OpenCart, or any program, there is always the possibility for errors to occur. This article describes a particular error in OpenCart that occurs when [placing the OpenCart site into maintenance mode](/support/edu/opencart/enabling-maintenance-mode-in-opencart/) due to a missing *maintenance.php* file. This results in a blank screen with “*Error: Could not load language common/maintenance!*” at the top, provided you have the [display error message feature enabled](/support/edu/opencart/316-working-with-error-reporting-in-opencart/). Follow the instructions below as we guide you on how to fix this error in your OpenCart 1.5 store.

## Could not load language common/maintenance! Error

1. [Log into your cPanel](/support/edu/cpanel/how-to-log-into-cpanel/).
2. From the main cPanel area, look for and [open the **File Manager** tool](/support/edu/cpanel/using-file-manager-in-cpanel/).
3. Navigate to your OpenCart program’s root folder. For most, this will be the *public_html* folder. If you are using a subfolder (*example.com/shop*) you would need to enter that folder (*public_html/shop*).
4. Now that you are in the root folder, we must navigate to the folder where the missing file needs to be included. This is under the **catalog/language/english/common** folder. *Note: if you are using a language other than english, then be sure to use the apporpriately named folder for that language.*
5. Once inside the folder, you should notice there is no **maintenance.php** file. We will need to create one. Click on the **New File** button from the toolbar at the top of the screen.
6. Name the new file **maintenance.php** and click on the **Create New File** button.
7. The screen will refresh and you will see the file in the folder. Highlight the file and [open it for editing](/support/website/how-to-edit-a-file/).
8. Now that you are in the file editor, copy and paste the following code in it to create a default maintenance page. <?php// Heading$_[‘heading_title’]    = ‘Maintenance’; // Text$_[‘text_maintenance’] = ‘Maintenance’;$_[‘text_message’]     = ‘<h1 style=”text-align:center;”>We are currently performing some scheduled maintenance. <br/>We will be back as soon as possible. Please check back soon.</h1>’;?>
9. Click the **Save Changes** button in the upper right to save the new file content. Now, your maintenance mode should display properly instead of getting the “Error: Could not load language common/maintenance!” message.