How to let people download files from my website

Author Info Last Updated: October 26, Give the file an appropriate name. The file name should not be too long since this will make the length of your download link longer. You should give a very basic idea of what the file is about in the file name so people will not feel suspicious when downloading it.

Do not use any spaces, punctuation marks or capital letters in the file name since these can not be used for the URL link that will be associated with the file. Upload the file onto your website server. This can be done exactly the same way that you use to upload other webpages to add them to your website. Make sure you upload it as a public file not a private file so other people are authorized to download it.

If someone tries to visit this URL, they will be automatically prompted to download the file that it hosts. Here are some methods that you can use to get the destination URL. If your website server offers a preview link, right-click on the preview link of your uploaded file and copy the link location. Add the complete file name including the file extension at the end of your domain URL.

Use the following code to create hyperlinked text that will allow people to download the file. Add the download link code within your website HTML where you want it to appear. Test the link by clicking on it through your website and using it to download the file.

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Download links are typically created for files such as MP3 audio or executive EXE files that need to be run through external players or programs. People do not usually add a download link for files such as JPG images or TXT text files since they can upload the file to be directly opened in most Internet browsers, making the process of downloading unnecessary. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0.

For more details, see our step by step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin. First you need to select where you want to display the PDF download option. Under the availability section, you can select whether you want downloads to be available for everyone or just registered users.

Next, click on the General tab to expand it. There you can select post types , file name formats, and other general settings. Under the button positioning section, you can select the button alignment and placement.

You can use the default button that comes with the plugin, or you can upload your own button image. You can add custom text, choose fonts, add custom CSS , etc. This allows you to add watermark on your PDF files to protect them from unauthorized distribution.

This plugin offers a comprehensive set of options. The default options would work for most websites, but you can review them and adjust them as needed. You can now visit any single post on your website, and you will see a PDF download icon. Clicking on it will start the PDF download.

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See how WPBeginner is funded , why it matters, and how you can support us. Trusted by over 1. Get FREE access to our toolkit — a collection of WordPress related products and resources that every professional should have! Hi, I would like to use it for growing email list for my website in a way like website visitors will have to provide their name and email address to download a post in pdf. Hello, thank you for this article.

Step 2: Configure Download Manager On activation, on the plugin page, you will see a notice like one below, click the link to finish the installation process.

We will work with the default settings. Step 3: Create downloads We are now ready to add downloads to our WordPress posts and pages. In the next page, you will need to add a bunch of information.

Supply a title for your download. Set your download options Add the file s to your download page. Add a short description for your file. Add your download to a relevant category and tag it right. Publish your page when you are done. Step 4: Create a download page If you need a single page to list all related downloads — a typical scenario is resource page — then create a new page.

On the right pane, Select the download file, version, and template. When you are done, you can now Publish your page. View the page to see your download. Conclusion With Download Monitor , you can easily create a download page for your website, just follow the steps above, and you will be fine.

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