There are already a lot of WordPress download management plugins out there. Download Manager, Download Monitor, Simple Download Monitor is a popular plugin.
I have also used these plugins, but some had too many functions and were complicated, some were difficult to use, and some were missing, so I couldn’t find the right one.
Therefore, we created a simple, easy-to-use, and light download plugin.
Simple Download with password
Feature
Here are the main features of this plugin
- Password protect all downloaded files
- Generating shortcodes and URLs for downloads
- Flexible password skip functionality
- Allow uploading of all file types (site administrators only)
Compared to popular plugins, there are some features that are not supported. However, we have implemented it in a well-balanced manner from the perspective of whether the function is really necessary and whether it will work more smoothly without it.
Therefore, the following features found in popular download plugins are not available.
- Display download count
- Various download button style templates
- Download restrictions for specific IPs
- Download files from external storage sites
- Multipart download function
I think there are many people who would like to display the number of downloads, but it is not compatible with page caching, etc., and implementing that function would impose an extra load and slow down the page display speed, so it is not supported. However, you can check the number of downloads for a specified period from the log display page on the management screen.
Regarding styling, currently block editors are often used, so the idea is that as long as you generate the download URL, you can use Button blocks and link functions without providing a template with a plugin. When using shortcodes, you can freely customize the default button style using filter hooks.
Also, there are no download restrictions based on IP, but all downloads are password protected, so there is no problem, and downloads are automatically restricted against bots etc.
Install
Download
You can download it from the official website!
Simple Download with password
WordPress.orgYou can install the downloaded zip file by uploading the plugin on Plugins page – Add New.
Alternatively, you can search for and install Simple Download with password (plugin slug is celtis-simple-download) in PlugIns – Add New.
Required Environ
- WordPress 6.2 or higher
- PHP version 7.4 or higher
- PHP sqlite3 module (used for logging)
Usage
Before registering a download file, you need to decide on the endpoint name for the download URL link. If you want to change from the default dl, please change the endpoint name in the extension option and then register the download file.
Extended Option
This is a common option throughout
No changes are required for general usage, but please update the settings as necessary.
Download links endpoint
Set the endpoint name of the download URL
If the endpoint is set to dl, the URL will be as follows
eg. https://example.com/dl/xxxxx
Renaming the endpoint changes all download link URLs. Please note that if there is a download URL that has already been published, the link will be broken.
Password skip by refere
You can skip the password for downloads from specific pages on your site.
For example, you can use this if you sell digital products and want the download link on the checkout page to skip the password.
Prevent downloads from domain
Prevents downloads from external website web pages
As a countermeasure against download links posted on other sites without permission and unauthorized downloads from there, you can prevent downloads from there by registering the domain URL of that site.
Unfilter Upload file types
The file upload feature in WordPress’ Media Library limits the types of files you can upload. The original purpose is to upload images, videos, audio, PDFs, etc. and display them on the site, so security measures such as restricting file types are desirable features, but as a download management plugin for distributing files. It may be better not to limit the types of files you upload.
You can remove upload file type restrictions for site administrators.
This allows site administrators to register file types that cannot normally be uploaded.
Download file registration
Click Add New button to register the download file.
Name
Set the slug name for the download URL
This slug name will be the name that follows the endpoint name in the download URL.
eg. Download URL for slug name test. https://example.com/dl/test/
The only characters that can be used are half-width alphanumeric characters, hyphens, and underscores. Additionally, if a slug name with the same name has already been registered, the slug name on the generated URL will be automatically appended with a unique number such as test-1.
Summary
Set the outline of the file to be registered
Register file
Click Select File button to upload the file you want to register
About upload folders
The media uploader’s upload destination is usually wp-content/uploads folder, but file uploads from this registration screen will be in wp-content/uploads/celtis-simple-download subfolder.
Access to the celtis-simple-download folder is restricted using the htaccess file to prevent direct file downloads. However, if you are using Nginx etc. on your server, you may not be able to restrict access using htaccess, so please contact your hosting service or server administrator.
About image files
The image file uploaded from this registration screen will not be minify resized by the WordPress core even if it is a large image, and the original uploaded image will be registered ( download file is original image).
About upload file size
If you want to increase the file upload size limit, you will need to change settings such as php.ini, so please contact your hosting service or server administrator.
Password
To register a download file, you must set a password.
To publish the download URL, please set a password and activate.
Password skip by user
Downloading basically requires a password, but password entry can be skipped depending on the capabilities of the logged-in user for each downloaded file.
Depending on the Capabilities that a logged-in user has on a membership site, etc., you can download the file without entering a password. See here for Capabilities.
Publication of Download URL
When you display a list of all download files you have registered, Shortcode and Download URL will be displayed, so copy them and include them in your post or email.
To download from your own site’s post page, paste the shortcode ［celtisdl_download id="xxx"］in the content.
The style of the download button displayed with the shortcode can be customized using filter hooks.apply_filters( 'celtisdl_download_button_custom', $html, $post )
Also, if you are using a block editor, you can also set the download URL to a link such as Button block.
If sending by email, please include the download URL and password in the email.
Publication to general users
If you want to make it available to many general users, please write the password under the download button so that anyone can download it.
Password and execute download
When the download URL link is clicked, a password entry screen like the one below will be displayed.
If the entered passwords match, the file will be downloaded.
Password form can be customized with filter hooks
Please use it when you want to add a consent message or display an advertisement.apply_filters( 'celtisdl_password_form_custom', $output, $post )
About displaying PDF files, etc.
Normally, only the registered file is downloaded, but if it is a PDF file, it may be displayed in the browser. For example, if you use the Firefox browser, check the file type and handling method in the settings, and if Portable Document Format (PDF) is set to Open in Firefox, the PDF will be displayed in a separate tab. Chrome may also display automatically with similar settings. This is done by browser settings, so it is difficult to avoid on the plugin side.
Download Log
This plugin uses SQLite to store download logs. Please note that the logging function will be disabled on servers where SQLite cannot be used.
By using the log function, you can check popular downloads during a specified period, when and where downloads were made (with or without referrers), etc.
Recommended add-on
Thank you for using the WordPress plugin Simple Download with password.
We need your help to continue developing and supporting plugins.
If you like Simple Download with password, please consider purchasing the add-on.
Add-on allows you to use passwords with expiration dates.
When the add-on is activated, Key mark will be displayed after password in the download list, so click on the Key mark to generate password with expiration date.
Clicking it will display a dialog where you can specify an expiration date and generate password.
The generated password will be valid for the specified period from the time it is generated.
In addition, if you use this short code in emails that are automatically sent at checkout when selling digital products, etc., it is possible to send an email with a password that is valid for a specified period from the sale.
Password Utility Option settings
Here we will briefly introduce how to send a password with an expiration date.
In addition, the password utility settings include settings for analyzing passwords with an expiration date and forcibly disabling passwords with an expiration date, so please use them to prevent unauthorized access.
Accept Stripe Payments plugin
Accept Stripe Payments plugin, which is also used on this site, supports the ability to add a password with expiration date to the email sent at the time of sale.
Stripe Payments Plugin Documentation – Payments Plugin for Stripe
Payments Plugin for StripeIf you enable Utility for Accept Stripe Payments option, Add information to the email to buyers field will be added to Edit Product page, so you can add information to the email sent to customers who have made a purchase.
If you enter the shortcode celtisdl_exppw (specify the download registration ID in id and the expiration date in minute) in the settings field, you will be able to notify the user of a password with an expiration date by email.
For example, if the download registration ID is 6857 and the validity period is 30 days, the shortcode will be , the shortcode will be executed when sending an email, and a password valid for 30 days will be generated.
To include the information set on Edit Product page in the email, you need to add the {information} tag in the content of Buyer Email Body in Email Settings in Settings of the Accept Stripe payments plugin.
Please add {information} to the next line of the default {product_details} tag.
When sending an email, information about product will be inserted in the {information} section.
WooCommerce plugin
WooCommerce
WordPress.orgSimilarly, in WooCommerce, a setting field for adding information to outgoing emails will be added to the product editing page, so it will be possible to add information such as passwords to the outgoing emails to customers at the time of sales.
The download URL generated by WooCommerce is highly functional and allows you to set expiration dates, etc. However, if you want to password protect the download, you can do so by setting Simple Download with password download URL to the product download URL.
When executing the download, when you execute the download URL generated by WooCommerce, you will be redirected to the download URL with password , and you will be required to enter the password.
Buy and Download
How to purchase
- When you click the Pay Now , a dialog will appear where you can enter your email address and credit card information.
- After entering your credit card (Visa/Mastercard/American Express) information, click on the Payment button and your payment will be processed.
- After the payment is completed, you will be directed to the checkout screen and a download link will appear.
- You will receive a download password that is valid for one year at the email address you entered, so keep it in a safe place!
- Due to the nature of digital products, we do not accept cancellations/refunds/returns after purchase. Thank you for your understanding.
- Payments are processed by Stripe and no credit card information is stored on our site.
Send your purchase information to your email address. Please use the same email address you usually use.
Addon Update
For one year after purchase, you can download and update the latest version below.
Simple Download with password Addon Version 1.1.0
When you click on the download button, a password entry page will appear, so please enter the password that was sent to you in the email you received when you purchased and download it.
When you enter your password, the download will start automatically.
If you have any questions, please contact us by email with the transaction ID at the time of purchase.
Benefits! We are currently providing the following plugins to those who purchase Addon.
This is a manager for information notification and updates for WordPress themes and plugins that are not registered in the official WordPress repository.
Please see the page below for details.
WordPress Plugin : Theme & Plugin Info updater
セルティスラボDisclaimer
The author is not responsible for any damage caused by the use of this software, so please use it at your own risk.
Log
2024-4-1 Ver0.6.0 Corrected the issue where setting WooCommerce product download URL was not working.
2024-3-16 Ver0.5.2 release