Written by Admin on 2025-05-06

How to Restrict Downloading on WordPress to Logged-In Users Only

If you run a WordPress website and want to control who can download files from it, you're in the right place. In this article, we will guide you through the process of restricting access to downloads on your WordPress site to those who are logged in.

Why Restrict Downloads on a WordPress Site?

There are several reasons why you might want to restrict downloads on your WordPress site. For instance:

• You want to make sure only registered users can download your premium content,
• You want to build your email list by requiring users to sign up to download a free e-book or white paper, or
• You want to prevent bots or hackers from scraping your content.

Whatever your reason may be, the good news is that WordPress makes it easy to restrict downloads to logged-in users with just a few clicks.

Steps to Restrict Download Access on WordPress

Follow these simple steps to restrict access to file downloads on your WordPress site:

Step 1: Install and Activate the Download Monitor Plugin

The Download Monitor plugin is a popular WordPress plugin that enables you to manage file downloads for your site. If you haven't installed it yet, go to your WordPress dashboard and click on Plugins > Add New, then search for "Download Monitor." Click "Install Now" and "Activate" to start using the plugin.

Step 2: Create a Download Category

Next, you'll need to create a download category to which you can assign your files. To do so, go to Downloads > Categories in your WordPress dashboard. Give your category a name, slug, and description, then click "Add New Download Category."

Step 3: Add Downloads to the Category

Now that you have a category for your downloads, you can add files to it. To do so, go to Downloads > Add New in your WordPress dashboard. Give your download a title, select the category you just created, and upload your file. Once done, click "Publish."

Step 4: Set Download Restrictions

By default, the Download Monitor plugin allows anyone to download your files. To restrict access to logged-in users only, go to Downloads > Settings > Access Control in your WordPress dashboard. Tick the box that says "Restrict Access to Downloads to Logged-in Users" and click "Save Changes."

Step 5: Test Your Restrictions

Finally, you'll want to test your download restrictions to make sure they work as expected. To do so, log out of your WordPress account and try to download one of your files. You should now be prompted to log in before you can access the file.

And that's all it takes to restrict downloads on your WordPress site to logged-in users only!

Conclusion

If you want to control who can access your file downloads on your WordPress site, it's easy to do so with the Download Monitor plugin. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can ensure only registered users or subscribers can download your files, which can help you build your email list, protect your content from bots, and generate more leads for your business.