Creating Packages

Updated Jan 26, 2026 Packages Management

Overview

A package is the fundamental content type in WordPress Download Manager. Each package represents a downloadable item containing one or more files, with settings for access control, display, and tracking.

Prerequisites

WordPress Download Manager installed and activated
Editor or Administrator user role
Files ready for upload

Quick Start

Go to Downloads > Add New
Enter title and description
Attach files using the file browser
Configure access settings
Click Publish

Creating a New Package

Step 1: Access the Package Editor

Navigate to Downloads > Add New in your WordPress admin.

The package editor has several sections:

Title & Content Area: Standard WordPress editor for title and description
Package Settings: Tabbed panel for configuration options
Attach File: File upload and attachment area
Sidebar: Categories, tags, featured image, and publish settings

Step 2: Enter Package Details

Title

Enter a descriptive title for your download. This appears:

In package listings and search results
As the page title on the package’s dedicated page
In shortcode displays

Description

Use the content editor to add:

Detailed description of the download contents
Installation or usage instructions
System requirements
Changelog or version history

You can use all WordPress editor features including:

Formatting (headings, lists, bold, italic)
Media (images, videos)
Gutenberg blocks
Custom HTML

Step 3: Attach Files

The Attach File panel is where you add downloadable files.

Upload Methods

Browser Upload:

Click Browse button
Select one or more files from your computer
Wait for upload to complete
Files appear in the attached files list

Drag and Drop:

Drag files from your file manager
Drop them onto the upload area
Files upload automatically

Server Browser:

Click Server File Browser
Navigate to files already on your server
Select files to attach

Remote URL:

Click Add URL or Remote File
Enter the direct URL to the file
File will be downloaded when users request it

Managing Attached Files

Once files are attached, you can:

Reorder: Drag files to change their order
Remove: Click the X or delete icon to detach a file
Edit Details: Click on file name to edit individual file settings
Preview: Click the preview icon for viewable file types

Multiple Files

When multiple files are attached:

Users download a single ZIP archive containing all files
Individual file downloads can be enabled in settings
File order determines order in ZIP

Step 4: Configure Package Settings

The Package Settings panel contains configuration tabs:

General Tab

Setting	Description
Version	Package version number (e.g., “2.1.0”)
Link Label	Text for download button (default: “Download”)
Download Limit	Maximum downloads per package
View Limit	Maximum page views before hiding
Quota	Total bandwidth allowed for this package

Icon Tab

Choose how the package icon appears:

File Type Icon: Automatic icon based on file extension
Featured Image: Use the package’s featured image
Custom Icon: Upload a specific icon image
Icon Selection: Choose from built-in icon library

Version Tab

Track version history:

Current Version: The version number shown to users
Changelog: Record of changes per version
Previous Versions: Keep older versions available

XDL Tab (Cross-Domain Links)

Configure remote/CDN file delivery:

File URL: External URL for the file
Mirror URLs: Additional download locations

Step 5: Set Access Control

The Access/Update Lock panel controls who can download.

Allow Access

Select user roles that can download:

Everyone: No login required (public)
All Members: Any logged-in user
Specific Roles: Choose Administrator, Editor, Subscriber, etc.
Specific Users: Name individual users

Lock Options

Add protection layers:

Password Lock: Require password to download
Email Lock: Collect email before download
Social Lock: Require social share/follow
CAPTCHA Lock: Verify human visitor
Terms Lock: Require acceptance of terms

See Download Protection for detailed lock configuration.

Step 6: Categorize and Tag

Step 7: Add Featured Image

Find the Featured Image panel in the sidebar
Click Set featured image
Upload or select an image

The featured image displays in:

Package listings and grids
Social share previews
Some package templates

Recommended size: 800x600px or larger

Step 8: Publish

When ready:

Review all settings
Set the Publish date (optional for scheduling)
Click Publish (or Schedule for future publishing)

Package Editor Options

Excerpt

Add a short description for listings and previews:

Scroll to the Excerpt panel
Enter 2-3 sentences summarizing the package
This appears in category listings and search results

Custom Fields

Add custom metadata:

Go to Package Settings > Additional Meta
Add key-value pairs for custom information
Access these in templates using template tags

SEO Settings

If using Yoast SEO or similar:

Scroll to the SEO panel
Set custom meta title and description
Configure social sharing previews

Bulk Package Creation

Import from CSV

For multiple packages:

Go to Downloads > Tools > Import
Upload a CSV file with package data
Map columns to package fields
Run the import

CSV columns: title, description, file_url, category, version, access_level

Duplicate Package

To copy an existing package:

Go to Downloads > All Packages
Hover over a package
Click Duplicate
Edit the copy and publish

Managing Packages

Edit Package

Go to Downloads > All Packages
Click on the package title
Or hover and click Edit

Delete Package

Go to Downloads > All Packages
Hover over the package
Click Trash

Trashed packages can be restored within 30 days.

Quick Edit

For rapid changes:

Hover over a package in the list
Click Quick Edit
Modify title, categories, or status
Click Update

Bulk Actions

Select multiple packages for bulk operations:

Trash: Move selected to trash
Edit: Bulk edit categories or status
Export: Export selected packages

Displaying Packages

Shortcode

[wpdm_package id="123"]

Direct Link

Each package has a URL:

https://yoursite.com/download/package-slug/

In Templates

Use template tags in custom templates:

Troubleshooting

File Upload Fails

Cause: File size exceeds PHP limits

Solution: Increase in php.ini:

upload_max_filesize = 256M
post_max_size = 256M

Package Shows No Download Button

Cause: No files attached or access restricted

Solution:

Verify files are attached in the package editor
Check access settings allow the current user

Package Page Returns 404

Cause: Permalinks need refresh

Solution: Visit Settings > Permalinks and click Save Changes