Quick Start Tutorial

Updated Jan 26, 2026 Getting Started

Overview

Get up and running with WordPress Download Manager in under 10 minutes. This tutorial covers creating your first downloadable package and displaying it on your site.

Prerequisites

WordPress Download Manager installed and activated
At least one file ready to share as a download
Editor or Administrator access to your WordPress site

Quick Start

Create a new package at Downloads > Add New
Add title, description, and attach files
Publish the package
Display it using [wpdm_package id="X"] shortcode

Step 1: Create Your First Package

A package in WPDM is a downloadable item containing one or more files.

In your WordPress admin, go to Downloads > Add New
Enter a Title for your download (e.g., “Product Brochure”)
Add a Description in the editor explaining what the download contains

Adding Files to Your Package

In the Attach File meta box on the right:

Click Browse to select files from your computer
Or drag and drop files into the upload area
Multiple files can be attached to a single package

> Tip: For packages with multiple files, WPDM automatically creates a ZIP archive for download.

Setting a Featured Image

Add a visual preview for your download:

Find the Featured Image box in the sidebar
Click Set featured image
Upload or select an image from your media library

Step 2: Configure Basic Settings

Before publishing, set these essential options:

Package Settings Panel

Located below the main editor, the Package Settings panel contains tabs:

General Tab:

Version: Add a version number (e.g., “1.0”)
Link Label: Text shown on the download button (default: “Download”)

Icon Tab:

Choose a file type icon or upload a custom one

Access Control (Optional)

In the Access/Update Lock panel:

Allow Access: Select which user roles can download
Leave as “Everyone” for public downloads

Step 3: Publish Your Package

Review your package settings
Click the Publish button
Your package is now live

After publishing, note the Package ID shown in the URL or package list. You’ll need this to display the package.

Step 4: Display the Package

There are several ways to display your package on the front-end:

Using the Shortcode (Recommended)

Add this shortcode to any page, post, or widget:

[wpdm_package id="123"]

Replace 123 with your actual package ID.

Using Gutenberg Block

If you’re using the block editor:

Add a new block by clicking the + icon
Search for “WPDM” or “Download”
Select WPDM Package block
Choose your package from the dropdown

Using the Package URL

Each package has a dedicated page at:

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

Link directly to this URL for a full package page.

Step 5: Test Your Download

Verify everything works:

View your page with the shortcode (log out or use incognito for guest testing)
Click the download button
Confirm the file downloads correctly

Common Display Options

Different Templates

WPDM includes various display templates. Specify one with the template parameter:

[wpdm_package id="123" template="link-template-developer"]

Popular templates:

link-template-default – Simple download button
link-template-developer – Detailed with file info
link-template-flavor – Visual card style
link-template-flavor-developer – Card with details

Listing Multiple Packages

Display packages from a category:

[wpdm_packages category="software" items="10"]

Display all packages in a table:

[wpdm_all_packages]

Next Steps

Now that you’ve created your first package, explore these features:

Organize with Categories

Go to Downloads > Categories
Create categories like “Software”, “Documents”, “Media”
Assign packages to categories when editing

Add Download Protection

Protect your files with various lock types:

Edit your package
Find the Lock Options panel
Enable Password Lock, Email Lock, or other protection methods

Track Downloads

Monitor download activity:

Go to Downloads > Statistics
View download counts, popular packages, and user activity

Customize Appearance

Go to Downloads > Settings > User Interface
Adjust button styles, colors, and layout options

Quick Reference

Task	Location
Create package	Downloads > Add New
Manage packages	Downloads > All Packages
Categories	Downloads > Categories
Statistics	Downloads > Statistics
Settings	Downloads > Settings