How to secure the URLs of PDFs in WordPress directory but not in Media Center

in Download Manager Free

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
Oct 14, 2025 at 4:41 am
#209016
Participant
Glenn Watson
OP

How do I use Download Manager to protect PDFs on the WordPress server that are not loaded via the Media Center or through your plugin?

We are trying to sell PDFs via email links within the site’s WooCommerce product emails and confirmations. The PDFs are of 120-page print magazines so they are quite large, varying in size from 35MB to 200MB. Via the host’s Plesk file manager I have uploaded a series of these into directories within the WordPress root directory (and I see your maximum upload size in the free version is 20MB).

I have successfully used your plugin to password-protect one of these PDFs from site users but at the moment I can still access the file simply by typing in its URL. I need to prevent anyone from getting at the PDF from both inside and outside the WordPress site. Can WP Download Manager do this?

Thanks

Oct 14, 2025 at 5:05 am
#209017
Moderator
Nayeem Riddhi
Staff

Hello Glenn Watson,

Hope you are well. You can use Email lock for protecting also sending download link via email, you can check details of other locks here too, https://www.wpdownloadmanager.com/doc/add-new-package/lock-options.

You can also keepDownload Link Expiration Period from settings for more protected. And you can keep attach file directly with your file/package not attaching media or other service storage files, then by URL they can’t be accessed.

For selling products you can use our this add-on, it is free, https://www.wpdownloadmanager.com/download/premium-package-wordpress-digital-store-solution/. It has also comprehensive features. Please kindly check here.

And we don’t limit upload size, what you are seeing it is coming from info. from server. you can adjust upload size from your settings or server as per your needs. Please kindly check.

Thank you

Oct 17, 2025 at 10:18 pm
#209069
Participant
Glenn Watson
OP

Hi Nayeem

“And you can keep attach file directly with your file/package not attaching media or other service storage files, then by URL they can’t be accessed.”

I’m sorry but I don’t understand what you’re saying here. Could I ask you to explain a little further as I think it may be the solution I need.

Cheers
Glenn
🙂

Oct 18, 2025 at 3:48 am
#209075
Moderator
Nayeem Riddhi
Staff

When you are choosing Select Files option and then attach a file to the package then WPDM process for uploading file and attach to the package. The files are accessing by URL like media library storage, it is not behave like this when you are attaching file through Select Files option. Please kindly let me know if you have still confusion.

Thank you

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