• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Tips and Tricks HQ

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Projects
    • All Projects
    • Simple WP Shopping Cart
    • WP Express Checkout Plugin
    • WP Download Monitor
    • WP Security and Firewall Plugin
    • WP eStore Plugin
    • WP Affiliate Platform
    • WP eMember
    • WP Lightbox Ultimate
    • WP Photo Seller
  • Products
    • All Products
    • Checkout
  • Support
    • Support Portal
    • Customer Only Forum
    • WP eStore Documentation
    • WP Affiliate Software Documentation
    • WP eMember Documentation
  • Contact

How to Create a Password Protected Download in WordPress

You are here: Home / Web Development / How to Create a Password Protected Download in WordPress

Last updated: August 30, 2016 by Keith Lock





If you would like to offer downloadable files on your WordPress site but keep them protected from the general public by way of password protection, this article will bring you through the quick steps. We’re going to be using the Simple Download Monitor plugin for this. There is a password protection feature that is available with it to make this process very simple.

creating-password-protected-download-file-banner

Video Tutorial

First, let’s quickly get the free plugin installed

We can install the plugin using the following steps:



  1. Download the Simple Download Monitor Plugin from the plugin page of the WordPress repository.
  2. In the WordPress Dashboard menu, select Plugins, then click Add New.
  3. Search for “Simple Download Monitor” and locate the Simple Download Monitor Plugin in the list of results.
  4. Click the Install Now link, then Activate it.

Configure the Download Monitor plugin

Click on Settings from the newly created Downloads menu in the Dashboard if you want to make changes to any of the settings.

Add a Password Protected Download

Now, to upload a file to make it available for password-protected download, follow these steps:

  1. Click Downloads, then Add New from the left-hand menu.
  2. Enter the details for the file (title, description, thumbnail).
  3. In the Publish Settings area on the right side of the screen, click Edit next to Visibility.
  4. Choose Password Protection.
  5. Enter the desired password.
  6. Optionally, enable the PHP Dispatch option of the download item (if you want to keep the file URL hidden).
  7. Publish the file.

From here you will create a page or post and insert the download shortcode into the spot that you would like the download to display. Use the SDM Downloads button in the Visual Editor to quickly and easily insert the shortcode.

example-download-with-password-protection

Now share the page/post link and the password with your trusted groups.

Related Posts

  • How to Use the FileZilla FTP Client for Your WordPress Site
  • Guide to WordPress Media Uploader
  • All In One WP Security Plugin – Using the ‘Cookie Based Brute Force Login Attack’ Prevention Feature
  • How to Install WordPress Multi-Site in Localhost (Using XAMPP)

Web Development,  Wordpress Blogging Tips,  digital downloads,  media file in wordpress,  sell digital downloads,  WordPress security tips

Reader Interactions

Comments (7 responses)

  1. admin says:
    February 28, 2019 at 1:54 am

    @Carl, you should be able to apply a CSS tweak like the following to change the password text box’s color to what you like. The following will make the color blue:

    .sdm_pass_text {
    color: blue;
    }

  2. Carl Wood says:
    February 27, 2019 at 4:08 pm

    I love the plugin but I am having one difficulty. The dots are not visible in the password box because my default font is white. Can you guide me to a particular CSS code to change the font color to black for just the password boxes?

  3. admin says:
    July 16, 2014 at 7:32 pm

    @Olivier, can you share the URL of the page so I can take a look?

  4. olivier says:
    July 16, 2014 at 4:35 pm

    really nice plugin! just what I needed. Unfortunately, the password protected feature is not working for me… I can set it up, have the field on the front-end, but I can enter the password as many times as I want, it won’t let me download the file…

  5. Gary Starkman says:
    March 4, 2014 at 4:27 pm

    This is actually really helpful. I didn’t think putting a password on a download was even possible. Thanks.

  6. admin says:
    March 1, 2014 at 7:04 pm

    @Ken, I know for sure that the plugin works fine. From what you explained, I have a feeling you have some JavaScript errors inside your admin dashboard (coming from a plugin). Javascript errors would explain why the file uploader is failing to work on your site.

  7. ken says:
    March 1, 2014 at 6:23 pm

    Hi there,

    unfortunately the plugin doesn’t work properly.
    I can arrange a download but it is impossible to set a password. Also I cannot upload an item for download – I have to upload it manually to the server and paste the link into the field.
    Also I cannot choose a thumbnail…

    Is that caused by another plugin?

    Sorry, can’t use the plugin this way…:-(

    Ps. using thesis 2 and promo skin here…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Featured & Popular Articles

Video Answers to Top WordPress QuestionsWordPress Optimization Tips and Tricks for Better Performance and SpeedEssential WordPress Security Tips - Is Your Blog Protected?WordPress Simple PayPal Shopping Cart PluginTop 15 Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Techniques I Forget to DoList of the Best and Must Use WordPress PluginsHow do I Start a Blog and Make Money Online?Good Domain Name Picking Tips for Your Blog SetupFind Out Which WordPress Web Hosting Company Offers the Cheapest and Reliable Web Hosting Solution

Featured WordPress Plugins

wordpress estore plugin
wordpress membership plugin
WP Express Checkout Plugin
WordPress Lightbox Ultimate Plugin
WordPress photo seller plugin
wordpress affiliate plugin

Recent Posts

  • Accept Donations via PayPal from Your WordPress Site Easil [...]
  • Buy Now Button Graphics for eCommerce Websites [...]
  • Subscription Button Graphics for eCommerce Websites [...]
  • Adding PayPal Payment Buttons to Your WordPress Sidebar Ea [...]
  • PayPal QR Codes [...]

Comment & Socialize

  • @Rodrigo Souza, Thank you f ...
    - admin
  • The example for 'slm_add_ed ...
    - Rodrigo Souza
  • @Ron, All the valid transac ...
    - admin
  • Hello, when people have sel ...
    - Ron
  • We have hte following featu ...
    - admin

Check out our solutions

View our WordPress plugin collection and start using them on your site.

Our WordPress Solutions

Footer

Company

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Affiliate Login

Top WordPress Plugins

  • Simple Shopping Cart
  • PayPal Donations
  • WP Express Checkout
  • WP eStore
  • WP eMember

Blogging Tips

  • How to Start a Blog
  • Selecting a Good Domain
  • Cheap WP Hosting
  • WP Video Tutorials
  • Simple SEO Tips

Search


Keep In Touch

Copyright © 2023 | Tips and Tricks HQ