GetPaid > Item Downloads
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About GetPaid > Item Downloads
Every download you limit is taken from someone who already paid
You sell files with GetPaid and, to be careful, you set a low download limit in case someone shares the link. Some time later, a customer changes devices, comes back for what they bought and finds their attempts are used up. They write to you, and a security problem has turned into a customer service problem.
A download limit weighs on the person who already paid you; the defense against a shared link lies elsewhere. Item Downloads, a GetPaid add-on also known as Digital Downloads, for attaching files to the items you sell, stops hotlinking: only logged-in users who bought the product can download it. With that barrier in place, you can set the limit and the expiry with the returning customer in mind, which is why they deserve some thought on each item.
Three places where the buyer finds the file
After a successful payment, the link appears without you having to send it by hand. The buyer can reach it from:
- The payment confirmation page, right after checkout.
- The invoice, which also works for coming back later.
- The My Downloads page, with the
[getpaid_downloads]shortcode, which shows each user all of their downloads.
The add-on creates a downloads page by default. You can edit it or choose another one under GetPaid, Settings, General, General Settings, in Page Settings.
Rules you set item by item
Once the add-on is active, each GetPaid item gets three new fields:
- Download Limit: how many times the files can be downloaded. Blank means unlimited.
- Download Expiry: when the link expires. Blank means it never does.
- Downloadable Files: the item's files. You can add as many as you need, each with its own name.
Each file can come from your media library or from a link to external storage. That way, one item can have a strict limit while another stays open, depending on what you sell.
The delivery method depends on your server
Under GetPaid, Settings, Misc, Miscellaneous, in Checkout Settings, you choose how files are served. There are three options, and the difference matters more the heavier your files are:
- Force Downloads: keeps URLs hidden, although large files may not serve reliably on some servers.
- X-Accel-Redirect or X-Sendfile: serves downloads easily, but not every server supports it. Ask your host whether it has mod_xsendfile.
- Redirect Only: insecure and not recommended.
If you are unsure which one applies to you, you can keep the default: the add-on works that way out of the box.
Publishing your first downloadable item
You need GetPaid and this add-on active, plus a payment method configured, because the link appears after a successful payment.
- Review the downloads page and the delivery method.
- Go to GetPaid, Items, Add New Item.
- Set Download Limit and Download Expiry, or leave them blank.
- Click Add File, enter the file name and URL, or upload it from the library.
- Publish the item and make a test purchase to see the link on the confirmation page and the invoice.
When you need a full download store
Item Downloads adds file delivery to what you already sell with GetPaid. It does not work on its own and it does not take payments: GetPaid and its gateways handle that. Its features do not include file previews or online playback; what the buyer receives is a download.
If you do not use GetPaid yet and your business revolves around files, it makes sense to look at dedicated plugins such as Easy Digital Downloads Pro, and for managing downloads in general, Download Monitor or WordPress Download Manager Pro. If you already invoice with GetPaid, this add-on saves you from adding another payment system.
When you put your first file on sale
Can I keep the files outside my hosting?
Yes. The file location can be a link to external storage. If you are counting on hiding the URL, check it with a test purchase.
What happens if I leave the limit and expiry blank?
Downloads are unlimited and the link does not expire.
How does a customer see everything they bought?
With the [getpaid_downloads] shortcode, which shows all of their downloads on one page.
Topics
Version history
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v
2.1.1 Current 31 Oct 2026
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v
2.0.0 13 May 2024
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