WP Download Manager Block Hotlink
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About WP Download Manager Block Hotlink
When another site hands out your files on your bandwidth
You upload a PDF, a template or a resource pack, someone pastes the direct link on their blog or in a forum, and from then on anyone can download your file without ever visiting your site. You pay for the traffic and you don't even see the visit. WP Download Manager Block Hotlink closes that shortcut.
People who sell or distribute files from WordPress usually think about protecting the file, but almost never about protecting the path to it. A download that doesn't go through your page can't show your offer, your notice or your subscribe button. A leaked direct link takes away exactly the moment when the visitor is on your site.
A walkthrough: what WP Download Manager Block Hotlink does from the moment someone copies your link
- Step 1, you publish the package. You manage it with WordPress Download Manager, the plugin this add-on works on top of. Without it, there is nothing to protect.
- Step 2, an external site links to the download URL. It could be a blog, a forum or a coupon site.
- Step 3, the visitor clicks on that other site. The external request does not get the file. It is redirected to the item details page or to another page you choose.
- Step 4, they land on your site. External sites can only link to the item page, never to the direct file URL.
Nothing to adjust, and what that means for you
You install and activate it like any other plugin, and there is nothing else to configure. If you prefer fine control (allowed domain lists, rules by file type, custom notices), this add-on doesn't offer it. It has a single job and does it without asking you to make decisions.
One thing to keep in mind: the default redirect goes to the item details page, but you can specify another. Choose one that makes sense for someone arriving from an outside link, for example the product page with its button in view.
Where it fits and where it falls short
It fits if you already use WordPress Download Manager to distribute manuals, resources or digital products and you notice your links circulating on sites you don't control. It also fits if your download page is part of your strategy (capturing subscribers, showing related products) and you don't want it bypassed.
It falls short in these cases:
- It doesn't work on its own: it depends on WordPress Download Manager.
- It doesn't stop someone from downloading the file from your site and sharing it themselves.
- It isn't a payment, licensing or registration-lock system.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to configure anything after activating it?
No. You install and activate it like a normal plugin and it has no additional settings.
Where is someone sent when they arrive from an external link?
To the item details page, or to another page you specify.
Does it work without WordPress Download Manager?
No. It is an add-on for that plugin and needs your downloads to be managed with it.
Can I still share my download page on other websites?
Yes. External sites can link to the details page; what they can't do is link to the direct file URL.
Topics
Version history
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v
3.1.7 Current 8 Jan 2025
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Frequently asked questions
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GPL (General Public License) is the license under which WordPress and most premium plugins/themes are distributed. It grants you the right to use, modify and redistribute the software in as many projects as you want, with no domain restrictions.
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Yes. With membership you get automatic updates via our GPLClub Updater plugin (installed on your WP, detects new versions and applies them). With individual purchase, you get one year of manual updates from your account.
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Depends on the plan. Monthly: 3 domains. Semi-annual: 7. Annual and Lifetime: 15. Individual purchase: 1 domain.
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GPLClub offers its own support for installation, configuration and compatibility. For direct support from the original author (feature requests, product-specific bugs), a license purchased from the author is required.
