Table of contents

1. Decide what type of file you’re offering2. Upload your file to the WordPress Media Library3. Add a download button using the WordPress Block Editor4. Use a plugin to add advanced download buttons5. Style and customize your download button6. Secure your downloads (optional but recommended)7. Add download tracking and analyticsWhy add a download button to your WordPress site?Next stepsAdditional resources

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WordPress Guide → Build → Add Download Button

How to add a download button on WordPress

Make it easy for your visitors to get your files with a simple, clickable download button. Whether you’re offering a lead magnet, sharing a PDF, or providing software, adding a download button in WordPress helps users know exactly what to do—and looks far more professional than a plain link.

Let’s walk through the different ways to create a download button, plus how to customize it, protect your files, and even track download activity.

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1. Decide what type of file you’re offering

Before creating a button, you need to know what kind of file you’re offering. This helps you choose the right method and location for your button.

Common types: PDFs, Word documents, spreadsheets, audio files (MP3, WAV), videos (MP4), or ZIP files for software and plugins
Sensitive or gated content: May require extra steps to protect or control access
Large files: May need to be hosted outside of WordPress (e.g. Dropbox, Amazon S3) to avoid slowing down your site

If you’re offering more than one file or using downloads as part of your marketing funnel or store, a plugin might be the better route.

2. Upload your file to the WordPress Media Library

WordPress needs a public file URL for your button to work, so the first step is uploading your file to the Media Library.

From your WordPress dashboard, go to Media > Add New
Click Select Files and choose the file from your computer
Once uploaded, click the file in the Media Library
Copy the File URL on the right-hand side

Save that URL—you’ll need it when creating your download button.

If your file is too large, or if you want more control, you can upload it via FTP or store it on a cloud platform like Dropbox or Google Drive (make sure sharing permissions allow downloads).

3. Add a download button using the WordPress Block Editor

If you’re using the Block Editor (Gutenberg), adding a download button is fast and easy.

Using the Buttons block

Go to Pages or Posts and click Edit on the page where you want the button
Click the + icon to add a new block
Search for Buttons and select it
In the button field, type your label (e.g. “Download PDF” or “Get the Guide”)
Click the link icon (🔗) in the toolbar and paste in your file URL
Enable the Open in new tab option if you want the file to open separately
Click Update or Publish to save your changes

This method creates a simple, styled button that links to your file. Depending on the file type and browser, clicking the button might open the file (like a PDF) instead of downloading it.

Optional: Force the file to download instead of opening

Some files, like PDFs or images, open in the browser by default. You can use basic HTML to force a download.

Add a Custom HTML block to your page
Paste this code:

<a href="https://example.com/yourfile.pdf" download>
  <button>Download File</button>
</a>

Replace the URL and button text as needed

The download attribute tells the browser to save the file instead of opening it.

Note: This may not work for external links (like Dropbox), depending on browser support and the remote server’s configuration.

4. Use a plugin to add advanced download buttons

If you want more control—like tracking, organizing, or protecting downloads—a plugin can help.

Download Monitor

Download Monitor is a lightweight plugin that turns your files into managed downloads. It adds a new post type for downloads and gives you shortcodes for inserting buttons.

Go to Plugins > Add New
Search for Download Monitor and install it
Activate the plugin
Go to Downloads > Add New
Enter a title, upload your file, and publish the download
Copy the generated shortcode (e.g. [download id=”123″])
Paste the shortcode into any page or post to show the button

You can customize the button label, style, and even require users to log in before downloading.

Easy Digital Downloads

Easy Digital Downloads is perfect if you want to sell digital products or offer downloads with added protection.

Install and activate Easy Digital Downloads
Go to Downloads > Add New
Give your download a title and upload your file
Set a price (or leave at $0 for free files)
Publish the download
Use the automatically generated button on any page or with a shortcode like [purchase_link id=”456″]

This plugin handles payment, file protection, access control, and analytics. Great for creators selling themes, templates, or guides.

WPForms (for gated downloads)

If you want to require users to fill out a form before accessing a file, use WPForms:

Install and activate WPForms Lite
Create a new form (e.g. Name + Email)
In the Confirmations settings, choose Go to URL
Enter the file URL as the redirect
Embed the form on your page

Now the download begins right after form submission—a perfect lead-generation tactic.

5. Style and customize your download button

A good-looking button stands out and encourages clicks. You can style buttons in a few ways:

Block settings: Select the button block and use the right-side settings panel to change color, size, alignment, and text
Custom CSS: Add styles for things like padding, border radius, and hover effects. For example:

.wp-block-button__link {
  border-radius: 6px;
  background-color: #2d72d9;
  color: #fff;
}
.wp-block-button__link:hover {
  background-color: #1a4fa0;
}

Icons: Add icons like a download arrow using Font Awesome or similar libraries. For example:

<i class="fas fa-download"></i> Download Now

Keep button text short and clear—”Download,” “Get the File,” or “Start Download” work well.

6. Secure your downloads (optional but recommended)

If you’re sharing sensitive or premium files, take steps to prevent unauthorized access.

Use Prevent Direct Access (PDA) plugin to restrict access to files in your Media Library
Use a plugin like Easy Digital Downloads for gated content
Block access to download folders using .htaccess rules
Set download permissions for registered users only
Prevent indexing of download pages or folders in robots.txt

Protecting your content helps keep it exclusive, and also avoids bandwidth abuse from hotlinking or scraping.

7. Add download tracking and analytics

Tracking downloads helps you understand what content performs best so you can improve your marketing or product strategy.

Use MonsterInsights to enable event tracking for download links in Google Analytics. Just enable “File Downloads” in the plugin settings.
If you’re using Download Monitor, it includes built-in logs to track downloads by user, file, and date.
Add UTM parameters to your download link to segment traffic sources (e.g. ?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=button&utm_campaign=lead-gen)

You can also use Google Tag Manager to track custom events if you need more control.

Why add a download button to your WordPress site?

A download button does more than just look good—it improves usability, boosts conversions, and helps organize how files are shared on your site. Here’s why it’s a smart addition:

Improves user experience. Visitors are more likely to notice and click a clear, styled button than a plain text link. Buttons stand out visually and feel more intentional, which makes your site easier to navigate.
Increases trust and credibility. A professional-looking download button gives users confidence that the file is legitimate and safe. This is especially important if you’re offering digital products, lead magnets, or branded documents.
Encourages more downloads. People are more likely to act when there’s a clear call to action. A button labeled “Download Now” or “Get the Guide” creates urgency and sets expectations.
Gives you more control. When paired with plugins or shortcodes, a download button lets you control access, collect analytics, and even require email opt-ins—all from a single click.
Works on mobile. Buttons are easier to tap than links on small screens, which improves accessibility and performance on mobile devices.

If your website offers any kind of downloadable resource—even something as simple as a resume or PDF—adding a button is one of the quickest ways to improve presentation and functionality.

Next steps for adding a download button on WordPress

Adding a download button in WordPress helps you deliver files clearly, professionally, and with more control. Whether you’re sharing content or running a digital product business, a simple button can improve engagement and user experience.

Pick the method that fits your needs—use the Block Editor for simple links, plugins for more power, and tracking tools to get data that helps your site grow.

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