Written by Admin on 2025-05-06

How to Create a WordPress Plugin Download File

As a WordPress developer, you may want to provide your users with a downloadable plugin file rather than having them manually install your plugin. This can be useful when you want to share your plugin with non-WordPress users or when you want to distribute a premium plugin that requires a license key.

To create a WordPress plugin download file, you will need to follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Package Your Plugin

The first step in creating a plugin download file is to package your plugin in a zip file. This zip file should contain all the necessary files for your plugin, including PHP files, CSS files, JavaScript files, and any other assets required by your plugin.

You can use any zip utility to create your plugin file, such as WinZip, 7-Zip, or macOS's built-in zip utility. Once you have packaged your plugin, you can move on to the next step.

Step 2: Upload Your Plugin File

The next step is to upload your plugin file to your WordPress site. You can do this using the Media Library or by uploading the files directly into the wp-content/plugins directory using FTP.

Once your file is uploaded, you will need to copy the URL of the file by clicking on the "Copy Link" button in the Media Library or by right-clicking on the file in the wp-content/plugins directory and selecting "Copy Link Address."

Step 3: Create a Download Button

Now that your plugin file is uploaded and you have copied the file URL, you can create a download button for your users to click on. To create a download button, you can use a plugin such as Easy Downloads or WP File Download.

Once you have installed and activated your download button plugin, you can create a new button by going to the plugin's settings page. Here, you can add the button text and the URL of your plugin file.

Step 4: Embed the Download Button

The final step is to embed the download button on your website. To do this, you can use the shortcode provided by your download button plugin or by adding the button code directly into your website's template files.

Once your download button is embedded on the website, your users can click on the button to download your plugin file.

In conclusion, creating a WordPress plugin download file is a simple process that can be completed in just a few steps. By providing a downloadable plugin file, you can make it easier for your users to install and use your plugin.