WooCommerce allows you to sell digital products such as e-books, software, music files, PDFs, licenses, templates, and other downloadable content. Once a customer completes their purchase, WooCommerce automatically provides access to the configured download files.
Table of Contents
Contents
- Creating a Downloadable Product
- Uploading Download Files
- Download Limits
- Download Expiration
- Selling Multiple Files
- Best Practices
Creating a Downloadable Product
Step 1
Log in to your WordPress administration panel.
Step 2
Navigate to:
Products → Add New
or edit an existing product.
Step 3
Enter the product information:
- Product name
- Product description
- Product image
- Product price
Step 4
Scroll down to the:
Product Data
section.
Step 5
From the product type dropdown menu, select:
Simple Product
Step 6
Enable:
Downloadable
After selecting this option, additional download settings will become available.
Uploading Download Files
In the Downloads section:
Step 1
Click:
Add File
Step 2
Enter a file name.
This name is visible to customers after purchase.
Example:
Product User Guide (PDF)
Step 3
Upload a file from the Media Library or select an existing file.
Examples:
- PDF documents
- ZIP archives
- Audio files
- Software packages
- E-books
Once selected, WooCommerce will automatically generate the file link.
Selling Multiple Files
A single product can contain multiple downloadable files.
Examples:
Installation Guide.pdf
Software Package.zip
Bonus Materials.pdf
To add another file, click:
Add File
again and repeat the process.
Download Limit
The Download Limit setting controls how many times a customer can download the file.
Unlimited Downloads
Leave the field empty.
Blank = Unlimited Downloads
Limited Downloads
Enter a specific number.
Examples:
| Value | Result |
|---|---|
| 1 | One download |
| 3 | Three downloads |
| 10 | Ten downloads |
Download Expiration
The Download Expiry setting controls how long the download link remains valid after purchase.
No Expiration
Leave the field empty.
Blank = Never Expires
Limited Validity
Enter the number of days.
Examples:
| Value | Result |
|---|---|
| 7 | Link expires after 7 days |
| 30 | Link expires after 30 days |
| 365 | Link expires after 1 year |
Virtual Products
Many downloadable products do not require shipping.
In this case, also enable:
Virtual
This removes shipping-related fields and simplifies checkout.
Examples:
- E-books
- Software
- Online courses
- Memberships
- Digital artwork
Saving the Product
After configuring the download settings:
- Review the product information.
- Click:
Publish
or
Update
The downloadable product will immediately become available for purchase.
Best Practices
Use Descriptive File Names
Customers should easily understand what they are downloading.
Example:
Website Template Package.zip
instead of:
file1.zip
Protect Premium Content
Use reasonable download limits if you sell licensed or premium digital products.
Enable Virtual Products
For digital-only products, always enable the Virtual option to avoid unnecessary shipping settings.
Keep File Sizes Reasonable
Large files may increase storage usage and download times.
Consider compressing files into ZIP archives when appropriate.
Summary
To create a downloadable product in WooCommerce:
- Navigate to:
Products → Add New
- Select:
Simple Product
- Enable:
Downloadable
- Upload one or more files.
- Configure download limits and expiration settings.
- Optionally enable:
Virtual
- Publish the product.
Customers will automatically receive access to the download links after completing their purchase.