Written by Admin on 2025-05-06

How to Require Email to Download a File in WordPress

Do you want to collect the email addresses of your site visitors before they download a file? Adding an email opt-in requirement to download a file can help you in building your email list and increasing engagement on your WordPress site. Thankfully, it is very easy to require an email to download a file in WordPress. In this article, we will show you how to do it.

Why Require Email to Download a File in WordPress?

Requiring an email address is a good way to build your mailing list. It provides you with a way to contact your users in the future with updates, promotions, and other information about your site. Plus, when people need to take an extra step, like entering their email address to download a file, they are more likely to remember your site and come back. This can help increase engagement and repeat visitors.

How to Require Email to Download a File in WordPress

There are many ways to require an email to download a file in WordPress. Here, we will show you the two most popular methods.

Method 1: Use a Plugin

One of the easiest ways to require an email to download a file in WordPress is by using a plugin. There are many plugins available that can help you with email opt-ins and file downloads. Here, we will use the "Email Download" plugin.

1. First, you need to install and activate the "Email Download" plugin. You can do this from the WordPress plugin repository or by downloading the plugin from the developer's website.

2. Once you have activated the plugin, you need to create a new post or page. Here, you will add a link to the file you want to offer for download.

3. Click on the "Add Media" button in the editor and upload the file you want to offer for download. After the file is uploaded, click on the "Edit Image" button.

4. In the "Attachment Details" window, you will see a section called "Email Download." Click on the checkbox next to "Require user to enter a valid email address before download."

5. Save your changes and update your post or page. You now have a link to a file that requires your user to enter an email address before downloading the file.

Method 2: Use a Form Builder

Another way to require an email to download a file in WordPress is by using a form builder. Forms allow you to collect user data, so you can use them to create a form that requires your user to enter their email address before downloading a file.

1. Install and activate a form builder plugin on your WordPress site. There are many form builder plugins available, but we recommend using "WPForms."

2. Create a new form and add a field for email addresses. You can customize your form to fit your needs.

3. Create a new post or page, add the link to the file you want to offer for download, and insert the form you just created.

4. Edit the confirmation message for your form to include a link to your file. After your user enters their email address, they can click on the link to download the file.

Final Thoughts

Requiring an email to download a file in WordPress is a great way to build your email list and increase engagement on your website. Using one of the methods outlined in this article, you can easily add an email opt-in requirement to your site. Remember to keep things simple and clear so that your users can easily and quickly download the files they're interested in.