Written by Admin on 2025-05-06

How to revoke access to download on WordPress

WordPress is a powerful content management system widely used for website development. One of its useful features is the ability to create and share downloadable content with users. However, sometimes you may need to revoke access to download files for some reasons, such as the security of sensitive information. In this article, we’ll explain how to revoke access to download on WordPress.

Step 1: Install and activate a plugin

To revoke access to downloads, you’ll need to install and activate a plugin. There are various plugins available in the WordPress repository that can help you achieve that. One popular plugin is the Download Manager plugin. To install the plugin, follow these steps:

1. Click on "Plugins" from the WordPress dashboard menu
2. Click on "Add New"
3. Search for "Download Manager" in the search bar
4. Click on "Install Now"
5. Click on "Activate" once the installation is complete

Step 2: Create a user role

Once you’ve activated the Download Manager plugin, you’ll need to create a user role that has restricted access to download files. Here’s how:

1. Click on "Downloads" from the WordPress dashboard menu
2. Click on "User Roles"
3. Click on "Add New"
4. Enter a name for the user role, such as "Restricted Users"
5. Choose the permissions you want to grant to the new user role, i.e., select which downloads they can access and which they can’t
6. Click on "Create Role"

Step 3: Assign the user role

After creating the new user role, you’ll need to assign it to any users who shouldn’t have download access. Here’s how:

1. Click on "Users" from the WordPress dashboard menu
2. Select the user you want to restrict the download access
3. Scroll down to the "Download Manager User Roles" option
4. Select "Restricted Users" from the dropdown menu
5. Click on "Update User"

Step 4: Test the restriction

Now that you’ve restricted the download access for certain users, it’s important to test it out. Log out of the restricted user’s account and log in with any other account that has download access. Go to the Downloads page and try to download one of the restricted files. If the restriction is working, the download should fail.

In conclusion, revoking access to download on WordPress is an essential step in safeguarding sensitive information on your website. With the help of the Download Manager plugin, you can easily create a user role and restrict download access. Follow the steps outlined above to revoke access to downloads on your WordPress website.