Written by Admin on 2025-05-06

How to Use a WordPress Plugin to Make Users Download a PDF

If you want to deliver a document or a resource like a whitepaper or a brochure to your website visitors, offering a download link is a common way to do it. However, instead of linking to a PDF that opens in the browser, you may want to make users download the file directly to their computer. In this article, we'll show you how to use a WordPress plugin to add a download button to your PDFs.

Step 1: Install and Activate the Plugin

The plugin we'll be using is called "Download Button for Elementor". It's a free plugin that adds a customizable download button to any PDF file you upload to your WordPress media library.

To install the plugin, go to your WordPress dashboard, click on "Plugins" on the left-hand side, and click on the "Add New" button. In the search bar, type "Download Button for Elementor", and click on "Install Now" when you find the plugin. After the installation is complete, click on "Activate" to activate the plugin.

Step 2: Upload Your PDF

Before you can add the download button, you need to upload the PDF file that you want to make available for download. To do this, click on "Media" on the left-hand side of your WordPress dashboard, and then click on "Add New". Select your PDF file from your computer and upload it to your WordPress media library.

Step 3: Add the Download Button to the PDF

Now that you have the PDF uploaded to your media library, you can add the download button. To do this, go to the post or page where you want to include the PDF, add a new block, and search for the "Download Button for Elementor" block. Select the block, and it will automatically add the download button to your page or post.

Next, click on the "Edit" button on the download button block to customize the button. You can change the button text, color, icon, and size to match your theme and branding.

Step 4: Link the Download Button to the PDF

Finally, you need to link the download button to the PDF file in your media library. To link the button, click on the "Link" tab in the download button block, and select "Media Library" from the drop-down menu. Find the PDF you uploaded earlier in the media library, and select it. Make sure the "Link Target" is set to "_blank" so that the PDF downloads in a new tab or window.

Click "Update" to save your changes, and your download button is now linked to the PDF and ready to use.

Conclusion

Adding a download button to your PDFs is a simple way to enhance the user experience on your website and make it easier for visitors to access and save your resources. With the "Download Button for Elementor" plugin, you can create a professional-looking button that is fully customizable and easy to use. Try it out on your website today!