Let customers download from the account page
Customers lose emails. Putting their downloads inside their Shopify customer account gives them one permanent place to find everything they have bought, and because the account already requires a login, it protects the files at the same time.
Before you begin
- This needs Filemonk's extensions added to your store through Shopify. It is more setup than the other download options, and some of the extensions are mandatory while others are optional.
- Customers need accounts on your store, so review your Shopify customer account settings first. Guest checkout buyers will have nothing to log into.
Set it up
1. Point downloads at the account page
- Click Filemonk in the left menu of your Shopify admin.
- Click Settings in the app's menu, then open the Download page tab.
- Under Download files from, choose Customer Account page.
2. Add the extensions
On the same tab, find Set up extensions and follow the steps listed there. Each extension has to be added to your store's configuration and saved before it appears. The app shows the status of each one, so you can see what is still missing. See Set up Filemonk's store extensions.
3. Write what customers read
- Click Customize in the customer accounts section to open its editor.
- Set the Thank you message and Button text for the Thank You extension, which is what customers see on the Order Status page. The default button reads Access Downloads.
- Set the subtitle shown under the product name on the downloads extension.
- Save.
Both text fields support Liquid variables, so you can include order details. Use the Variables control rather than typing them by hand.
What customers will see
Signed in to their account, customers see their digital products with a button to reach the files. Emails from Filemonk also include a link to the order's status page, so the email still works as a way in.
Check your setup
Place a test order, then sign in to your store as that customer and open the account area. The order should be there with a working download button. Also open the order status page and confirm the Thank You extension appears. See Create a test order.
Troubleshooting
The downloads section doesn't appear in customer accounts
An extension is missing or was added without saving. Go back to Set up extensions and check the status of each one.
A customer can't see an order they placed
The order was placed as a guest, or with a different email address than their account. Only orders tied to that customer show up. Send them their files directly from the order in the meantime. See Send emails with links for orders.
The button text still shows the default
Changes are made in the customer accounts editor rather than the download page editor. Confirm you saved in the right place, then reload the account page.
A variable shows as text instead of the customer's details
It was typed by hand and does not match. Clear the field and insert it from Variables.
FAQ
Do customers still get download emails?
Yes, if you have email sending on. The email includes a link to the order's status page, so both routes work together.
Is this the same as requiring a login?
It has the same effect and is the more established route, since the account page is behind Shopify's own login. See Require customers to log in.
Does it work with guest checkout?
Not for the guest themselves, since there is no account. They can create one later with the same email to see past orders.
Can customers see everything they ever bought?
Yes, that is the main benefit: every digital order in one place, rather than one email per purchase.
Do I still need the Thank you page button?
They serve different moments: the Thank you page button is for downloading immediately after checkout, the account page is for coming back later. Most stores use both. See Add a download button to the Thank you page.
Related guides
- Set up Filemonk's store extensions, the setup this depends on.
- Add a My downloads link to the customer account page, to make it easy to find.
- Require customers to log in, the alternative route.
