Get started with Filemonk

Use this guide if you’re setting up Filemonk for the first time. Filemonk sends your digital products to customers automatically after checkout: music, videos, ebooks, software, licence keys or any other digital content. By the end, customers will get their files from a Download button on the Thank You page and by email, and you’ll have proved it with a test order.

Filemonk helps you:

• Deliver instantly: customers get their files right after checkout, on the Thank You page and by email.
• Protect your files: use download limits, PDF watermarks and access controls to discourage sharing.
• Match your brand: customize the email, the Download page and the Download button text.
• Get help when you need it: email and chat support are available 24/7.

Before you begin

• Create a Shopify product listing for each digital product you want to sell. Filemonk links files to products that already exist, it does not create them.
• Have your files ready on your computer, or stored in Google Drive or Dropbox. Clear file names help customers, for example “Photography-Course-Module-1.pdf” instead of “file1.pdf”.

What customers will see

After buying a digital product, customers see a Download button on the Thank You page and get an email with a download link. Both open your Download page, where they get their files.

You can also give customers two more ways in:

• Order confirmation email: add a download link to Shopify’s order confirmation email. See Add a download button to the order confirmation email.
• Customer account page: let customers download from their account. See Let customers download from the account page.

Set it up

1. Install Filemonk and complete the Welcome page

1. Go to Filemonk on the Shopify App Store, or search for “Filemonk” in your Shopify admin under Apps.

2. Click Install and approve the permissions. Filemonk needs access to your products and orders to deliver files.

3. Filemonk opens on the Welcome to Filemonk page.

4. To use another language, click the language button in the top right (it shows English by default) and pick a language. This sets both the language you use Filemonk in and the language customers see in emails and on the Download page. You can change either one later. See Change the app language for email and the download page.

5. Click Get started.

   

   

2. Choose a plan

After the Welcome page, Filemonk opens the Plans page.

1. Pick the plan that fits your store. Start covers up to 50 digital orders a month and 250 MB of storage. Lite ($10/month) and Plus ($25/month) have unlimited orders, more storage and every paid feature, with a 14-day free trial.

2. If you have a discount code, click Apply discount, enter the code and click Apply.

3. Click Subscribe on the plan you want and approve the charge in Shopify.

   

You can change plans at any time. See Filemonk pricing and plans.

3. Follow the setup guide on Home

The Home page shows a Set up Filemonk guide with four steps and a progress count. Each step has a button that takes you to the right place, and a step is ticked off once you complete it. The next four sections follow the same order as the guide.

4. Upload a file

1. In the setup guide, click Upload file, or click Content library in the app’s menu.

2. Click Upload files and select your files. Filemonk supports almost all file types, including PDF, MP3, MP4, ZIP and DOCX.

3. Wait for the upload to finish. Large files can take a few minutes.

   

See Upload files. To use files stored elsewhere, see Add files from Google Drive or Dropbox.

5. Link the file to a product

Linking files to a Shopify product creates a digital product. Filemonk sends those files whenever the product is bought.

1. In the setup guide, open Link file to product. Or click Digital products in the app’s menu, then click Add product.

2. Select Link files to an existing product (most common), then click Select product and choose your Shopify product.

3. If the product has options, choose When any option is purchased or Only when a specific option is purchased, then pick the variant.

4. Under Content type, keep Downloadable files.

5. Click Select from library to add the files you uploaded, or Upload files to add new ones.

   

See Create a digital product for the full walkthrough.

6. Add the Download button to the Thank You page

1. In the setup guide, click Add button. The Add Download Button window opens.
2. If you’re asked to choose a configuration, pick the one marked Live.
3. Click Open Editor. Shopify’s editor opens in a new tab.
4. In the editor’s left sidebar, find Download button under Filemonk and click the + icon next to it.
5. When prompted, click Thank you page.
6. Check the button in the preview, move it if needed, then click Save.
7. Go back to Filemonk. The window shows Extension found and activated! once Filemonk detects the button. Click Done.

There’s no switch to turn on in Filemonk: the app detects the button once you save in Shopify’s editor. If the editor doesn’t open, copy the link shown in the window and paste it into a new browser tab.

To add the button to the Order Status page, or change an existing button, click Settings in the app’s menu, then open the Thank You page tab. See Add a download button to the Thank you page.

7. Check how customers get their files

On Home, the delivery status card tells you how customers currently receive their files:

• by email and the Thank You page Download button
• by email only
• by the Thank You page Download button only

If neither is on, the card says download delivery is disabled. Click Enable email delivery to turn on emails. See Send download links automatically.

8. Create a test order

1. In the setup guide, click Visit store to open your storefront.
2. Buy one of your digital products. To avoid paying, use a 100% off discount code or Shopify’s Bogus payment gateway.

See Create a test order.

Check your setup

After placing your test order, confirm all four:

1. The Download button appears on the Thank You page and your files download.
2. The order appears under Orders in the app’s menu.
3. You received the download email.
4. The link in the email opens your Download page and the file downloads.

If all four work, real orders will work the same way.

Troubleshooting

The Download button doesn't appear on the Thank You page

The button wasn’t added and saved in Shopify’s editor. Click Add button in the setup guide, or on the Thank You page tab in Settings, and repeat step 6. Remember to click Save in the editor.

The Add Download Button window keeps checking and never confirms

Filemonk hasn’t detected the saved button yet. Make sure you clicked Save in Shopify’s editor, then wait a moment. The window updates on its own.

The test order doesn't appear in Filemonk

Filemonk only handles orders when order processing is on. Click Settings in the app’s menu, open the Email tab, and confirm Process digital orders is turned on. See Turn on order processing.

Customers don't get an email

Email delivery is off, or the email went to spam.

1. Check the delivery status card on Home and click Enable email delivery if needed.
2. Ask customers to check their spam folder.
3. Confirm your sender address is verified. See Change the From address.

The Download button or email shows but the order has no files

The purchased product or variant isn’t linked to files. Open Digital products and check the product is linked, including the variant that was bought.

A setup step isn't ticked off

The guide hasn’t refreshed. Click the refresh icon at the top of the Set up Filemonk guide.

New orders don't get download links on the Start plan

You’ve reached the 50-order monthly limit. Upgrade to Lite or Plus, or wait for the limit to reset. See Filemonk pricing and plans.

FAQ

How quickly do customers get their files?

With the Download button, straight away on the Thank You page after checkout. Emails usually arrive within a minute or two.

Do I need both the Download button and email delivery?

No, either one works. Using both is best, so customers can download straight away and still have a link in their inbox for later.

What if a customer loses their download link?

Resend the email from the order on the Orders page in Filemonk. See Manage your digital orders.

What happens to orders placed before I installed Filemonk?

Nothing, by default. Filemonk starts with new orders. You can bring older orders in if you want to. See Process orders placed before you installed Filemonk.

Can I use Filemonk in a language other than English?

Yes. Filemonk is available in 17 languages. Pick one on the Welcome page, or change it later on the Other tab in Settings. See Change the app language for email and the download page.

I closed the setup guide. Can I get it back?

The guide is only for first-time setup. Every step is still available from the app’s menu: Content library, Digital products, and the Thank You page tab in Settings.

Related guides

• Protect PDFs with a watermark, to stamp each download with the buyer’s details.
• Limit the number of downloads per order, to discourage sharing.
• Add licence keys, to sell licence keys.
• Bulk add digital products and files, to set up many products at once.
• Switch from another app to Filemonk, if you’re migrating.