Limit the number of downloads per order
Without limits, a download link works forever and can be passed around indefinitely. Limits cap how many times each file can be downloaded per order, and how long the link stays live. They are the single most effective protection against casual sharing.
Before you begin
- Limits apply per order, and the count is per file. A limit of 3 on an order with four files means three downloads of each file, not three in total.
- Set them before you start selling if you can. Changing limits later affects existing orders, and customers who have already used up their allowance will contact you.
- Be generous enough to survive real life. Failed downloads, new laptops, and lost files are normal, and a limit of 1 turns each into a support ticket.
Set it up
- Click Filemonk in the left menu of your Shopify admin.
- Click Settings in the app's menu, then open the Download page tab.
- Click Customize to open the download page editor.
- In the editor's left sidebar, click Download Limits.
- Set either or both:
- Max. number of downloads per file, in downloads.
- No. of days available to download, in days, counted from the order.
- Turn on Show limits on Download page so customers can see where they stand.
- Save.
You can also reword what customers see: the labels for the download count and the days remaining, and the Error message shown when someone has run out.
What customers will see
With Show limits on Download page on, each file shows its remaining downloads and how long the link lasts. Once either is used up, the download stops working and your error message explains why. Leaving the display off does not remove the limits, it just means the first a customer knows of them is when they hit one.
Choose your limits
| Setting | Sensible starting point |
|---|---|
| Downloads per file | 3 to 5. Enough for a retry and a second device without being an open door. |
| Days available | 30 to 90, or leave open if you promise lifetime access. |
If you advertise lifetime access, leave the day limit open and rely on the download count.
Check your setup
Place a test order and download a file more times than the limit allows. The last attempt should fail with your error message. See Create a test order.
Troubleshooting
A customer used up their downloads and needs another
Reset the limit on their order, either for the whole order or a single file. See Reset download limits for an order.
Customers hit the limit far too quickly
Usually the limit is too tight for how people actually download: an interrupted transfer often counts, and a customer may open the link on a phone and then a laptop. Raise it, and consider showing the limit so nobody is surprised.
The limit doesn't seem to apply
Two common reasons: the file is hosted externally, so the link works independently of Filemonk, or the customer is using a direct file link rather than their download page. See How Filemonk protects your files.
I changed the limit and old orders changed too
That is how it works: there is one setting and every order is measured against the current value. Lowering it can put existing customers over their allowance immediately.
A customer says the link expired too early
The day count runs from the order, not from their first download. Someone who waits three weeks to open a 30-day link has a week left, not thirty.
FAQ
Are limits per file or per order?
The count is per file within an order, so each file gets its own allowance. The day limit applies to the order as a whole.
What happens when a customer runs out?
The download is refused and they see your error message. Nothing is deleted, and resetting the limit restores access immediately.
Should I show limits on the page?
Usually yes. Customers who can see "2 of 3 downloads left" plan accordingly, and it heads off the "your link is broken" email.
Can I set different limits for different products?
No, the limits are store-wide. Set them for your most sensitive product and reset individual orders as needed.
Related guides
- Reset download limits for an order, when a customer needs another go.
- How Filemonk protects your files, for the other layers.
- Customize the download page, where these settings live.
