Written by Admin on 2025-05-06

How to Code in WordPress to Automatically Download PDF

Are you looking to create a smooth and effortless experience for your WordPress users by allowing them to automatically download PDF files? It's a simple and convenient feature that can make a significant impact on user engagement. In this article, we'll walk you through the steps to code an automatic PDF download on your WordPress website.

Step 1: Add PDF to Media Library

Upload the PDF file you want to include on your website to the WordPress media library. After adding the document, copy its file URL.

Step 2: Create a Link Button

Next, create a button that users can click to download the PDF document. You can incorporate this button directly into a page or post or use a plugin, such as 'Button Shortcode and Widget' or 'Button' to create a shortcode that will insert a button. Once you have generated the button, add the copied PDF file URL in this format:

html <a href="http://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/my-example-file.pdf" download>Download My Example File</a>

The 'download' attribute in the above HTML code automatically triggers the file download.

Step 3: Add Code to Automatically Download PDF

To avoid the need for a button, you can use a simple code to have the document automatically downloaded. Open the WordPress editor, and select 'Add New'. Create or edit the page or post where you want the PDF to download automatically.

Next, use the Gutenberg editor and choose the 'Custom HTML' block. Paste the following code into this block:

```html

```

Replace 'filename.pdf' with the name of the file you want to download. Make sure to replace https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/filename.pdf with the corresponding URL for the PDF file you want to download automatically. The above code separates the download link creation, adds the link to the browser DOM, inserts a click event to trigger the download, and finally removes the link from the DOM to prevent any issues.

In conclusion, creating an automatic PDF download feature on your WordPress website can significantly enhance user experience by providing fast and easy access to relevant information for your users. Follow the steps above and consider using plugins for additional functionality, like controlling user permissions, tracking downloads, or styling the PDF button.