Written by Admin on 2025-05-06

How to Force PDF Download on Your WordPress Website

Are you looking for a way to force your visitors to download PDF files on your WordPress website instead of having them open in a new tab or window? Luckily, there's a simple solution for that.

In this article, we'll show you how to implement the "force download" feature for PDF files on your WordPress website.

Why Force PDF Downloads?

Some website owners prefer to have their PDF files downloaded rather than opened in the user's browser. This is because when a PDF file is opened in a browser, it can interfere with the user's browsing experience. The PDF file may open in a new tab or window, causing the user to lose track of the original page they were viewing.

Additionally, if the user doesn't have a PDF viewer installed on their device, they may end up facing compatibility issues and will not be able to properly view the PDF file.

By forcing the download of PDF files, you can ensure that users can download files on their devices and view them without any compatibility issues.

How to Force PDF Downloads on Your Website?

Below are the steps to force PDF downloads on your WordPress website:

1. Install and activate the "Force Download for PDF" plugin from the WordPress plugin repository.

2. Navigate to the plugin settings page, which can be found under Settings > Force Download for PDF.

3. On the plugin settings page, you'll be able to choose which file types should be downloaded automatically when a user clicks on a download link. Check the box next to the "PDF" option.

4. Click on the "Update" button to save your changes and apply the force download feature to your website.

That's it! Your visitors will now be prompted to download the PDF file instead of opening it in their browser when they click on a download link on your website.

Conclusion

Force downloading PDF files on a WordPress website is a simple way to improve the user experience and ensure that users can properly view and download files on their devices. By following the steps mentioned above, you can easily implement this feature on your own website and provide an enhanced experience to your visitors.