Written by Admin on 2025-05-06

How to Set HTTP Headers to Download Files in WordPress

WordPress is a popular platform for creating websites and blogs. One of the common features of any website is the ability to upload files and allow visitors to download them. However, you need to make sure that the files are downloaded securely and are not accessible to unauthorized users. To achieve this, you can set HTTP headers to download files in WordPress.

To set HTTP headers in WordPress, you need to edit the .htaccess file, which is located in the root directory of your WordPress installation. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Connect to Your WordPress Site Using FTP

First, you need to connect to your WordPress site using an FTP client. You can use FileZilla or any other FTP client to connect to your site. Once you have connected, navigate to the root directory where the .htaccess file is located.

2. Edit the .htaccess File

Next, you need to edit the .htaccess file and add the following code:

<FilesMatch "\.(?i:pdf)$"> Header set Content-Disposition attachment </FilesMatch>

This code will set the Content-Disposition header to attachment for all files with a .pdf extension. You can replace .pdf with the extension of the file type you want to download, like .docx, .xlsx, .csv, etc.

3. Save and Upload the .htaccess File

Once you have added the code to set HTTP headers, save the .htaccess file and upload it back to your server using FTP.

4. Test the Download File

Finally, test the download file by clicking on the link to download the file. You should see a prompt to download the file instead of displaying it in the browser. This means that the HTTP headers have been set correctly and the file is being downloaded securely.

In conclusion, setting HTTP headers to download files in WordPress is an important step to ensure the security of your website. By following these simple steps, you can set HTTP headers for any file type and allow users to download files securely.