Written by Admin on 2025-05-06

Troubleshooting Easy Digital Downloads: Selling PDFs on WordPress

If you're trying to sell PDF files on your WordPress site using Easy Digital Downloads, you might run into some issues. Here's a troubleshooting guide to help you get started.

Issue 1: Download links don't work

One common issue is when your download links don't work. This could mean that the files aren't being served properly, or that there's an issue with the download settings.

To troubleshoot this, first check that your download files are stored in the correct directory. You can do this by going into your WordPress dashboard and navigating to Downloads > Settings > Misc. Here, you'll see a field for "File Download Path."

Make sure that the directory you're using is correct and that the files are stored in that location. If they aren't, move them to the correct directory and update the File Download Path.

If that doesn't fix the issue, check your download settings. Go to Downloads > Settings > Downloads and scroll down to the "Download Method" section. Here, you can choose how your download links will be served. Try changing the method and checking if it fixes the issue.

Issue 2: PDFs aren't being delivered after payment

Another issue you might run into is when your PDFs aren't being delivered to customers after they make a payment. This could be due to a problem with your email settings.

To troubleshoot this, go to Downloads > Settings > Emails. Here, you'll see options for configuring your email notifications. Make sure that you have an email template set up for "Purchase Receipt" and that it includes the download link.

Additionally, check that your email settings are correct. Go to Downloads > Settings > Payment Gateways and select the gateway you're using. Scroll down to the "Notifications" section and make sure that your email settings are configured correctly.

Issue 3: Downloads aren't visible to customers

If your PDFs aren't showing up for customers to purchase, it could be due to a problem with your product settings.

To troubleshoot this, go to Downloads > All Downloads and select the product you're having issues with. Check that the product is set to "Publish" and that it's visible on your site.

If the product is published and visible, check the download settings. Go to Downloads > Settings > Downloads and scroll down to "Product Download Limit." Here, you can set the number of times a customer can download the file. Make sure this setting is correct and that it's not preventing customers from accessing the download.

Conclusion

Selling PDFs on WordPress with Easy Digital Downloads can be a great way to monetize your content. However, as with any technology, issues can crop up. By following the troubleshooting tips above, you should be able to solve most issues and get back to selling your digital products in no time.