Frequently asked questions Free & Pro

Quick answers to the questions we hear most, before and after purchase. Each answer links to a fuller article where one exists. If your question is not here, email support@getfiledeck.com.

Is there a free version, and what is in it?

Yes — FileDeck is free on wordpress.org (slug filedeck). The free version includes the Documents post type, four layouts (table, grid, gallery, folders), instant search, sortable columns, category and tag filters, the Gutenberg block and shortcode, pagination, display settings such as the accent color and columns, and download counting. See free vs Pro for the full breakdown.

Does it work with my theme?

Yes. FileDeck works with any theme, is server-rendered, and uses no jQuery. If the library ever looks off in a particular theme, small CSS overrides fix it — see library looks wrong or unstyled.

Can visitors search inside file contents?

Yes, in Pro. FileDeck indexes the text inside PDFs, Office and OpenDocument files, and text files on your own server — manage the index under Documents → Settings → Search Index. Scanned PDFs with no text layer can be OCR’d with the optional OCR service (also Pro), and AI semantic search, which finds documents by meaning, is on the AI tier. The free plugin searches titles, summaries, categories, tags and filenames. See content search.

How many documents can it handle?

There is no hard limit. Libraries up to about 500 documents get an inlined instant-search index and do everything in the browser. Past that, FileDeck switches to server mode automatically — page one renders server-side and search, filters, sorting and paging fetch only the rows they need, so a library of several thousand documents stays fast and still searches as you type. See large libraries and performance.

Can I show different libraries on different pages?

Yes. Both the block and the shortcode accept category scoping, so each page can show its own slice of the library — for example [filedeck category="hr-policies"] on one page and a different category on another. See the shortcode reference.

Can I sell documents?

FileDeck is not a store — there is no cart or payment processing. It does support lead capture (require name and email before download) and access control (restrict by password, role, or user), which cover gated-content workflows, just not paid checkout.

Do protected files really block direct URLs?

Yes, in Pro. Protected files are moved out of the public uploads area into wp-content/uploads/filedeck-protected/, which is blocked from direct access, and downloads are served only through signed URLs that expire after 15 minutes. Direct file URLs never work for protected documents. See file protection and signed URLs.

What happens if my Pro license expires?

The plugin keeps working — your libraries, settings, and Pro features stay in place. What stops is updates and support until you renew. Renewals never increase in price. See licensing and activation.

Can I import from another plugin or a spreadsheet?

Yes. If you’re coming from Download Monitor, WordPress Download Manager, Document Library Lite/Pro or Shared Files, Documents → Import & Export → Migrate detects the library already on your site and imports it in one click — no export needed. Any other plugin that exports a CSV can be mapped in on the same screen, and spreadsheets import via CSV import under Documents → Import & Export → Bulk add & export. Pro can also bulk-convert existing Media Library files into documents, and export your library back out as CSV. See migrating from another plugin.

Does it work with Elementor, Bricks, Divi and other page builders?

Yes. FileDeck ships native Document Library and Document Embed elements for Elementor, Bricks, Divi, WPBakery, Avada (Fusion Builder) and Beaver Builder in the free plugin, and the [filedeck] shortcode works anywhere shortcodes work — including Oxygen’s Shortcode element. In the block editor, use the Document Library block for a live preview and visual controls. See page builders.

Where are my files stored?

On your own site — in your WordPress Media Library and server (protected files move to a protected folder on the same server). Nothing is uploaded to or stored on FileDeck’s servers, and nothing leaves your site.

Can I link files from Google Drive?

Yes, in the free plugin. A document can point at an external URL instead of an uploaded file — Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, SharePoint, Amazon S3, or any URL. Those are plain links; Pro adds a cloud-account connector that browses your storage and can pull new files from a folder on a schedule. See external files.

Is it GDPR-friendly?

FileDeck is built to keep data on your site: files and document data stay on your server, and the Pro activity log can anonymize IP addresses, purge old rows daily, and integrates with WordPress core privacy export and erase tools. If you use lead capture, disclose it in your privacy policy as you would any form that collects names and emails.

Can visitors preview a file without downloading it?

Yes. The inline preview lightbox shows PDFs and images in the free plugin; Pro adds Office documents, audio and video. No download required either way.

How do I get support?

Pro customers get priority email support at support@getfiledeck.com. Free users are supported through the wordpress.org support forum for the filedeck plugin. Billing and refund questions (30-day money-back guarantee) are covered in billing, refunds, and support.