# FileDeck

> FileDeck is a WordPress plugin for document libraries, download management
> and client portals: searchable table, grid, gallery and folder layouts,
> search inside file contents (with OCR for scans),
> real access control with signed expiring download URLs, review cycles, email
> digests, CSV import/export, version history, lead capture, one-click import
> from 11 other plugins, and an activity log with content-gap reporting.
> Free on wordpress.org; Pro from $59/yr; an AI tier from $119/yr adds records
> governance and search by meaning.

Key facts: requires WordPress 6.4+ and PHP 7.4+; works with any theme; shortcode
`[filedeck]` and a native block insert libraries; search covers document text
(PDF, Office, text files) indexed on your own server; optional AI semantic
search and an 'Ask this library' chat widget use your own AI provider key;
Pro adds access control, true file protection, OCR, review cycles,
subscriptions, approval workflow, health scans, the activity log, client areas,
front-end submission, check-out locks, cloud storage (S3 and S3-compatible,
Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, SharePoint, Box), a REST/webhook/WP-CLI
surface, and publish-anywhere embeds. The AI tier adds records governance —
retention schedules, access certification, transmittals, acknowledgment
tracking and PDF accessibility screening — plus semantic search, smart
collections and 'Ask this library'.

## Getting Started

- [Quick start: your first document library](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/quick-start/): Set up your first FileDeck document library in about five minutes: add a few documents, assign categories, and publish a searchable library page.
- [Settings overview: what lives where](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/settings-overview/): A one-screen tour of every tab under Documents → Settings — Display, Features, and Data in the free plugin, plus the Pro tabs from OCR through the search indexes.
- [What is FileDeck?](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/what-is-filedeck/): FileDeck adds a searchable document library to WordPress with table, grid, gallery and folder layouts. Learn what it does, who it's for, and what's free vs Pro.
- [Install and activate FileDeck](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/installation/): How to install FileDeck: add the free plugin from wordpress.org or upload the Pro zip, activate it, and see what FileDeck sets up on first activation.
- [Requirements and compatibility](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/system-requirements/): FileDeck requires WordPress 6.4+ and PHP 7.4–8.4, works with any theme, ships no jQuery, and only needs ZipArchive for Pro zip downloads.
- [The setup wizard](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/onboarding-wizard/): FileDeck's three-step setup wizard sets your layout, detects other plugins' documents for one-click migration, and gets your first files in.
- [Try FileDeck with a sample library](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/sample-library/): Load nine ready-made documents in one click so you can try search, filters and every layout before adding your own files — and remove them just as easily.
- [Free vs Pro: what's included](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/free-vs-pro/): A side-by-side look at FileDeck Free and Pro features, Pro pricing from $59/yr, the 30-day money-back guarantee, and renewals that never increase.
- [List files on a page with a download button (free)](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/list-files-with-download-button/): The five-minute way to list your PDFs and files on a WordPress page with a real download button — free, no code, using the FileDeck block or shortcode.
- [Document library vs knowledge base plugin — which do you need?](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/document-library-vs-knowledge-base/): Document libraries manage downloadable files; knowledge base plugins publish help articles. How to tell which one your site needs — or whether you need both.

## Managing Documents

- [Uploading large files](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/large-file-uploads/): FileDeck Pro uploads large files in resumable chunks, so drawings, scans and video are not capped by your host's upload limit and a dropped connection resumes.
- [Find PDFs that fail accessibility checks](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/accessibility-report/): Screen every PDF in your library for the accessibility problems a machine can detect — untagged files, missing language, missing title, and scans with no text.
- [Custom document fields & advanced filtering](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/custom-fields/): Add your own document fields — department, policy number, date, owner — show them as sortable columns and let visitors filter the library by any of them.
- [Add a document](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/add-document/): Create a FileDeck document under Documents → Add New Document: attach a file by drag-and-drop or from the Media Library, then publish.
- [Document fields reference](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/document-fields/): Reference for every field on the FileDeck document edit screen — title, description, excerpt, file, categories, tags, size, type — and the columns each feeds.
- [Link files hosted on Drive, Dropbox, or any URL](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/external-files/): Point a FileDeck document at a file hosted on Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, SharePoint, S3, or any URL instead of uploading it to WordPress.
- [Reference numbers: part numbers, document codes and form numbers](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/reference-numbers/): Give a document a reference number — a part number, document code or form number — that visitors can search for and show as its own column.
- [Replace or update a document's file](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/replace-update-file/): Swap a document's attached file on the edit screen — the URL and download link stay the same. Pro records each replacement in version history.
- [Front-end document submission & editing](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/front-end-submission/): Let visitors submit documents through a form with moderation, see their own submissions, and edit them from the front end — no wp-admin access needed.
- [Import from a server folder (drop-folder workflow)](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/import-server-folder/): Point FileDeck at a folder in your uploads directory: every file becomes a document, sub-folders become categories, and a daily re-scan imports new files on their own.
- [Bulk convert Media Library files into documents](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/bulk-convert-media-library/): Turn existing Media Library files into FileDeck documents in bulk — titles come from filenames, you can assign a category, and originals are untouched.
- [Bulk upload documents by drag and drop](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/upload-documents-bulk/): Drag any number of files onto Documents → Import & Export → Upload files — each becomes a published document, with an optional category and tags for the batch.
- [Connect cloud storage (S3, Dropbox, Drive, OneDrive, SharePoint, Box)](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/connect-cloud-storage/): Connect Amazon S3, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, SharePoint or Box, attach cloud files as documents, and pull a folder into your library on a schedule.
- [Export documents to CSV](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/csv-export/): Export your FileDeck library to CSV from Documents → Import & Export → Bulk add & export — one row per document, with columns that re-import as-is for backups and bulk edits.
- [Import documents from CSV](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/csv-import/): Bulk-create FileDeck documents from a CSV under Documents → Import & Export → Bulk add & export — required columns, external file links, and a sample CSV to start from.
- [Migrate from Advanced File Manager](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/migrate-from-advanced-file-manager/): Turn a folder managed by Advanced File Manager into a FileDeck library — files become documents, sub-folders become categories, and the folder must sit inside uploads.
- [Migrate from BSK PDF Manager](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/migrate-from-bsk-pdf-manager/): Move a BSK PDF Manager library into FileDeck in one click — PDFs, nested categories, descriptions, download counts, expiry dates and restricted items.
- [Migrate from Document Library Pro / Lite](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/migrate-from-document-library/): Move a Document Library Lite or Pro library into FileDeck in one click at Documents → Import & Export → Migrate — documents, categories, tags and files, all on your own server.
- [Migrate from Download Attachments](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/migrate-from-download-attachments/): Move a Download Attachments library into FileDeck in one click — the files it manages, their download counts, and categories named after the posts they were attached to.
- [Migrate from Download Monitor](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/migrate-from-download-monitor/): Move a Download Monitor library into FileDeck in one click at Documents → Import & Export → Migrate — documents, categories, files, download counts and members-only visibility.
- [Migrate from FileBird](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/migrate-from-filebird/): Turn FileBird folders into a FileDeck library in one click — your documents and your folder tree, without dragging your photo library in with them.
- [Migrate from Shared Files](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/migrate-from-shared-files/): Move a Shared Files library into FileDeck in one click at Documents → Import & Export → Migrate — files, categories, tags, download counts and password-protected items.
- [Migrate from Simple Download Monitor](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/migrate-from-simple-download-monitor/): Move a Simple Download Monitor library into FileDeck in one click — downloads, categories, tags, files, download counts and logged-in-only access.
- [Migrate from Simple File List](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/migrate-from-simple-file-list/): Move a Simple File List library into FileDeck in one click at Documents → Import & Export → Migrate — files, folders, descriptions and restricted items, even after it was closed.
- [Migrate from WP Customer Area](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/migrate-from-wp-customer-area/): Move a WP Customer Area library into FileDeck in one click — private files, categories, and each file's owners recreated as a client area.
- [Migrate from WordPress Download Manager](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/migrate-from-wp-download-manager/): Move a WordPress Download Manager library into FileDeck in one click at Documents → Import & Export → Migrate — packages, categories, files, download counts and access rules.
- [Migrate from another document library plugin](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/migrate-from-another-plugin/): Move your library from another document library plugin at Documents → Import & Export → Migrate: one click for supported plugins, CSV with column mapping for the rest.
- [Check out a document (editing locks)](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/check-out-documents/): Claim a document while you prepare its next revision — nobody else can replace the file until you check it back in.
- [Retention schedules (auto-archive or remove after N years)](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/retention-schedules/): Keep each class of document exactly as long as your retention duty says, then archive or remove it automatically — capped, previewable, and fully audited.
- [Organize with categories and tags](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/categories-tags/): How FileDeck categories and tags differ, how to create and assign them, and how to scope a library to one category with the block or shortcode.
- [Search synonyms — teach the library your vocabulary](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/search-synonyms/): Teach the library your organisation's shorthand so “PO” finds “purchase order” — one line per group of equivalent terms, and each search word stays required.
- [Spelling tolerance in search](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/spelling-tolerance/): A search returning no results retries against the closest spelling in your titles and categories, and tells the reader which word it actually searched for.
- [Approval workflow: review before publishing](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/approval-gate/): Turn on the approval gate so authors submit documents for review and someone with publishing rights approves and publishes them.
- [How to track employee policy sign-off (not just click-through)](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/policy-acknowledgment-process/): A practical process for real policy acknowledgment: segment who reads what, chase non-responders automatically, and keep an audit-ready, version-pinned record.
- [How to track policy acknowledgments and prove who has read a document](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/acknowledgment-tracking/): Mark a document “read & confirm” for chosen roles, track who has confirmed under Documents → Compliance → Acknowledgments, chase stragglers with reminders, and export CSV evidence.
- [Library health scans](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/library-health/): Health scans check every published document for missing files, dead external links, and downloads nobody wants — weekly and on demand.
- [Review cycles: keep documents current](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/review-cycles/): Put documents on a review cycle so FileDeck tracks when each one is next due and reminds you by email before it goes stale.
- [Set an expiry date on a document](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/document-expiry/): Set a date after which a FileDeck document is no longer available in the library or via its download link, and how to bring it back later.
- [Version history and rollback](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/version-history/): FileDeck Pro archives the old file automatically each time you replace a document's file. Restore any version — the download link never changes.

## Displaying Libraries

- [Build a downloads page with a table per category](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/downloads-page-per-category/): One page, a heading per section, and a scoped document table under each — in Elementor, the block editor, or shortcodes — plus the one-widget folders alternative.
- [Choose and reorder columns](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/columns/): All 18 FileDeck columns explained, plus how to reorder them with the chips manager under Documents → Settings → Display or a shortcode columns list.
- [Embed a document inline on a page](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/inline-document-embed/): Embed one document as an always-visible viewer via shortcode, block or Elementor widget — free for PDFs, images and Google Docs links; Pro adds Office and media.
- [Multiple libraries on one site](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/multiple-libraries/): Show different document libraries on different pages by scoping each block or shortcode to a category, with its own layout and columns.
- [Page builders: Bricks, Divi, WPBakery, Avada and Beaver Builder](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/page-builders/): FileDeck registers native Document Library and Document Embed elements in five page builders, so you drag one in instead of remembering a shortcode.
- [Pagination, load more, and infinite scroll](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/pagination/): Set how many documents show per page, choose page numbers, load more or infinite scroll, give a library a fixed height, and see how paging interacts with search.
- [Style your library: colors and display settings](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/styling/): Restyle a library across every dimension — accent, surface and text colours, style presets, a light/dark scheme, and CSS design tokens — from the Display tab or the block editor.
- [The FileDeck viewer: self-hosted PDF viewing](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/pdf-viewer/): FileDeck Pro's self-hosted PDF viewer renders embeds on your own server with zoom, find, print and full screen — and works for protected and watermarked files.
- [Use FileDeck with Elementor](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/elementor-integration/): FileDeck ships free Elementor widgets — Library, Document Embed (with a PDF Viewer alias) and Search — and Pro adds a Style tab; drag-and-drop, no shortcodes.
- [Developer reference: REST API, webhooks & WP-CLI](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/developer-api-reference/): The formal integration surface: FileDeck's REST routes, signed webhooks, WP-CLI commands, and the filters that matter — in one page.
- [Override library markup from your theme](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/template-overrides/): Copy a FileDeck template into your theme's filedeck/ directory to replace the markup of a library row or the empty state, without forking the plugin.
- [Favourites: let readers keep a shortlist](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/favourites/): Signed-in readers star the documents they want to come back to and read them off one page with the [filedeck_my_favourites] shortcode.
- [Filter a library by when documents were added](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/date-added-filter/): Add an Any time / Past week / month / year control so visitors can narrow a long library down to what arrived recently.
- [Filter a library by year](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/year-filter/): Add a year dropdown to a library — for minutes, newsletters, reports and accounts filed by year — without building a category or tag per year.
- [Multisite shared libraries](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/multisite-shared-libraries/): Show one site's document library on any other site of the network — one central library, rendered anywhere, with the central site's access rules enforcing.
- [New and already-downloaded markers](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/new-and-downloaded-markers/): Show signed-in visitors what has arrived since they last looked, and quietly dim what they have already taken from the library.
- [One library, a section per category](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/group-by-category/): Group a library into titled sections, one per category, with a single search box across all of them — instead of stacking one library per category on a page.
- [Share a document: copy link, email and social](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/share-documents/): A Share button on every document — copy the link, open the device share sheet, or send it by email, X, Facebook, LinkedIn or WhatsApp. Pro, and it loads no network scripts.
- [Smart collections (self-updating semantic folders)](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/smart-collections/): Save a plain-language query as a collection that stays current on its own — new matching documents appear without recategorising anything.
- [Translations & multilingual sites (WPML, Polylang)](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/translations-multilingual/): FileDeck ships its front end in nine languages, documents and categories translate like any content, and a bundled wpml-config tells WPML and Polylang how document data behaves.
- [Publish your library on another website](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/publish-your-library/): Embed your FileDeck library on any other site — Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, Webflow, Framer or a custom front end — with one line of code. WordPress stays the engine.
- [Shortcode reference: [filedeck]](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/shortcode-reference/): Complete [filedeck] shortcode reference: layout, columns, category, per_page, and sort attributes with defaults and copy-paste examples.
- [The Document Library block](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/filedeck-block/): Insert a FileDeck library in the block editor: live preview, layout picker, columns, category scoping and documents per page.
- [Use FileDeck with Astro, Next.js or any front end](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/headless-front-ends/): Three ways to put a FileDeck library in front of a headless or decoupled front end — the embed snippet, the JSON fragment endpoint, and signed download links.
- [Let AI agents search your library (Abilities API & MCP)](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/ai-agents-mcp/): Agents like Claude, Cursor or ChatGPT can search your library through WordPress 6.9's Abilities API and the MCP Adapter — read-only, and access-filtered.
- [Automatic PDF thumbnails](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/pdf-thumbnails/): FileDeck renders a real first-page preview of each PDF on your own server — not a generic file-type placeholder — for grid and image views.
- [File-type and folder icons](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/file-type-folder-icons/): Download buttons show an icon per file type, and each category can carry its own folder icon in the folder layout — from a built-in set, no uploads.
- [Folder layout](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/folder-layout/): FileDeck's folder layout groups documents into collapsible folders built from your document categories, ordered the way you choose, with search that opens folders.
- [Gallery layout](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/gallery-layout/): FileDeck's gallery layout puts large thumbnails first — for covers, plans and artwork. How it differs from the grid, and what documents without a thumbnail show.
- [Grid layout](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/grid-layout/): FileDeck's grid layout shows documents as cards with featured images — ideal for newsletters and visual libraries. Card fields and stacking.
- [Table layout](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/table-layout/): FileDeck's table layout lists documents in sortable rows, ideal for scanning many files. Covers sortable headers, mobile behavior, and columns.
- [AI semantic search: find documents by meaning](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/ai-semantic-search/): Turn on AI semantic search at Documents → Settings → AI search to find documents by meaning. Vectors are stored in your own database.
- [Ask this library: chat with your entire document library](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/ask-this-library/): Let visitors chat with your entire document library — an AI widget that answers from your own documents and links every source. Set it up under Documents → Settings → Ask AI.
- [Can AI search inside your WordPress documents?](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/ai-search-inside-documents/): What AI search adds beyond keyword matching: semantic search finds documents by meaning, and grounded Q&A answers questions from your library's content.
- [Jump to the page a search match is on](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/hit-navigation/): FileDeck Pro tells you which page of a PDF a content-search match is on, and opens the document at that page. How it works and when a page isn't shown.
- [Make scanned PDFs searchable with OCR](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/scanned-pdf-ocr/): Enable OCR under Documents → Settings → Scanned OCR to extract text from scanned PDFs. Files are processed and immediately discarded, never stored.
- [Search inside documents (full-text search)](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/content-search/): FileDeck searches inside PDFs, Office and OpenDocument files, and text files on your own server. Check index status and rebuild at Documents → Settings → Search Index.
- [Site-wide quick search (Cmd+K / Ctrl+K)](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/quick-search-overlay/): Let visitors press Cmd+K or Ctrl+K anywhere on your site to search the document library in an overlay. Enable it under Documents → Settings → Features.
- [Instant search, sorting, and filters](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/search-sort-filter/): How FileDeck's instant search, multi-column sorting, and multi-select category and tag filters work, including counts, active filters, and behavior in the folder layout.
- [Standalone search box: [filedeck_search]](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/search-block/): Place a document library search box anywhere with the free [filedeck_search] shortcode; searches open your library with the query already applied.

## Access Control & Protection

- [Access certification (quarterly access reviews)](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/access-certification/): Review who can reach every restricted category, attest it quarterly, and export the evidence — the SOC 2 access-review ritual in one screen.
- [Access control overview](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/access-control-overview/): Restrict FileDeck documents by WordPress role or password on the category edit screen, how restricted documents appear, and how to pick a method.
- [Assign a document to specific people](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/assign-documents-to-people/): Give a document to named users so only they can see it. Unlike role or category restrictions, it stays invisible to everyone else — not even a locked row.
- [Client areas (per-user document portals)](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/client-areas/): Turn a category into a private client portal: assign users, give them a My Documents page, let them upload into your moderation queue, and notify them when you publish.
- [Dynamic PDF watermarking](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/pdf-watermarking/): Stamp every served PDF with who downloaded it, from where, and when — per-recipient provenance for boards, legal, HR and clinics. AI tier.
- [Gate documents by membership plan](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/membership-plans/): Restrict a category or a document to holders of a MemberPress, Paid Memberships Pro, WooCommerce Memberships, Restrict Content Pro or s2Member plan.
- [Give a whole company access by email domain](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/domain-access/): Admit everyone with an email address at a domain to a client area, without naming them one by one — new joiners get in automatically.
- [Groups — grant access to a team, not one person at a time](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/groups/): Name a set of people once, then give that group a client area or a document. Change the membership and every grant follows.
- [Hotlink protection](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/hotlink-protection/): Stop other sites embedding your download links and spending your bandwidth, without breaking pasted URLs or emailed links.
- [How to restrict document downloads to logged-in users](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/restrict-downloads-logged-in-users/): Why WordPress media URLs stay public no matter how you hide the page, and how to gate documents behind a login with role restrictions and file protection.
- [How to set up secure client folders on your law firm website](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/secure-client-folders/): Give each client a private, access-controlled document folder on your existing WordPress site — structuring, restricting, large files, and records — without an enterprise DMS.
- [IP rules (restrict downloads by network)](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/ip-rules/): Allow downloads only from your office or VPN ranges, or block specific addresses — enforced on every download, signed share links included.
- [Password-protect documents and categories](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/password-protection/): Set a password on a FileDeck category — or on a single document via the editor's Visibility control. Visitors enter it once and stay unlocked.
- [Restrict documents by role](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/role-user-restrictions/): Limit FileDeck categories to chosen WordPress roles with the Restrict to roles (FileDeck) checkboxes. Restricted documents show a padlock or hide entirely.
- [Send refused visitors to a page of your own](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/access-denied-page/): Point people who open a document they cannot access at a “request access” page instead of a bare not-found — without disclosing private documents.
- [Single-use download links](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/single-use-links/): Send someone a link that works for exactly one download and then stops — no account needed at the other end.
- [Vault offload (serve protected files from S3 or R2)](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/vault-offload/): Mirror the protected vault into an S3-compatible bucket and serve downloads by presigned link — the bucket does the bandwidth, FileDeck keeps doing the access control.
- [View-only documents](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/view-only-documents/): Let visitors read a document in the browser while the download button, zips and the raw file URL are disabled. Honest deterrence — pairs with watermarking. AI tier.
- [File integrity: SHA-256 checksums](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/file-integrity-checksums/): FileDeck records a SHA-256 checksum for every document's file, shows it to visitors, and can verify protected files on every download.
- [Protect files on nginx servers](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/nginx-protected-files/): nginx ignores .htaccess, so add one location block to deny direct access to FileDeck's protected uploads folder, then verify with a direct-URL test.
- [True file protection: how signed download links work](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/file-protection-signed-urls/): FileDeck Pro moves protected files out of public uploads and serves downloads via signed URLs that expire in 15 minutes, so direct links never work.

## Downloads, Leads & Analytics

- [Activity log: downloads, views, and searches](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/download-log-reports/): FileDeck's activity log records downloads, views, and searches under Documents → Insights → Activity log, with totals, a content-gaps report, and CSV export.
- [Bot protection for downloads (Turnstile or reCAPTCHA)](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/bot-protection-for-downloads/): Put a Cloudflare Turnstile or Google reCAPTCHA check in front of downloads — one quick check per visit raises the cost of scripted scraping.
- [Document feedback: “Was this helpful?” votes](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/document-feedback/): Collect anonymous “Was this helpful?” yes/no votes on single document pages, and see a least-helpful report so you know which documents to fix first.
- [Download counts](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/download-counts/): FileDeck counts every document download with a lifetime counter shown in the Documents admin list. Free in all plans; see the Pro log for who and when.
- [Download quotas (daily limits per role)](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/download-quotas/): Give each user role — and logged-out visitors — a daily download ceiling, or expire a single document after N downloads. Metered access on top of FileDeck's allow/deny rules.
- [Force download or open in browser](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/delivery-control/): Choose per document whether the download button saves the file to disk or opens it in the browser — no more guessing what the visitor's browser will do.
- [How to track file downloads in WordPress](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/track-file-downloads/): WordPress records nothing when a file is downloaded. How to get real download data — lifetime counts free, and per-user timestamped logs with the activity log.
- [Let people see what they have already downloaded](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/download-history/): Add a personal download history to your portal with [filedeck_my_downloads] — a receipt of what each person has taken.
- [Let visitors download multiple files as one zip](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/download-multiple-files-zip/): WordPress has no bulk download. Why pre-zipping files breaks down, and how multi-select zip downloads deliver a visitor's selection as one archive.
- [Multi-select zip downloads](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/zip-downloads/): Let visitors tick checkboxes in a FileDeck library and download the selection as one zip. Requires PHP ZipArchive and respects all access restrictions.
- [Per-download notifications (email & webhook)](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/download-notifications/): Get an email or fire a webhook every time a document is downloaded — pipe download events into your inbox, Slack, Zapier or Make.
- [Require a form before download](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/require-a-form-before-download/): Gate downloads behind Gravity Forms, Ninja Forms, WPForms, Contact Form 7 or any other form plugin you already use — paste its shortcode and you are done.
- [Require terms before download](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/terms-before-download/): Make readers accept licence conditions or a disclaimer before a file is served, and keep a record of every acceptance in the activity log.
- [Transmittals (numbered document packages)](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/transmittals/): Issue numbered document packages to named recipients — for review, for approval, for construction — with a durable register and expiring download links.
- [Library event webhooks](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/document-events/): FileDeck Pro POSTs a signed webhook when a document is published, updated, retired or deleted — drive Zapier, Make, Slack or your own system from library changes.
- [Capture leads before download](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/lead-capture/): Require name and email before FileDeck downloads with one Features toggle — leads stored under Documents → Audience → Leads with CSV export and a JSON webhook.
- [Send captured leads to your mailing list (Mailchimp / Brevo)](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/send-leads-to-your-mailing-list/): Add every download lead to a Mailchimp audience or Brevo list automatically — double opt-in by default, and existing contacts are never re-subscribed.
- [Email subscriptions and digests](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/subscriptions-digests/): Let visitors subscribe to a daily or weekly email digest of new and updated documents, with double opt-in and a Subscribers screen to manage them.
- [Inline document preview](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/document-preview/): The free preview lightbox covers PDFs and images; FileDeck Pro extends it to Office documents, audio, and video so visitors can view documents without downloading them.

## Troubleshooting & FAQ

- [Large libraries and performance](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/large-libraries-performance/): How FileDeck handles large document libraries: browser-side search up to ~500 documents, automatic server mode beyond that, plus per_page, caching and category scoping guidance.
- [Frequently asked questions](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/faq/): Quick answers to common FileDeck questions: free vs Pro, file storage, protection, search scope, imports, page builders, GDPR, and support.
- [Category passwords: not prompting, not unlocking, or re-asking](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/troubleshooting-category-passwords/): Fix FileDeck category password problems: where the prompt appears, the 24-hour unlock cookie, page caching pitfalls, rate limiting after wrong guesses, and embeds.
- [Downloads not working: 404s, wrong file, or zero counts](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/troubleshooting-downloads/): Fix FileDeck download problems: 404 errors on download links, stale files after replacement, missing counts, denied access, and failed zip downloads.
- [Imports stuck, slow, or missing documents](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/troubleshooting-imports/): Fix FileDeck migration and import problems: background imports that seem stuck, wp-cron pitfalls, safely re-running, drafts you forgot about, and what each importer moves.
- [Library looks wrong or unstyled](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/troubleshooting-styling/): Fix a broken or unstyled FileDeck library: resolve theme CSS conflicts, stop optimization plugins stripping styles, and add custom CSS safely.
- [PDF thumbnails or previews not appearing](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/troubleshooting-thumbnails-previews/): Fix missing PDF thumbnails and previews in FileDeck: the Imagick + Ghostscript server requirement, regenerating after enabling, and preview file-type limits.
- [Search or filters not returning results](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/troubleshooting-search/): Why FileDeck search or filters return nothing: what search matches, stale content indexes, hidden documents, cached results, and blocked scripts.

## Account & Billing

- [Billing, refunds, and getting support](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/billing-refunds-support/): Manage FileDeck invoices, payment methods, and renewals in the Freemius portal, request a 30-day refund, and contact support for Free or Pro.
- [License keys, activation, and updates](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/licensing-activation/): Where your FileDeck Pro license key comes from, how to activate it in wp-admin, move it between sites, and what happens when a license expires.
- [Upgrade from Free to Pro](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/upgrade-to-pro/): Upgrade FileDeck from Free to Pro without losing data: buy a license, install the Pro build over the free plugin, and activate your key in wp-admin.

## Product

- [FileDeck](https://www.getfiledeck.com/): WordPress plugin for document libraries, downloads and client portals — searchable layouts, tracked downloads and private client areas with a genuinely generous free tier
- [Pricing](https://www.getfiledeck.com/pricing/): Free $0 · Pro $59/$99/$179 per year (1/5/50 sites) · AI tier $119/$199/$399 per year; renewals never increase
- [Features](https://www.getfiledeck.com/features/): full feature list by tier
- [Live demo](https://www.getfiledeck.com/demo/): 66-document interactive demo, all three layouts, no signup
- [Security model](https://www.getfiledeck.com/security/): file protection, signed expiring links, access rules — precise behaviour, no compliance claims
- [Switch to FileDeck](https://www.getfiledeck.com/switch/): free migration help from other document library plugins
- [Embed anywhere](https://www.getfiledeck.com/embed-anywhere/): embed a library outside WordPress
- [Services](https://www.getfiledeck.com/services/): plugin customisation, development and done-for-you setup
- [Changelog](https://www.getfiledeck.com/changelog/): every release in plain language

## About FileDeck

- [About](https://www.getfiledeck.com/about/): who makes FileDeck and how the business is run
- [How we test](https://www.getfiledeck.com/how-we-test/): the test suites and release checks behind every version
- [Support](https://www.getfiledeck.com/support/): how to get help, and what support covers

## Switching from another plugin

- [Switch from Document Library](https://www.getfiledeck.com/switch-from-document-library/): one-click import of an existing document library
- [Switch from Download Monitor](https://www.getfiledeck.com/switch-from-download-monitor/): import downloads, categories and counts
- [Switch from WordPress Download Manager](https://www.getfiledeck.com/switch-from-wordpress-download-manager/): import packages and files
- [Switch from Shared Files](https://www.getfiledeck.com/switch-from-shared-files/): import files and categories

## Industries

- [Schools & education](https://www.getfiledeck.com/for-schools/): policies, forms and newsletters parents can find
- [Healthcare](https://www.getfiledeck.com/for-healthcare/): patient forms and protocols, access-controlled
- [Law firms](https://www.getfiledeck.com/for-law-firms/): client resources behind passwords, precedents behind roles
- [Construction](https://www.getfiledeck.com/for-construction/): specs, RAMS and drawings by project
- [Local government](https://www.getfiledeck.com/for-local-government/): public minutes and reports residents can find
- [Nonprofits & charities](https://www.getfiledeck.com/for-nonprofits/): annual reports and policies public, board papers private
- [Agencies](https://www.getfiledeck.com/for-agencies/): client document libraries, 50 sites under one licence
- [Manufacturing](https://www.getfiledeck.com/for-manufacturers/): spec sheets, datasheets and manuals distributors can find

## Comparisons & buying guides

> Product names below are the trademarks of their respective owners.
> FileDeck is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any of them.

- [Best document library plugins (all tiers)](https://www.getfiledeck.com/best-wordpress-document-library-plugins/): honest category roundup
- [Best free document library plugins](https://www.getfiledeck.com/best-free-wordpress-document-library-plugins/): free-tier roundup
- [FileDeck vs FileBird](https://www.getfiledeck.com/filebird-vs-filedeck/)
- [FileDeck vs Download Monitor](https://www.getfiledeck.com/download-monitor-vs-filedeck/)
- [FileDeck vs WordPress Download Manager](https://www.getfiledeck.com/wordpress-download-manager-vs-filedeck/)
- [FileDeck vs Filr](https://www.getfiledeck.com/filr-vs-filedeck/)
- [FileDeck vs Document Library Pro](https://www.getfiledeck.com/vs-document-library-pro/)
- [WordPress document library vs Google Drive embeds](https://www.getfiledeck.com/google-drive-vs-wordpress-document-library/)
- [SharePoint alternative for public document libraries](https://www.getfiledeck.com/sharepoint-alternative-public-document-library/)
- [Document library vs document management system](https://www.getfiledeck.com/document-management-system-vs-document-library/)
- [Members-only document library guide](https://www.getfiledeck.com/members-document-library/)