# 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.
- [Several files on one document (supporting files)](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/supporting-files/): Give a document supporting files, such as a datasheet, a drawing or appendices: listed under its download button and kept under its access rules.
- [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 → Upload Documents (Import & Export → Upload files on Pro) — each becomes a document, with an optional category and tags.
- [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, which updates those documents when you edit it and import it back.
- [Import documents from CSV](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/csv-import/): Bulk-create FileDeck documents from a CSV, or update them from an edited export, under Documents → Import & Export → Bulk add & export: columns, dates and a sample CSV.
- [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 — documents, categories, files, download counts, members-only visibility and password-protected downloads.
- [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, logged-in-only access and password-protected downloads.
- [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.
- [Old links keep working after you migrate](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/old-links-after-migration/): After a one-click migration, the old plugin's download links, item pages and shortcodes open your FileDeck documents, even with the old plugin switched off.
- [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 published documents for missing files, dead links and downloads nobody wants, and flag restricted files an import left public. 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 each time you replace a document's file. Restore any version, or list earlier versions for the readers who can open it.

## 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: bookmarks, page thumbnails, working links, zoom, find and print, and it shows 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 a library row, the empty state or a document page's details, without forking the plugin.
- [Document Download block: one document as a button, link or card](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/download-block/): Put one document anywhere as a download button, a text link or a card with its file type and size, with the free Document Download block or [filedeck_download].
- [Document pages: what each document's own page shows](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/document-pages/): Every document has its own page. Show the document itself on it, list the details you choose above the Download button, and end it with related documents.
- [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.
- [Let visitors request an accessible version of a document](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/accessible-version-requests/): Add a free \"Request an accessible version\" link to document pages. Visitors pick the format they need, and you get an email and a list of requests.
- [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.
- [One library, a section per year](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/group-by-year/): Group a library into titled sections by year, newest first: minutes, newsletters and reports by year, with one search box across all of them and no category per year.
- [Public document changelog: show what changed in your library](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/document-changelog/): List published and updated documents newest first, grouped by month, with the Pro [filedeck_changelog] shortcode or the Document Changelog block.
- [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: a styled preview in the editor, a layout picker, and the library builder for every other option.
- [The library builder](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/library-builder/): Design a document library with a live preview on your own site, in your theme, then create the page in one click or copy its shortcode.
- [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 for grid and image views, on your own server, or in your own browser where the server can't.
- [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.
- [Use your site's own AI connection for FileDeck AI](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/ai-site-connection/): Run Ask this library and the AI suggestions through the AI provider connected to WordPress itself (7.0+), and semantic search too from WordPress 7.2.
- [Document Search block and [filedeck_search]](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/search-block/): Place a document library search box anywhere with the free Document Search block or [filedeck_search] shortcode; searches open your library with the query already applied.
- [Exact phrases, AND and OR in search](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/search-operators/): How FileDeck's search boxes read several words: every word required in any order, quote marks for an exact phrase, and OR for either of two terms.
- [Filter a document library by file type or author](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/file-type-filter/): Let visitors narrow a library to PDFs, Word, Excel or PowerPoint files, images, audio or video, or to one person's documents, with the free file type and author filters.
- [Instant search, sorting, and filters](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/search-sort-filter/): How FileDeck's instant search, multi-column sorting and multi-select filters (category, tag, file type, author) work, with counts and active filters.

## Access Control & Protection

- [A members' library with an outside sign-in](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/members-library-outside-login/): Keep member documents behind the sign-in your members already use (single sign-on or a JWT login), with a sign-in link for signed-out visitors and member-field rules.
- [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 area: assign users, show it in the client portal, let them upload into your moderation queue, and notify them when you publish.
- [Client portal: client sign-in, invitations and the Clients screen](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/client-portal/): Give each client their own sign-in on your site. Add clients from Documents → Clients, send invitations, preview a client's portal, and let clients manage their own account.
- [Documents for buyers and students: access by purchase or course](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/purchase-course-access/): Open a category of documents to people who bought a WooCommerce or Easy Digital Downloads product, or are enrolled on a LearnDash, Tutor LMS or LifterLMS course.
- [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.
- [Download tracking in FileDeck: counts, logs and reports](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/track-file-downloads/): What FileDeck records when a file is downloaded: lifetime counts on every install, and per-user timestamped logs and reports with the Pro activity log.
- [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.
- [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 problems: imports that seem stuck, wp-cron pitfalls, items that could not be imported, safely re-running, and drafts you forgot about.
- [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 server or browser renderer, 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.

## How-to Guides

- [How to choose and set up a WordPress download manager with access control](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/download-manager-with-access-control/): A WordPress download manager with access control must decide who can download each file and stop the file being fetched any other way. What to check, and how to set it up.
- [How to create a client document portal in WordPress](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/create-a-client-portal-in-wordpress/): A WordPress client portal needs client logins, per-client access enforced on downloads, and protected files. How to build one on your own site, step by step.
- [How to create a resource library in WordPress](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/create-a-resource-library-in-wordpress/): A WordPress resource library is a searchable page of guides, templates, videos and links. How to plan one, build it with a free plugin, and gate it with Pro.
- [How to create a searchable document library in WordPress](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/create-a-document-library-in-wordpress/): WordPress has no built-in document library. What core can and can't do, the ways to build one, and a step-by-step setup with a free plugin.
- [How to display PDFs in a searchable table in WordPress](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/display-pdfs-in-a-searchable-table/): List PDFs in a WordPress table that visitors can search, sort and filter: why the core Table block can't, what to use instead, and a free step-by-step setup.
- [How to embed a PDF in WordPress (with or without a plugin)](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/embed-a-pdf-in-wordpress/): Embed a PDF in WordPress with the File block, no plugin needed, or a free PDF embed block or Elementor widget. What each does on phones and for private files.
- [How to password-protect PDFs and file downloads in WordPress](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/password-protect-downloads-in-wordpress/): A password-protected WordPress page doesn't protect the PDFs it links to. How to password-protect a PDF or any download so the file itself stays private.
- [How to restrict file downloads by user role or membership in WordPress](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/restrict-downloads-by-user-role/): WordPress files are public by URL. To restrict downloads by role or membership, check permission on each download and keep the file out of public uploads.
- [How to search PDF content in WordPress (PDF and Word files)](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/search-inside-pdf-files-in-wordpress/): WordPress search skips the text inside PDFs and Word files. How to search PDF content with a plugin that indexes it, plus OCR for scanned PDFs.
- [How to stop direct URL access to files in WordPress uploads](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/stop-direct-access-to-wordpress-uploads/): Files in wp-content/uploads are public to anyone with the link. How to block direct URL access to PDFs and other private uploads without breaking your site's images.
- [How to track file downloads in WordPress](https://www.getfiledeck.com/docs/track-file-downloads-in-wordpress/): WordPress doesn't count file downloads. Compare GA4 file_download events, host logs and server-side counting, then see who downloaded what, step by step.

## 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
- [Associations, clubs & societies](https://www.getfiledeck.com/for-associations/): minutes, bylaws and newsletters by year, members-only papers

## Use cases

- [SDS library](https://www.getfiledeck.com/sds-library/): publish safety data sheets customers and staff can search, current revision first
- [Meeting minutes archive](https://www.getfiledeck.com/meeting-minutes-archive/): minutes, agendas and newsletters filed by year
- [Client portal](https://www.getfiledeck.com/client-portal/): each client signs in to their own documents, gets emailed about new ones and can upload back

## 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/)

## Cost guides

> Published list prices in USD, read from each vendor's pricing page on the date each page states
> and re-checked monthly. FileDeck Pro: $59/$99/$179 per year for 1/5/50 sites, renewing at the same price.

- [Save money on WordPress document plugins](https://www.getfiledeck.com/save-money-on-wordpress-plugins/): the hub — one-site three-year table, savings calculator, where switching saves and where it does not
- [How much a document library plugin costs](https://www.getfiledeck.com/document-library-plugin-cost/): six plugins at 1, 5 and 50 sites with three-year totals and what each plan includes
- [Why plugin renewals go up](https://www.getfiledeck.com/plugin-renewal-price-increases/): which vendors renew at the first-year price and which at double; how to read a pricing page
- [Multi-site licence costs](https://www.getfiledeck.com/multi-site-plugin-licence-cost/): five- and fifty-site plans, cost per site per year, what counts as a site
- [When the free version is enough](https://www.getfiledeck.com/free-document-library-plugin-instead-of-paid/): what FileDeck Free includes, the three signs a site needs Pro
- [Replace three plugins with one](https://www.getfiledeck.com/replace-three-plugins-with-one/): download manager + search plugin + members plugin priced against one library plugin