Hide Real Download Path

How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.

Directory rank

wp.org popularity rank over time · lower is better

Share of active installs on each version of this plugin · 100% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.

Modeled within the band wp.org reports; tightens as we track daily.

No paid tier is visible, so we don't put a figure on revenue or sale value: that would be guessing. The install base is a real asset to an acquirer, just not one public data lets us price. A small install base leaves thin data to model from.

1. ★★★★★ priljayme

   9.2y ago

   Yes, this plugin is still working on version 4.8 (though it lacks clear usage instructions). Thanks! I created a topic on the support regarding the step-by-step guide https://wordpress.org/support/topic/step-by-step-guide-4/ This topic was modified 9 years ago by priljayme.

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2. ★★★★★ priljayme

   9.2y ago

   Yes, still working on version 4.8 Although it lacks clear usage, but since the author did put effort so I’ll offer my own step-by-step version so that others can appreciate it as well (after activating plugin): 1. Create ANY folder on your hosting server using FTP or cpanel File Manager (I created mine inside /wp-content/uploads/ folder). e.g. “downloads” 2. After activating plugin, go to Settings > Hide Download Link 3. Copy the directory highlighted on the “Root path on your server is” e.g. /home/server/public_html/ 4. Paste it on the “Base Dir:” text box then add the directory where you created your folder. Now, my full “Base Dir:” is: /home/server/public_html/wp-content/uploads/downloads/ 5. Keep “Log Downloads” checked 6. Click to Save Settings (Nevermind any error) 7. Upload your downloadable file on your “Base Dir” (or on your created folder) Let’s say my file is “plugin-download.zip” The REAL full url of my file is /home/server/public_html/wp-content/uploads/downloads/plugin-download.zip 8. Create new post/page for your “plugin-download.zip” Download Page Let’s say I named it “Download Page of Plugin” with slug “download-page-plugin” 9. On that page, you don’t have to write anything EXCEPT for the shortcode [download_page] 10. Save & Publish that Page Now, the url of that page will be: http://website.com/download-page-plugin/ 11. Create ANOTHER new post/page. This time, I created my Thank You Page. I named it “Thank You Plugin Download” with slug “thank-you-page-plugin” 12. On the content, I included a thank you message plus the PLUGIN-SECURED download link. e.g. Thank you for downloading my plugin. Click HERE to download the plugin NOTE: “http://website.com/download-page-plugin/” is the URL of the first created page; “?f=” is the required query for the URL; and lastly “plugin-download.zip” is the file name of the uploaded file. 13. Save & Publish that Page Now, the url of that page will be: http://website.com/thank-you-page-plugin/ 14. To test if everything is working, go to the recently created page; “http://website.com/thank-you-page-plugin/” and check the download link. Once you click the link, the downloadable file should now be accessible.

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3. ★★★★★ BiomeDigital

   10.4y ago

   not clear instructions. I had to search for the short code then it didn’t work.

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4. ★★★★★ lalejon

   10.5y ago

   It works smoothly and integrated within any external player or audio tag. The real path of mp3 file is coded, although external or browser audio players works fine. Nice work Deepak!

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5. ★★★★★ Abhi

   10.5y ago

   This plugin works beautifully. I’d like to thank Deepak for making this plugin. There are however a few directions that you should follow. Don’t forget to create a page titled “download” & put this shortcode there ‘[download_page]’ Most of the bad reviews I read are by people who have no idea what they’re doing. A little bit of WP knowledge & access from server side (since you need to create a folder in wp-content as well) this plugin works like a charm. Thanks again to the developer.

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6. ★★★★★ Andrea

   10.8y ago

   …but remember to set your “real download path” every (!) time, the plugin is updated or re-activated. So it´s still working under WP 4.9.x Alternative for some bucks (and more complicated): https://codecanyon.net/item/wp-one-time-file-download-unique-link-generator-wordpress-plugin/21871469 This topic was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by Andrea. This topic was modified 8 years, 1 month ago by Andrea. This topic was modified 8 years, 1 month ago by Andrea. This topic was modified 8 years, 1 month ago by Andrea. This topic was modified 8 years, 1 month ago by Andrea.

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7. ★★★★★ yorcht

   11.3y ago

   poor support

   Read on wp.org ↗
8. ★★★★★ Social Chic

   11.9y ago

   Hide Real Download Path is lightweight, doesn’t slow the site down, and does a PERFECT job of redirects. Efficient, and makes a wysiwig out of adding code to htaccess. Love it — solved everything. And the developer support is second to none — Deepak solved the issues I had w/in 7 hours! Best plugin of its kind.

   Read on wp.org ↗

1 disclosed vulnerability on record for this plugin, 1 still affects the current version.

1. Medium · 4.3 Hide Real Download Path <= 1.6 - Cross-Site Request Forgery ↗
   2025-09-05 CVE-2025-58849 Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) Affects <= 1.6 No patch available

Automated install-time checks, tested on PHP 7.2.16 · WP 5.2.4

Growth timeline

Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow

1. 2026-08-31 100+ → 90+ down after 1213 days in tier
2. 2023-05-06 200+ → 100+ down

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Hide Real Download Path: 90+ active installs, 3.8★ (14 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-08-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/hide-real-download-path