Hide Real Download Path
by Deepak S · Uncategorized
Also makes 1 other plugin · 120+ installs across the portfolio →
This plugin help to hide real download path of your files on server and allow file downloading using a common URL. Also maintain log of your downloads …
Try it live opens a temporary test site in your browser, which can take about 20 seconds to load. Plugins that rely on outside services or a full server may not work completely there.
Health
D 46/100
Stale · Likely abandoned · Open vulnerability
Active installs
90+
≈100 estimated
Momentum
-4%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: “disable direct download”, “hide download path” and “hide real download path” aren't earning a slot. You list them, but you're not in the first 24 results for those searches. WordPress.org counts only your first five tags, so free the slot for a search you can win.
46 health vs 58 average across 25,737 Uncategorized plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →0.8%
of downloads still active
At least 90 of 11.1K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Uncategorized plugin keeps 0.6%, across 17,769 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Uncategorized plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
High removal-risk signals
63/100Maintenance and integrity signals that tend to precede a WordPress.org removal. Not an official status, a heads-up to act.
- Long abandoned. No update in 12+ years — the top precursor to removal once a vulnerability is found.
- Compatibility drift. Tested only up to WordPress 4.0.38, well behind 6.8.
Details
Directory ranking optimization
How it's scored →How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.
Under-optimized
Most to gain: Update recency
Updated 4394 days ago, past the ~180 days where wp.org starts discounting
Tested up to WordPress 4.0.38; the current branch is 6.8
3.8★ over 14 reviews, smoothed to 4.03★ and held back under 25 reviews
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
To rank higher: Last updated 4394 days ago — ship an update; wp.org decays a listing's search weight after ~180 days.
Get the full rank-higher report →Search visibility
How it's tracked →Directory searches this plugin turns up in, and which way each one is moving. WordPress.org publishes no history of search positions, so this starts the day we first tracked a keyword and never backfills.
Not enough tracked days yet to call a direction. Momentum needs at least three keywords measured a week or more apart.
wp.org is where the directory puts the plugin for that search. On merit is where it would sit if results were ranked on rating, support and updates, without the install boost. The last column is how far the wp.org position moved, from our first reading in the last 90 days to the latest.
| Keyword | wp.org | On merit | wp.org move, 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| disable direct download your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| hide download path your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| hide real download path your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| hot linking your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| secure file your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
0 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days. 5 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- “disable direct download”, “hide download path” and “hide real download path” aren't earning a slot. You list them, but you're not in the first 24 results for those searches. WordPress.org counts only your first five tags, so free the slot for a search you can win.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,487 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 149 · peaks are release surges
Directory rank
Ranked about #16,800 to #17,400, alongside the other plugins at 90+ installs. Plugins with the same install count swap places between wp.org requests, so this is where most of them sit. Checked monthly, last on 21 Oct 2026.
Health trend
Composite health score, snapshotted daily
Update activity
Downloads in the last 30 days for every 1,000 active sites.
Not enough installs to measure. This needs at least 100 active sites; below that, a handful of downloads reads as tens of thousands.
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare 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.
Estimated active installs
The public count shows “90+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 10 days ago and a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, so the real count is still just under 100.
Install history since 4 Oct 2022
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ priljayme9.4y 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.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ priljayme9.4y 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.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ BiomeDigital10.6y ago
not clear instructions. I had to search for the short code then it didn’t work.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ lalejon10.6y 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!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Abhi10.7y 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.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Andrea11.0y 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.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ yorcht11.5y ago
poor support
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Social Chic12.0y 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 ↗
Security history
via Wordfence Intelligence1 open vulnerability affects the current version (1.6). 0 of 1 disclosed are patched.
Vulnerability records provided by Wordfence Intelligence. Copyright 2012-2026 Defiant Inc. License and terms.
CVE records: Copyright 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. CVE terms of use.
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 7.2.16 · WP 5.2.4
AI assistants
How it's measured →Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.
Not measured yet for this plugin’s topics. Its tracked searches are not among the measured topics. See the topics measured so far.
Readme readiness
3 of 8 pass · checked 27 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "This plugin help to hide real download path of your files on server and allow file downloading using a comm..."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 3 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 3 of 3 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for Never says who the plugin is for or what they use it for.
- ! Names what it works with Names no plugin, service or platform it works with.
- ! Headings and lists 0 headings and 1 list; assistants quote headed sections and bullet lists, not paragraphs.
- ! Enough to quote 923 characters of description; under 1,000 there is little to quote.
- ! Tags match the text Only 2 of 5 tags appear in the text ("disable direct download", "hide download path", "secure file" missing).
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2026-10-21 100+ → 90+ down after 8 days in tier
- 2026-10-13 90+ → 100+ up after 43 days in tier
- 2026-08-31 100+ → 90+ down after 1213 days in tier
- 2023-05-06 200+ → 100+ down
Competes with
The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Hide Real Download Path into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/hide-real-download-path" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Hide Real Download Path — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Hide Real Download Path: 90+ active installs, 3.8★ (14 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/hide-real-download-path
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