Prevent Files / Folders Access
by miniOrange · Media
Also makes 43 other plugins · 77.8K+ installs across the portfolio →
Prevent public access to WordPress files and folders. Protect downloads from public access. Role and user based folder access in premium plans only.
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
A 87/100
no flags
Active installs
1K+
≈1.9K estimated
Momentum
+65%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “content restriction” for “folder”. “content restriction” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “folder” sits at #12 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
87 health vs 62 average across 3,278 Media plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →2.1%
of downloads still active
At least 1K of 47.3K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Media plugin keeps 0.8%, across 2,317 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Media plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
This plugin shipped 8 releases in the last 12 months, and every existing install that updated counted as another download. wp.org publishes no split between first installs and updates, so we show the raw rate rather than guess at one.
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.
Well optimized
Most to gain: Support resolution
Updated 19 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.6★ over 35 reviews, smoothed to 4.31★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
0 of 1 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
To rank higher: Mark more forum threads resolved — the resolved ratio feeds the ranking.
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.
38
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.4
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
21%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.3
Acceleration
recent half vs earlier
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| prevent | #4 | #7 | up 1 |
| folders | #11 | #14 | up 1 |
| protect folders your tag | #13 | #17 | down 4 |
| folder | #12 | #16 | 0 |
| access | #16 | #20 | up 1 |
| secure files your tag | #18 | #21 | down 1 |
| media restriction your tag | #24 | #20 | down 2 |
| prevent content | #9 | #14 | 0 |
| access restriction | #15 | #19 | up 1 |
| role based access | #18 | #20 | 0 |
| page access restriction | #19 | #23 | down 5 |
| role access | #20 | #21 | down 1 |
| page access | #24 | #23 | 0 |
| secure admin access | #24 | #21 | down 1 |
| content restriction your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| protect uploads your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
82 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 14 listed. 68 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 2 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “content restriction” for “folder”. “content restriction” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “folder” sits at #12 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
- One page off on “protect folders”. #13 puts you just past the first ten results, where almost all the clicks stop. The gap to close is small.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 4.5K · peaks are release surges
Directory rank vs rivals
wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you
Rating trend
Star average over time · dips mark rough releases
Health trend
Composite health score, snapshotted daily
Update activity
How busy the existing users are, measured as downloads in the last 30 days for every 1,000 active sites. A spike means a new release everyone's pulling; a long, slow decline means an aging user base that updates less.
Release cadence
Actively maintainedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
8
releases in the last 12 months
19d ago
latest release · v2.7.0 · 12 Oct 2026
29
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin. 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 “1K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 4 years ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 90% of the way through.
Install history since 27 Jun 2020
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ jonmxm11mo ago
I will give this a 5 star rating only because of the support. The support was very good and they where able to work through all of the issues with our site/host and they were finally able to resolve all of our issues. However, I am in the US Central time zone. It took about 4 weeks to resolve our issues because of the time delay. Again, the support was great but you will need to be patient!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ baritono1.5y ago
Cercavo proprio un plugin di questo genere, è ottimo! Però vedo che non è aggiornato da un anno ((( L’avete abbandonato?
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ mpisner1.9y ago
I had an issue with conflicting plugins that were keeping me from installing/activating this one. This team quickly arranged a conference call with me and their developers and helped me work through my issue. They were patient and thorough and I could not have received better support. Incredibly friendly team and I am so thankful for them.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ sjmccabe2.1y ago
My organization is using the Private Directory feature of Prevent files / folders access to protect PDF files that need to be accessible by our members only, and not via URL on the open Internet. While setting up the plug-in I had two issues and they were both solved within 24 hours by the developers. Thank you very much!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ candyteacher2.4y ago
It took us a couple of weeks to get this set up exactly how we wanted, but we’ve had amazing tech support every step of the way thanks to Saurabh, who has gone above and beyond to make sure all the code was working perfectly. Recommendable.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ deliuselite2.6y ago
miniOrange has the best SSO plugin that we have ever used. They integrate with a lot of services and are willing to write an application if a service is not available. Would use them for all future clients. Plugin = 10/10 Service = 10/10 Ease of use = 8/10
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ ezsales3.4y ago
Thank you their service was very helpful, and exactly what I needed
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ kmp23.5y ago
If I could give it zero stars, I would. “Prevent Files / Folders Access” does not work to protect my PDF publications from being downloaded through an installed pdf viewer plugin. And the state of the “art” today is that there is really no protection for important PDF files containing your copyrighted property, they are easily stolen with every kind of iframe and every kind of pdf viewer plugin. I had hoped that this “Prevent Files / Folders Access” plugin might put a stop to it, but no.
Read on wp.org ↗
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 3 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (2.7.0). Sites still on an older version should update.
- Patched Medium · 4.3 Prevent files / folders access <= 2.6.0 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) Path Traversal ↗2025-08-06 CVE-2025-53561 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory Affects <= 2.6.0 Patched in 2.6.1
- Patched High · 7.2 Prevent files / folders access <= 2.5.1 - Authenticated (Administrator+) Arbitrary File Upload in mo_media_restrict_page ↗2023-08-28 CVE-2023-4238 Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type Affects <= 2.5.1 Patched in 2.5.2
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 8.1.12 · WP 7.0
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
6 of 8 pass · checked 28 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "Prevent public access to WordPress files and folders. Protect downloads from public access. Role and user b..."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 7 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 7 of 7 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for One audience phrase ("if you have"); say who the plugin is for and what they use it for.
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions WooCommerce, LearnDash.
- ✓ Headings and lists 5 headings and 9 lists.
- ✓ Enough to quote 8,890 characters of description.
- ! Tags match the text Only 1 of 5 tags appear in the text ("content restriction", "protect uploads", "protect-folders", "secure files" missing).
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2022-11-14 900+ → 1K+ up after 41 days in tier
- 2022-10-04 700+ → 900+ up after 396 days in tier
- 2021-09-03 200+ → 700+ up
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).
-
User Registration & Membership – Free & Paid Memberships, Subscriptions, Content Restriction, User Profile, Custom User Registration & Login Builder 50K+ installs · 4.8★ · 1 shared tag A -
Content Control – The Ultimate Content Restriction Solution! Restrict Content, Create Conditional Blocks & More 40K+ installs · 4.8★ · 1 shared tag A -
Paid Membership Subscriptions – Effortless Memberships, Recurring Payments & Content Restriction 10K+ installs · 4.7★ · 1 shared tag A -
Restrict User Access – Ultimate Membership & Content Protection 10K+ installs · 4.3★ · 1 shared tag A -
s2Member – Excellent for All Kinds of Memberships, Content Restriction Paywalls & Member Access Subscriptions 8K+ installs · 4.1★ · 1 shared tag B -
SureMembers – Membership & Content Restriction Plugin 2K+ installs · 4.1★ · 1 shared tag B
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Prevent Files / Folders Access into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/prevent-file-access" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Prevent Files / Folders Access — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Prevent Files / Folders Access: 1K+ active installs, 4.6★ (35 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/prevent-file-access
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