Hide Real Download Path
Plugin helps you to hide real/direct path of files hosted on your server for download and make your files secure from unauthorized download. It also maintains a log of all downloads done using it and provide capability…
Consider an alternative
Hide Real Download Path shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 100+ sites, is rated 3.8/5 and was last updated 12 years ago, and scores 32/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (100+ active installs)
- No update in 11 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.0 (latest is 7.1)
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where Hide Real Download Path stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| disable direct download | >100 |
| hide download path | >100 |
| hide real download path | >100 |
| hot linking | #36 |
| secure file | >100 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 3.8 from 14 reviews
About Hide Real Download Path
From the official readme · v1.6Description
Plugin helps you to hide real/direct path of files hosted on your server for download and make your files secure from unauthorized download. It also maintains a log of all downloads done using it and provide capability to disallow direct linking (hot linking) to your files from other website.
You can:
- Allow or restrict hotlink (direct download) of your files from other website/external links.
- Restrict ‘download only’ from link on your website
- View log of individual download
It support multiple files extensions including:
zip / pdf / doc / xls / ppt / exe / gif / png / jpg / jpeg / mp3 / wav / mpeg / mpg / mpe / mov / avi / xlsx
*Step by step configuration guideline in Settings sections of plugin after activation
Version 1.5 changes:
– Corrupt file bug fixed
– Easy step by step guide added in admin to configure plugin
– Generate Root path dynamically
– Support for xlsx added
Installation
- Unzip plugin in
/wp-content/plugins/directory - Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress
- Go to Settings -> ‘Hide Download Link’
- Enter Root path of your download directory where all files are hosted. (it should be something as /home/public_html/yourdirectoryname depending on your host)
- Enter referred (if you want to restrict direct download using link from other wesbites)
- Save and you are done !!
Now create a page and enter shortcode [download_page]. You are files are now secure!
Download link of your all files will be http://YourSiteName.com/YourPageName/?f=YourFileName.extension
Example:
If you created page with name ‘Download’ and added shortcode in it, Path for your download file (assuming its name is test.zip) will be:
http://yoursitename.com/download/?f=test.zip
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
FAQ
Hide Real Download Path: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 8, 2026
Is Hide Real Download Path free?
Yes. Hide Real Download Path is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Hide Real Download Path safe to use in 2026?
Hide Real Download Path shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 100+ sites, is rated 3.8/5 and was last updated 12 years ago, and scores 32/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Hide Real Download Path?
Hide Real Download Path is active on 100+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 11,017 times since it launched in January 2013. It was downloaded 133 times in the last 30 days.
Does Hide Real Download Path work with WordPress 7.1?
Hide Real Download Path is officially tested up to WordPress 4.0.38, while the latest release is 7.1.3. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
When was Hide Real Download Path last updated?
The latest version, 1.6, was released on October 20, 2014 (12 years ago).
Who makes Hide Real Download Path?
Hide Real Download Path is developed and maintained by Deepak S.
Powered by PageForge
Want thousands of pages that rank like these? Build them in an afternoon.
This directory runs on the same engine as PageForge. Turn any spreadsheet, CSV or API into thousands of fast, SEO-ready WordPress pages — with schema, internal links and AI-written copy baked in.
- CSV, Google Sheets & API data sources
- AI content, schema & internal links per page
- Works with Elementor, Gutenberg, Yoast & Rank Math
- Free on WordPress.org — no credit card
