TemplateSell Gated Downloads
Gate downloads behind a form, capture leads, and (with Pro) automate everything that happens next.
Introduction
TemplateSell Gated Downloads turns any file download into a lead magnet. You create a “gated file”, place it on any page with a shortcode or block, and visitors must submit a short form before the download unlocks. Every submission is stored as a lead you can search and export.
It works with any WordPress theme — the capture modal is rendered in the site footer and styled independently, so it never fights your theme's CSS. The free plugin is fully functional; Gated Downloads Pro adds automation, integrations, spam protection, and protected links.
Requirements
| WordPress | 6.2 or higher |
|---|---|
| PHP | 7.4 or higher |
| Permissions | An administrator account (manage_options) to configure the plugin |
Installation
- In your WordPress admin, go to Plugins → Add New.
- Search for “TemplateSell Gated Downloads”, click Install Now, then Activate.
- A new Gated Downloads menu appears in the sidebar. You're ready to create your first gated file.
Prefer manual install? Upload the templatesell-gated-downloads folder to /wp-content/plugins/ and activate it from the Plugins screen.
On activation Gated Downloads registers the Gated Files post type and a leads database table automatically — no setup wizard required.
Quick start
- Go to Gated Downloads → Add New and give your gated file a title (e.g. 2026 Pricing Guide).
- In the Gate settings box, choose your file — upload from the Media Library or paste a URL — and set a button label.
- Publish. Copy the shortcode shown in the sidebar, e.g.
[templatesell_gated_download id="123"]. - Edit any page or post, paste the shortcode (or add the Gated Download block), and update.
- Visit the page — click the button, and the capture modal appears. Submit it, then check Gated Downloads → Leads.
Creating a gated file Free
A gated file is the unit Gated Downloads protects. Each one has its own file, button label, and shortcode.
File source
In the Gate settings metabox you can pick between two sources:
- Media Library — click Select file to choose or upload an attachment. Best for PDFs and files hosted on your site.
- External URL — paste any link (e.g. a file on cloud storage). Gated Downloads delivers it after the form is submitted.
Button label
The text shown on the button that opens the modal — for example Download the guide. If left empty, the default from Settings is used.
Form fields & behavior Free
Every gated file is its own form. In the Form Fields & Behavior box on the file's edit screen you choose exactly which fields it collects, in what order, and how it behaves after submit — independently of every other form. Leave the overrides off and the form simply inherits your global Settings, so existing forms keep working unchanged.
Choosing & ordering fields
Turn on Customize the fields for this form, then tick the fields you want and drag to reorder them. Mark any field Required. The standard field set is:
| Field | Stored as |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Name column |
| Email Address (always on) | Email column |
| Phone Number | Phone column |
| Company | With the lead |
| Job Title | With the lead |
| Website | With the lead |
| Country | With the lead |
Need field types beyond text — dropdowns, checkboxes, unlimited custom fields, conditional logic? Those live in Gated Downloads Pro.
Messages & behavior
Turn on Customize messages & behavior to override, per form:
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Success message | The confirmation shown after a successful submit. Blank = inherit the global default. |
| Submit button text | The label on the form's submit button. Blank = inherit. |
| Redirect URL | If set, the visitor is sent to this URL after submitting instead of the file download starting. |
Notification
Turn on Customize the email notification to send this form's leads to a different address (or to silence notifications for this form only). Otherwise the global notification applies.
Categories Free
Gated files support a fully custom taxonomy — nothing is hardcoded. Create whatever categories fit your library (Guides, Datasheets, Case Studies…) under Gated Downloads → Categories, then assign them when editing a file. Categories are stored with each lead so you can see which topic drives sign-ups.
Displaying a gate Free
Shortcode
Place this anywhere shortcodes run — a page, post, or text widget:
[templatesell_gated_download id="123" label="Download the guide"]| Attribute | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
id | Yes | The ID of the gated file (shown in the editor sidebar). |
label | No | Overrides the button text for this instance only. |
The Gated Files list has a Shortcode column — click any shortcode to copy it to your clipboard.
[tsgd id="123"] is a short alias of [templatesell_gated_download id="123"] — both render the same form, so use whichever reads better in your content.
Block
In the block editor, add the Gated Download block, then pick a gated file from the dropdown and (optionally) set a custom label. The block renders the same button and modal as the shortcode.
You can place the same gated file on multiple pages — leads record which page (source URL) each submission came from.
Settings Free
Under Gated Downloads → Settings you set the global defaults. Any form can override these on its own edit screen (see Form fields & behavior); forms that don't override inherit the values here.
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Default form fields | The fields new forms start with, and the fallback for forms that don't customize their own. Toggle which appear and whether they're required. Email is always collected. |
| Consent checkbox | Show a GDPR-style consent line with your own wording; store whether each lead agreed. |
| Appearance (brand colors) | Set a primary color (download & submit buttons, links, focus highlights, modal header icon) and a modal header color; a matching gradient is generated automatically. Colors apply everywhere the gate appears. |
| Admin notifications | Email a chosen address whenever a new lead is captured. |
| Default button label | The fallback label used when a gate or shortcode doesn't set its own. |
| Delivery | How the file is handed over after submission (direct link / redirect). |
| Delete data on uninstall | When enabled, removes the leads table and settings if you delete the plugin. |
Leads & export Free
Every submission appears under Gated Downloads → Leads in a searchable, sortable table: date, name, email, phone, form, category, and consent. A Details column shows any extra fields the form captured (Company, Job Title, Website, Country…). Before your first lead arrives you'll see a short “how it works” guide.
Click Export CSV to download all leads (formula-injection-safe) for your CRM or spreadsheet. Search narrows the list by name, email, phone, or file title.
Pro features Pro
Gated Downloads Pro is a separate add-on that attaches to the free plugin through its hooks — it never modifies free files, so the free plugin can update freely. Pro adds:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Custom fields | Beyond the free standard set, add unlimited custom fields of any type (dropdown, checkbox, textarea…) with conditional logic; values are saved with the lead. |
| Autoresponder | Automatically email the download link to each lead, with {name} {file} {file_url} {site} placeholders. |
| Webhooks | POST every new lead to any URL (Zapier, Make, your CRM). |
| Mailchimp & Brevo | Subscribe each lead to your chosen email-marketing audience automatically. |
| reCAPTCHA v3 | Invisible, score-based spam protection on the capture form. |
| Protected links | Deliver files through signed, time-limited URLs; uploaded files are streamed so the real path stays hidden. |
| Insights dashboard | A visual dashboard with lead totals, monthly trend, and active-feature status. |
Activating Pro Pro
- Install and activate the free Gated Downloads plugin first (Pro requires it).
- Upload and activate Gated Downloads Pro. A new Gated Downloads → Pro dashboard appears.
- Enter your license key under Gated Downloads → Account to unlock updates and support.
- Configure integrations from the Pro dashboard tabs (Automation, Email Marketing, Security, Downloads, Custom Fields).
If the free plugin is missing or outdated, Pro stays dormant and shows a notice instead of causing errors — so nothing ever breaks.
FAQ
Does it work with my theme and page builder?
Yes. The modal is rendered in the site footer and self-styled, so it works with any theme. The shortcode runs anywhere shortcodes do, including most page builders; the block works in the standard editor.
Where are leads stored?
In a dedicated table in your own WordPress database. Your data never leaves your site (unless you enable a Pro integration that sends it somewhere you choose).
Is it GDPR-friendly?
Gated Downloads offers an optional consent checkbox with custom wording, stores only what you ask for, hashes IP addresses with a salt, and can remove all its data on uninstall. You remain the data controller — pair it with your own privacy policy.
Can visitors bypass the form?
The download is delivered only after a valid submission. For stricter control, Pro's protected links stream files through signed, expiring URLs so the real file path is never exposed.
Will it slow down my site?
No. The capture CSS/JS load only on pages that actually contain a gate, and admin assets load only on Gated Downloads screens.
Support
Free plugin support is available on the WordPress.org support forum. Pro customers get priority support and updates through TemplateSell.
You can also reach us directly by email:
Including your WordPress version, PHP version, and the theme you're using helps us answer on the first reply.