Generate a download link

Need a download link for a specific file outside Shopify’s normal order flow — to share manually, embed in another channel, or send to someone who didn’t go through checkout? Create a $0 order with the file attached, then copy the download link from the resulting order page.

When you’d use this

• Sharing a file with a partner or guest who’s not a paying customer.
• Sending a one-off file to someone via Slack, email, or chat.
• Generating a link for a press kit or promo material.
• Testing how the download flow looks for a customer.

How to generate the link

1. Create a $0 order in Shopify

1. Shopify admin → Orders → Create order.
2. Add the product the file is attached to.
3. Click Add discount → set 100%.
4. Add a customer email (yours, or anyone you want the link sent to).
5. Click Collect payment → Mark as paid.

2. Copy the download link from Fileflare

1. Open Fileflare » Orders and click the new order.
2. In the page header, open More actions and choose View customer download page. That opens the customer’s own download page in a new tab.
3. Right-click the download button for the file you want and copy the link address.

The link is now yours to share. It works the same way as any customer download link — it’ll respect download counts, IP limits, and expiration set on the order.

If you plan to share the link broadly

Default global limits will block the link after a few clicks. If the link is going to a wide audience (press, partners, public marketing), override the global limits on this order to allow more downloads:

1. On the same order page in Fileflare, tick Override defaults on the Access & limits card.
2. Raise Downloads per asset and IP addresses per asset (leave a field blank for unlimited). If there’s a date in Expires on, click Clear beside it so the link doesn’t go cold.
3. Save.

Common issues

• Link returns “limit reached” almost immediately — global limits are tight. Override them on the order.
• Link returns 404 — make sure the file is actually attached to the product before creating the order. If you attached after creating, recreate the order.
• Free order shows up as revenue in my reports — only happens if you skip the discount. Always set the 100% discount before marking paid.
• I want a link that doesn’t expire — tick Override defaults on the order and leave Expires on empty (if a date is already in there, click Clear beside the field). The summary at the top of the card should read “Never expires”.
• I want to know who used the link — the order’s activity timeline logs every download with its IP address and user agent, which is the closest thing to analytics on a shared link.

Keep learning

• Override limits on an order
• Order activity timeline
• Place a test order
• URL assets — for files that don’t need order-bound delivery