Digital Products

Before you use the Digital Products app, review the following considerations.

Digital Products fulfillment behavior

• If an order includes both digital and physical products, then digital products that are set to send automatically are sent and marked as fulfilled after payment. Products that require shipping, including products with a digital file, are fulfilled according to your physical fulfillment settings.
• By default, digital products are sent automatically and have no access limit. You can change these settings at any time.
• If a variant's Delivery method is Send manually, then its download link isn't displayed on the Thank you or Order status page, even after you fulfill the order.

File upload limits

• Each variant can have up to 50 files, with a combined size of up to 5 GB. If you add a file from the product page in your Shopify admin instead of in the Digital Products app, then each file can be up to 500 MB. Uploading large files can seem to take a long time because many internet service providers give priority to downloads.
• You can upload multiple files per product variant. You can also use a .zip file or another type of archive file that can contain files within it. You can't upload file folders.
• There is no bandwidth limit for downloads.

Access limits

• You can limit the number of times each customer can open or download an asset. This is set in the fulfillment settings for each variant.
• The access limit is counted for each link that a customer receives, not for the customer overall. All the files in a variant share one count, and each link that you add has its own count. Resending the download email keeps the existing count. An update email or a share link starts a new count.
• Links use the same fulfillment and access limit settings as files. Each time a customer selects the button that opens a link counts toward the variant's access limit. Opening the email, or the page that the email links to, doesn't count.
• Customers access a purchased link from the email they receive after purchase, and from the Thank you and Order status pages if you've enabled downloads at checkout.

Product links

• You can add a link to a product instead of, or in addition to, a file. This is useful for selling access to content that's hosted on a supported provider.
• You can add links only from supported providers. Links from any other website aren't accepted. The supported providers are also listed in the app when you add a link. The following providers are supported:
  • Notion
  • Calendly
  • Acuity
  • Kajabi
  • Teachable
  • Thinkific
  • Google Drive and Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
  • Dropbox
  • Canva
  • YouTube
  • Vimeo
  • Figma

When you sell a file, the file is uploaded to your store, and customers download a copy of it after purchase. When you sell a link, nothing is uploaded. The content stays where it already is, on a supported provider, and customers receive a link that opens it.

Selling a link differs from selling a file in the following ways:

• You control who can open the content on the provider's site. The link opens the URL that you entered. Manage any sign-in, sharing, or permission settings in the provider's own settings, not in your Shopify admin.
• The destination URL isn't monitored. If the content is deleted, moved, or made private, then customers still receive the link, but it opens the provider's error page. Each attempt still counts toward the variant's access limit. After you add a link, place a test order to check it.
• To change a file, you replace the file in the app. To change linked content, you update it on the provider's site. Customers who already purchased the product reach the updated content through the same link, as long as the URL doesn't change.
• Changing or removing a link on the product doesn't change the links that customers already received. Their links still open the original URL. If customers already purchased the affected variant and it still has other files or links, then when you save, you can choose whether to email them the updated assets. Their earlier links keep working.
• To stop a customer from opening a link that they purchased, deactivate their download link. Deactivating doesn't affect share links, and customers who saved the destination URL can still open it directly. To fully remove access, also change the sharing settings on the provider's site.

What customers receive for a link

After a customer purchases a product that has a link, they receive an email. The email links to a download page that contains the following details:

• The Link name that you entered, or the URL if you left that field blank
• The Instructions that you entered, if you added any
• A button that displays your Button CTA text, or View if you left that field blank. The download page and the email use View, and the Thank you and Order status pages use Open Link.
• The number of downloads remaining, if you set an access limit

When the customer selects the button, they're taken to your URL.

The Digital Products app is required to display the Digital Products block on your product details page. If the Digital Products block isn't displayed on your product details page, then install the app from the Shopify App Store.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Apps.

2. Click Shopify App Store.

3. If applicable, then log in to continue to the Shopify App Store.

4. From the Shopify App Store, search for Digital Products, and then click Digital Products.

5. Click Install.

When you add a digital product, you create the product and add its assets on the same page. Assets can be files, links, or both, and you can add multiple files. To bundle several files under a single file name, you can use a .zip file or another archive format. You can also add a link from a supported provider, either instead of a file or in addition to the file. To add assets to a product that already exists, refer to Add files or links to an existing product.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Apps > Digital Products.

2. On the Digital Products home page, click Add assets, and then click File or Link. If you haven't added a digital product yet, then the home page displays Add file and Add link buttons instead.

3. Provide the asset using one of the following methods:

   • If you're adding a file, then select one or more files to upload. You can add multiple files, including a .zip or another archive file.
   • If you're adding a link, then enter the link's URL on the Add assets page. The URL is the only required field. Optionally, enter a Link name to help you identify the link. Enter Button CTA text to set the label on the button that customers select to open the link. Enter Instructions to display help text to customers with the link. Click Add.

4. Optional: To add more files or links, click Add an asset, and then click File or Link.

5. Optional: Expand the delivery settings, and then set the Access limit, which defaults to Unlimited, and the Delivery method to either Send automatically or Send manually.

6. Click Save.

After you save, the product opens in the Digital Products app so that you can review its assets. To set the product's price, status, sales channels, and other details, edit the product from the Products page in your Shopify admin.

As well as creating digital products, you can add a file or a link to products that are already in your online store. This includes physical products. For example, if you're selling vinyl records, then you can use the Digital Products app to add an MP3 copy of the album that the customer can download.

You can add multiple files per variant. You can also use a .zip file or another archive file format, which can bundle files together under a single file name.

You can also add a link instead of, or in addition to, a file. A link sells access to content that's hosted on one of the supported providers. You can't add links from other websites.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Apps > Digital Products.

2. Click the product that you want to edit.

3. Click Add an asset, and then do one of the following:

   • To add a file, click File, and then upload a file or drag and drop files into the dialog.
   • To add a link, click Link, and then enter the link's URL. The URL is the only required field. Optionally, enter a Link name to help you identify the link. Enter Button CTA text to set the label on the button that customers select to open the link. If you leave it blank, then the button displays View. Enter Instructions to display help text to customers with the link.

4. Expand the delivery settings, and then complete the following actions:

   • Set the Access limit: By default, the access limit is Unlimited. You can select Limited, and then enter a value in Times per customer. For a link, each time a customer selects the button that opens the link counts as one use.
   • Set the Delivery method: By default, the delivery method is Send automatically. You can select Send manually.

5. Click Save.

You can review your assets and adjust your fulfillment settings directly from the product details page in the Digital Products app. Fulfillment settings are displayed inline with each variant.

You need to have an asset added to edit the fulfillment settings. If you have multiple variants, then you need to individually set your preferred delivery method for each variant.

Digital products have the following delivery methods:

• Send automatically: If you select this option, then after a successful payment, customers are automatically emailed a link to their assets, and items in the order that don't require shipping are marked as fulfilled. Use this option for entirely digital products, such as an MP3, a PDF, or a course link.
• Send manually: If you select this option, then you need to mark the order as fulfilled in your Shopify admin before the email is sent to the customer. Use this option when the product is a mix of digital and physical products, such as a vinyl record with an MP3 download.

A change to the access limit applies to all past and future sales for that variant. A change to the delivery method applies only to orders that are paid after you save the change.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Apps > Digital Products.

2. Click the product with the digital file that you want to edit.

3. In the variant's assets section, update the Delivery method to either Send automatically or Send manually.

4. Optional: Update the Access limit from Unlimited to Limited, and then enter a value in Times per customer.

5. Click Save.

Share a download link

To share a download link for a variant, copy a shareable link directly from the product details page. For example, you can share a download link to re-send a link to a customer whose email bounced, or to send a file to a gift recipient.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Apps > Digital Products.

2. Click the digital product that you want to share a download link for.

3. For products with a single variant, click Copy download link in the page header. For products with multiple variants, click Copy download link in the variant's assets section. The share links are copied to your clipboard. You get one share link for all the variant's files, and a separate share link for each link.

4. Send the share links to the customer by email or another method.

You can set an access limit for your files and links. An access limit controls the number of times that a customer can download a file or open a link. By default, all variants are set to unlimited. If you have multiple variants, then you need to set an access limit for each variant individually.

The limit is counted for each link that a customer receives. All the files in a variant share one count, and each link has its own count. Update emails and share links start a new count, so each one gives the customer a full new allowance.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Apps > Digital Products.

2. Click the digital product that you want to set an access limit for.

3. In the variant's assets section, change the Access limit from Unlimited to Limited, and then enter a value in Times per customer.

4. Optional: Update the Delivery method to either Send automatically or Send manually.

5. Click Save.

You can filter your products by status and by whether they have a digital file. The app's home page displays Active products by default, and it keeps the status that you last selected.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Apps > Digital Products.

2. To filter by status, click All, Active, Draft, or Archived.

3. Optional: To filter by digital file, click Filter digital files, and then select one of the following options:

   • Has digital file: Display only products with digital files or links.
   • No digital file: Display only products without digital files or links.
   • Show all: Display all your products.

4. Optional: In the Filter products field, enter a keyword, or click Sort to change the sort order.

The Orders section provides you with an overview of all orders containing digital products that have been purchased through your store. This section displays the following information for each order:

• Order number
• Order date
• Customer name
• Customer email
• Fulfillment status
• Number of downloads, including link opens

Similar to the Orders page in the admin, you can click each entry to view that order's details.

Each order includes the following information and options:

• Customer name
• Customer email
• Option to update the customer email address
• Option to resend the fulfillment email
• Option to view the download link

Each order also includes a history of completed downloads and link opens. For each download or link open, the history lists the date, the customer's IP address, the referrer, and the user agent, which identifies the customer's browser and operating system.

Search for an order

If you have a long list of digital orders, then you can use the search field on the Orders page to find a specific order by its order number or product title.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Apps > Digital Products.

2. Click Orders.

3. In the Search by order number or product field, enter all or part of an order number or product title.

4. Click the order in the filtered list to view its details.

Resend a download link

If a customer can't find their download email, then you can resend it. The resent email contains the same links, so earlier uses still count toward the access limit.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Apps > Digital Products.

2. Click Orders.

3. Click the order number of the order you want to reissue a download link for.

4. Click Resend download email.

Cancel a download

You can deactivate a customer's download link to prevent them from being able to download the product.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Apps > Digital Products.

2. Click Orders.

3. Click the number of the order that you want to cancel the download for.

4. Under the Product details heading, click Deactivate.

To reactivate a customer's access to a digital product, return to the order page in the Digital Products app, and then click Activate under the Product details heading.

You can export a CSV file of all digital orders that the app has processed. The export is sent to your store email address as a link to a .zip file that contains the CSV file. The link expires after 7 days.

The report includes the following information:

• Order date and time
• Number of downloads, including link opens
• Customer email address
• Customer first name
• Shopify order ID
• Customer last name
• Total quantity of items in the order
• Order total, including shipping and tax
• SKUs included in the order
• Order number, listed as title
• Date that the order was last updated in the app

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Apps > Digital Products.

2. Click Orders.

3. Click Export all orders.

You can customize the emails that are sent to customers in the Digital products via email section of the app's Settings page. The following email templates are associated with digital products:

• Digital product ready email: Customers receive this email when their digital file is ready to download or their link is available. For a product sold as a link, this email contains a link to a download page, where the customer selects a button to open your link.
• Digital product update email: Customers receive this email when a digital file or link that they purchased is updated.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Apps > Digital Products.

2. Click Settings.

3. In the Digital products via email section, click the email that you want to customize.

4. Edit the Subject and Body fields. To check your changes before you save, click Preview.

5. Optional: To revert the template to the default template, click Revert to default template, and then click Revert to default.

6. Click Save.

You can set whether customers can download the digital product directly on the Thank you and Order status pages. To display a download link, add the Digital Products block to those pages in the checkout editor.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Apps > Digital Products.

2. Click Settings.

3. In the Digital products at checkout section, next to Digital product at checkout in your online store, click Add to open the checkout editor.

4. Add the Digital Products block to the Thank you page, the Order status page, or both. Learn more about adding blocks from installed apps.

5. Optional: To change the appearance of the block, update your checkout style settings.

6. Click Save.

To return to the checkout editor later, click Digital product at checkout in your online store in the app's settings.

After you complete these steps, a Download Now link is displayed on the Thank you and Order status pages for files. For a product sold as a link, a button that opens the link is displayed instead. On these pages, the button displays the link's Button CTA text, or Open Link if you didn't set one. Each time the customer selects the button, it counts toward the variant's access limit. The customer also receives an email with the ability to download the file or open the link.

Remove download links from the checkout pages

To stop download links from being displayed on the Thank you or Order status page, remove the Digital Products block from that page in the checkout editor.

After you remove the block, a Download Now link isn't displayed on that page. Customers still receive an email with the ability to download the file or open the link.

You can delete digital files from within the Digital Products app.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Apps > Digital Products.

2. Click a product that has the file that you want to delete.

3. Next to the file, click the icon.

4. Click Save.

5. If customers already purchased the variant and it still has other files or links, then choose whether to email them the updated assets. Click Send update or Don't send update.

You can replace a digital file before or after customers buy it. For example, if you notice an error in a .pdf knitting pattern that you sell, then you can upload a corrected .pdf file.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Apps > Digital Products.

2. Click a product that has the file that you want to replace.

3. Click Add an asset > File, and then click Upload file to upload the new file.

4. Next to the old file, click the icon.

5. Click Save.

6. If customers already purchased the variant, then choose whether to email them the replacement file. Click Send update or Don't send update.

You can change a link's URL, name, button text, or instructions, or remove the link from a product. Customers who already purchased the product keep the links that they received, and those links still open the original URL. Learn more about how links differ from files.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Apps > Digital Products.

2. Click the product that has the link that you want to change.

3. Do one of the following:

   • To edit the link, click the link, and then update the URL, Link name, Button CTA, or Instructions. Click Add.
   • To remove the link, click the icon next to the link.

4. Click Save.

5. If customers already purchased the variant and it still has other files or links, then choose whether to email them the updated assets. Click Send update or Don't send update.