# ABC Digital Downloads — full content > ABC Digital Downloads is a Shopify app for selling digital downloads — PDFs, eBooks, music, video, software, and more — with instant delivery, automatic download emails, PDF stamping/watermarking, in-browser streaming, and download limits, all native to Shopify checkout. Full text of every published feature, use case, knowledge-base article, and blog post, for LLM grounding and citation. The high-level index is at https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/llms.txt. # Features Every ABC capability — delivery, security, streaming, and analytics. A plan label marks a feature that unlocks on a paid tier; everything else is on every plan, including Free. ## Instant email delivery The download email goes out automatically after purchase. No batch, no manual send. ## Thank You page downloads Files appear on the post-purchase page. Customers leave checkout with the goods in hand. ## Re-send & revoke links (Essential plan) Re-send a delivery email in one click. Turn off an order's download links the moment you need to. ## Re-download from account Buyers can grab files again from their Shopify customer account. No support ticket required. ## Custom email templates (Professional plan) Match your brand voice, logo, and colors. Personalize each email with variables. ## Custom sending domain (Professional plan) Send delivery emails from you@yourbrand.com. Better deliverability, on-brand presence. ## All file types PDFs, ZIPs, video, audio, fonts, software installers, design files, 3D assets — no restrictions. ## Up to 500 GB storage Generous storage tiers: 1 GB Free, 5 GB Essential, 50 GB Professional, 500 GB Plus. ## Replace files anytime Update a file once and every new customer gets the latest version. Past customers can re-download. ## PDF watermarking (Essential plan) Stamp PDFs with the buyer's name, email, order number, and date. Piracy deterrent built in, traceable if a leak surfaces. ## Download caps (Essential plan) Set a max-download count for every file, and override it on any order. Block once they hit it. ## IP restrictions (Professional plan) Limit how many IP addresses can download each file, or keep downloads in the order's billing country. ## Video & audio player (Plus plan) Set an MP3, WAV, or MP4 file to Stream and customers play it in an HTML5 player on your store's own domain. No third-party account. ## Unlimited bandwidth Every plan includes unlimited bandwidth for file delivery. No surprise overage bills, no throttling. ## Per-file download counter (Essential plan) See exactly which files get downloaded and how often, with a download log on every order. # Use cases How sellers in each category use ABC to deliver digital products on Shopify. ## eBooks & PDFs Authors and educators selling guides, courses, and printable resources. Problem: Customers buy a $19 PDF and you're emailing it manually, attached to a Gmail thread, hoping it doesn't bounce. Solution: Customer checks out → file appears on the Thank You page → secure email link in their inbox. PDFs can be stamped with their email so piracy is traceable. Examples: Self-published novellas; Recipe books; Course PDFs & workbooks; Worksheets & lesson plans; Travel guides; Sheet music ## Music, podcasts & audio Musicians, producers, and podcasters selling tracks, albums, samples, and stems. Problem: Selling music outside Spotify means stitching together Bandcamp, Gumroad, or DIY Stripe — and none of it talks to your Shopify store. Solution: Sell albums, singles, sample packs, or audio bundles right inside your Shopify store. On the Plus plan, set MP3 or WAV tracks to Stream so customers can listen right in the browser. Examples: Album & single sales; Sample packs & loops; Sound effect libraries; Audiobook chapters; Producer stems; Premium podcast episodes ## Videos & online content Creators, educators, and coaches selling video courses, tutorials, and workshops. Problem: Video platforms like Vimeo OTT and Kajabi charge their own fees for the privilege of selling your own video. You'd rather keep that revenue. Solution: Upload up to 500 GB of MP4s on Plus. Customers stream them in-browser via the HTML5 player or download them outright — your call. Examples: Video courses; Tutorial libraries; Yoga & fitness workouts; Webinar recordings; Cooking class series; Behind-the-scenes content ## Software, templates & digital tools Developers, designers, and template-makers selling code, design assets, and digital tools. Problem: Your customers need download links that don't expire after 24 hours. Your team needs to know who downloaded what, when, and how often. Solution: ABC's analytics show which files get downloaded most, and every order logs who downloaded what and when. Download limits and IP restrictions help stop link sharing. Examples: Notion templates; Figma kits & UI libraries; Code snippets & boilerplate; Lightroom presets; WordPress themes; 3D models & STL files # Knowledge base & blog ## Getting started https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/general/getting-started Set up ABC Digital Downloads in three steps. Once you're done, ABC delivers the files for each new order automatically: by email, and on your store's Thank you and Order status pages. Video: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Jjmss8NBIok The **Setup Guide** on ABC's **Home** page lists the same three steps and shows how many you've completed. ### Step 1: Add download links to your Thank you and Order status pages ABC shows customers their files in a **Files** block on Shopify's Thank you and Order status pages. You add each block once, in Shopify's checkout editor. 1. In your Shopify admin, open **ABC Digital Downloads**. 2. On **Home**, find **Enable Order Status & Thank You Page** in the **Setup Guide**. 3. Click **Enable Thank You extension**. Shopify's checkout editor opens. 4. In the editor's **Apps** panel, click **+** next to **ABC: Order thank you page**, then choose **Add to** > **Thank you**. 5. Click **Save**. 6. Back in ABC, click **Enable Order status extension**. Add **ABC: Order status page** to **Order status** the same way, then click **Save**. ![Apps panel in Shopify's checkout editor listing the ABC: Order status page and ABC: Order thank you page blocks, with the Add to menu showing Thank you](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/general/getting-started/7b06106d886b.png) Once both blocks are saved, the Setup Guide marks this step as complete. The blocks show download links only while **Display download links on the Thank You page** and **Display download links on the Order Status page** are on in **Settings**. Both are on by default. > 💡 **Tip:** To change the heading customers see above their files, select the ABC block in the checkout editor and edit **Title for downloads box** and **Subtitle for downloads box**. ### Step 2: Upload your files and connect them to products Customers get the files connected to the product, or the product variant, that they buy. You can connect files from either side: - **From a product:** go to **Products** in ABC and click the product. On its **Connected Files** card, click **Upload files** to upload a new file, or **Select files** to choose one you've already uploaded. A product with variants has a card for each variant. - **From a file:** go to **Files** in ABC and click **Upload files**. Then click the file and choose **Connect new products**. Connections are saved as soon as you make them. There's no separate Save step. ![Social Growth Playbook product page in ABC with social-growth-playbook.pdf in its Connected Files card](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/general/getting-started/aad19e487d91.png) For step-by-step instructions, see [Uploading and connecting files to products](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/uploading-and-connecting-files-to-products) and [Give each product or variant its own files](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/products/connect-files-to-products). ### Step 3 (optional): Brand your download email Available on the **Professional** and **Plus** plans (see [Plans and billing](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/general/plans-and-billing)). The email customers get after they buy is the **Order Download Links** email. You can change its subject, wording and design, and add your logo. 1. In ABC, go to **Settings**. 2. Under **Email templates**, click **Edit template** on **Order Download Links**. 3. Edit the subject and the email, then click **Save**. ![Email templates section of ABC Settings with Edit template next to the Order Download Links email](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/general/getting-started/debe849f5c45.png) For the details, see [Customizing email templates](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/email-templates). ### What happens after a purchase With these steps done, ABC takes care of each new order: - It emails the customer their download links once the order is paid. - It lists their files in the **Files** block on the Thank you and Order status pages. - It marks the order's digital items as fulfilled in Shopify. To stop this, turn off **Automatically fulfill orders** in **Settings**. To see it all as a customer does, place a test order: [How to test the customer experience for a digital product](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/general/how-to-test-the-customer-experience-for-a-digital-product). ## How to test the customer experience for a digital product https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/general/how-to-test-the-customer-experience-for-a-digital-product Before you launch, place a free test order to see exactly what your customers get from ABC Digital Downloads: the download links on the Thank you page, the download email and the Order status page. ### Before you start Make sure that: - the product is active in Shopify and available on your online store; - a file is connected to the product in ABC (see [Uploading and connecting files to products](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/uploading-and-connecting-files-to-products)); - ABC's blocks are on your Thank you and Order status pages (see [Getting started](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/general/getting-started)); - your plan includes the features you want to test, such as PDF stamping or streaming (see [Plans and billing](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/general/plans-and-billing)). ### Step 1: Create a 100% discount code In your Shopify admin: 1. Go to **Discounts** and click **Create discount**. 2. Choose **Amount off products**. 3. Under **Method**, choose **Discount code** and enter a code, such as `TEST100`. 4. Under **Discount value**, choose **Percentage** and enter `100`. 5. Under **Applies to**, choose **Specific products**, click **Browse**, and add your product. 6. Under **Maximum discount uses**, tick **Limit number of times this discount can be used in total** and enter `1`. 7. Click **Save**. ![Shopify's Amount off products form set up as a 100% discount code for the Social Growth Playbook, limited to one use](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/general/how-to-test-the-customer-experience-for-a-digital-product/e813b32539f5.png) > ⚠️ **Important:** Anyone who has the code gets the product for free. Keep the use limit low, and when you've finished testing, set an end date under **Active dates** or delete the discount. ### Step 2: Buy the product as a customer 1. Open your online store and add the product to your cart. 2. Click **Check out**. 3. In **Discount code or gift card**, enter your code and click **Apply**. The checkout shows "Your order is free. No payment is required." 4. In **Email or mobile phone number**, enter an email address you can check. 5. Fill in the billing address. Shopify asks for one even on a free order. 6. Click **Complete order**. ![Payment section of a Shopify checkout with the message Your order is free. No payment is required.](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/general/how-to-test-the-customer-experience-for-a-digital-product/8f7f5eabe3f1.png) > 💡 **Tip:** If your checkout allows it, customers can also check out with only a mobile phone number. For this test, use an email address, so you can check the download email in Step 3. ### Step 3: Check what the customer gets #### The Thank you page Shopify confirms the order, and ABC's **Files** block lists each file as a link with its size, for example "social-growth-playbook.pdf (526.90 KB)". If you gave the file a display name on its page in **Files**, the block shows it instead of the filename. If you added a preview image there, it appears as a small picture next to the name. Click a file to download it. ![Thank you page after a test order, with the ABC Files block listing social-growth-playbook.pdf and its size](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/general/how-to-test-the-customer-experience-for-a-digital-product/6769003baea3.png) #### The download email Shortly after the order, ABC emails the download links to the address used at checkout. The default subject is "Your digital download is ready! 🎉". Shopify sends its own order confirmation email separately. ![ABC download email for a test order, greeting the customer and linking the file with its size](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/general/how-to-test-the-customer-experience-for-a-digital-product/ee93b9ad85ff.png) #### The Order status page The same **Files** block appears on the order's status page, where customers can come back to their files later. To open it from your Shopify admin, open the order and click **More actions** > **View order status page**. ![Order status page for a test order, with the ABC Files block listing an M4A audio file and a ZIP file](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/general/how-to-test-the-customer-experience-for-a-digital-product/c5b7ae765c35.png) ### Step 4: Check your delivery settings - Open the downloaded file and check it's the one you expect. - If the file is a PDF with a stamping template, check the stamp on your copy. - If the file is set to stream, check that it opens in the player. - If you use download limits or other restrictions, try them. When one blocks a download, the customer gets a page that explains why instead of the file, such as **Download limit reached**, with a button to contact your store. See [Limit and restrict downloads](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/download-limits-and-restrictions#user-content-what-customers-see-when-a-download-is-blocked). - In ABC, open the order from **Orders**. The **Downloaded** count and **File download activity** show your test downloads. ### If something doesn't work - **No Files block on the Thank you page:** check that ABC's blocks are added (Step 1 of [Getting started](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/general/getting-started)) and that **Display download links on the Thank You page** is on in **Settings**. - **No download email:** open the order in ABC and check **Email activity**, which lists every email ABC sent for the order. Also check that **Send order emails** is on in **Settings** and that the **Order Download Links** email isn't disabled. To send the email again, see [Resend a download email](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/orders/resending-download-emails). - **Still stuck?** [Contact support](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/contact). ## Plans and billing https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/general/plans-and-billing ABC Digital Downloads has four plans: **Free**, **Essential**, **Professional** and **Plus**. Every plan delivers your files to customers. The paid plans add more storage and more ways to protect and brand your downloads. ### Compare the plans | | Free | Essential | Professional | Plus | |---|---|---|---|---| | Price | Free | $8 per month | $18 per month | $49 per month | | Free trial | — | 10 days | 10 days | 10 days | | File storage | 1 GB | 5 GB | 50 GB | 500 GB | | Download limits | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | | Access limit | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | | PDF stamping | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | | Resend download emails | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | | Analytics | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | | IP limit and billing-country restriction | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | | Edit and translate email templates | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | | Send emails from your own email address | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | | Video and audio streaming | — | — | — | ✓ | Every plan includes unlimited bandwidth, any type of digital product, instant delivery and download links on the Thank you page. ### Change your plan You choose and change your plan on Shopify's plan page for ABC, which lists all four plans. 1. In ABC, open **Billing**. 2. Choose a plan. 3. Approve the charge in Shopify. > ⚠️ **Important:** A paid plan is a recurring charge, billed in USD every 30 days. > 💡 **Tip:** You can also open the plan page from ABC's **Home** page: click **Upgrade to unlock more storage**. ### If a feature isn't in your plan Features your plan doesn't include show an upgrade message. For example, on a plan without streaming, the tooltip on a file's **Stream** option reads "Upgrade to the Plus plan to use this feature". The table above shows which plan includes each feature. ### Storage Your plan sets how much you can store (see the table above). To check how much you're using: - On the **Files** page, the line under the title shows the storage you've used and your plan's limit. - On the **Analytics** page, **Storage Used**, **Storage Left** and **Storage Limit** show the details. See [Track orders, downloads and storage in Analytics](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/orders/viewing-analytics). ABC emails you when you've used 80% of your storage. If your storage is full, your files keep working, but you can't upload new files until you free up space or upgrade your plan. There are no overage charges. To free up space by deleting files you no longer need, see [How to manage files](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/files). ## How to manage files https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/files **Files** in ABC Digital Downloads holds every file you sell. Here you can find your files, check how often each one is downloaded, choose how each file appears to customers, and download, replace, rename or delete them. ### The Files list In ABC, click **Files**. For each file, the list shows its **File name**, **Date added**, **Size** and **Linked**: how many products it's connected to, for example "1 product". ![ABC Files list showing demo files with their date added, size and linked products, and the storage used under the title](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/files/files/14bdcbf2c1d3.png) To upload files, click **Upload files**. See [Uploading and connecting files to products](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/uploading-and-connecting-files-to-products). To work on several files at once, tick them and choose **Connect to products** or **Delete files**. #### Storage Under the **Files** title, a meter shows how much of your plan's storage you've used, for example "22.69 MB / 500 GB used". Each plan includes: - **Free**: 1 GB - **Essential**: 5 GB - **Professional**: 50 GB - **Plus**: 500 GB ABC emails you when you've used 80% of your storage. If you reach your limit, ABC shows an upgrade message. Your files keep working, but you can't upload new ones until you free up space by deleting files you no longer need, or upgrade your plan. There are no overage charges. ### Find a file - **Search:** use the search box ("Searching all files"). - **Filter:** use the **Products** filter and search for a product ("Product or SKU") to see only the files connected to it. - **Sort:** sort the list by **Filename**, **Size** or **Uploaded**. ### Check a file's downloads and connections Click a file to open its page. The top shows when it was uploaded and its size, with **Download**, **Replace**, **Rename** and **Delete**. - **Times downloaded**: how many times customers have downloaded the file. - **Estimated bandwidth**: times downloaded multiplied by the file's size. It's for your information only, because every plan includes unlimited bandwidth. - **Connected Products**: the products that deliver this file, with the date each was linked. Click **Connect new products** to add more. To disconnect products, tick them and click **Remove products**. For your most downloaded files across the store, see [Track orders, downloads and storage in Analytics](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/orders/viewing-analytics). PDFs also have a **PDF Stamping Configuration** card: see [How to set up PDF stamping for your digital files](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/creating-a-pdf-template). Audio and video files that can stream have a card for choosing **Download** or **Stream**: see [How to set up streaming for video and audio files](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/how-to-set-up-streaming-for-video-and-audio-files). ![File page for social-growth-playbook.pdf in ABC, showing Times downloaded, the estimated bandwidth, the Shown to customers card, PDF stamping and the connected Social Growth Playbook product](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/files/files/15b14c0cf40d.png) ### Choose how a file appears to customers The **Shown to customers** card on a file's page sets how the file appears in download emails and on the Thank you and Order status pages: - **Display name**: the name customers see instead of the filename. Enter it and click **Save**, or leave it blank to use the filename. Downloaded files always keep their real filename. - **Preview image**: a picture shown next to the file. Click **Add image** and choose a JPG, PNG, WebP or GIF up to 5 MB. Square images around 300 px work best. To change it, click **Replace image**. To take it off, click **Remove**. Both work on every plan. ![Shown to customers card in ABC with the display name Social Growth Playbook and a square cover image as the preview image](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/files/files/d6be34b5d419.png) ### Download or rename a file - To save a copy to your computer, click **Download**. - To rename a file, click **Rename**, enter the new name in **Filename**, and click **Update**. The file extension stays the same. To change only the name customers see, set a **Display name** instead (see above). ### Replace a file with a new version To update a file for everyone who bought it, replace it. > ⚠️ **Important:** If you tick **Notify customers who have previously downloaded this file**, ABC emails every customer who has downloaded the file. 1. Open the file and click **Replace**. 2. To tell customers about the new version, tick **Notify customers who have previously downloaded this file**. It's off by default. 3. Click **Select file** and choose the new version. ABC uploads it and replaces the old file. It's still the same file in ABC: it stays connected to the same products and keeps its download history. It takes the new version's name, **Size** and **Uploaded** date; to keep the old name, rename the file afterwards. Customers who download it from then on get the new version, including from the links on their Order status page. If you ticked the notification, customers who have downloaded the file get your **File Update Notification** email ("Files from your order #… have been updated, download now!"). Customers who haven't downloaded it don't get an email, even if the file is on their order. ![Replace dialog for social-growth-playbook.pdf with the option to notify customers who have previously downloaded the file](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/files/files/062504b21ecc.png) For more about replacing files and the notification email, see [Replace a file and notify customers](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/replacing-a-file). To give a new version to only some customers, see [How to send updated files to specific customers](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/how-to-send-updated-files-to-specific-customers). ### Delete files > ⚠️ **Important:** Deleting a file can't be undone. ABC removes it from all orders, and customers can no longer download it. 1. Open the file and click **Delete**. 2. Confirm that you want to delete it. To delete several files at once, tick them in the **Files** list and choose **Delete files**. ## Uploading and connecting files to products https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/uploading-and-connecting-files-to-products Upload your files to ABC Digital Downloads once, then connect each one to the products it belongs to. When a customer buys a connected product, ABC delivers the file automatically. ### Step 1: Upload your files 1. In your Shopify admin, open **ABC Digital Downloads** and click **Files**. 2. Click **Upload files** and choose one or more files from your computer. You can also drag files onto the list. 3. ABC shows the progress of each upload. Each file appears in the list when it's done. You can upload any type of file. Each upload counts toward your plan's storage, shown under the **Files** title (see [How to manage files](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/files)). > 💡 **Tip:** Customers see each file's name in their download links, so use clear names, such as `social-growth-playbook.pdf`. To show customers a friendlier name, or a preview image, set it on the file's page under **Shown to customers**. See [How to manage files](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/files#user-content-choose-how-a-file-appears-to-customers). #### Upload a file from a URL To add a file from a web address instead: 1. Open the menu next to **Upload files** and choose **Upload from URL**. 2. In **Add file from URL**, enter the **File URL** and a **Filename**, then click **Add file**. ![Upload files button in ABC with its menu open, showing the Upload from URL option](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/files/uploading-and-connecting-files-to-products/36b260136007.png) ABC doesn't copy the file: it keeps the link. When customers download the file, ABC sends them to its original address, so the file must stay online there. A linked file doesn't use your ABC storage, and ABC doesn't show its size: the **Size** column in **Files** shows "-", and download emails list the file without a size. ABC keeps the **Filename** exactly as you type it and doesn't add an extension, so type the full name, such as `workbook.pdf`. ### Step 2: Connect the file to products 1. In **Files**, click the file. 2. Under **Connected Products**, click **Connect new products**. 3. In Shopify's **Add products** window, tick the products and click **Add**. The products appear under **Connected Products**, with the date each was linked. The connection is saved straight away; there's no Save step. > 💡 **Tip:** Connecting a file to a product doesn't add it to orders placed before. To give earlier customers the file, attach it to their orders with **Manually connect files**, then click **Send updated download email**. See [How to send updated files to specific customers](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/how-to-send-updated-files-to-specific-customers). ![Shopify's Add products picker searched for Social Growth, with the Social Growth Playbook ticked](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/files/uploading-and-connecting-files-to-products/15c5ded881a4.png) ![Connected Products on a file page in ABC, listing the Social Growth Playbook product and the date it was linked](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/files/uploading-and-connecting-files-to-products/a83cf0aa447a.png) > 💡 **Tip:** A file can be connected to several products, and a product can have several files, so you never need to upload the same file twice. #### Connect several files at once In the **Files** list, tick the files, choose **Connect to products**, and pick the products. #### Connect from a product instead You can also open a product in **Products** and add its files there, including a different file for each variant. See [Give each product or variant its own files](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/products/connect-files-to-products). ### Remove a connection On the file's page, tick the products under **Connected Products**, click **Remove products**, and confirm. The file itself stays in **Files**. ## How to set up streaming for video and audio files https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/how-to-set-up-streaming-for-video-and-audio-files Streaming lets customers watch or listen to a file in their browser instead of downloading it. It suits video lessons, courses and audio that you'd rather not hand out as a file. Available on the **Plus** plan (see [Plans and billing](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/general/plans-and-billing)). ### Which files can stream You can stream MP3 and WAV audio files and MP4 video files. These files have a card on their page for choosing how they're delivered. Other files are always delivered as downloads. ### Step 1: Upload the file and connect it to a product Upload the video or audio file in **Files** and connect it to its product, as you would any other file. See [Uploading and connecting files to products](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/uploading-and-connecting-files-to-products). ### Step 2: Set the file to Stream 1. In ABC, go to **Files** and click the file. 2. On the card **Select how this file should be delivered to customers**, choose **Stream**. ABC saves the change straight away. To go back to downloads, choose **Download**. ![Delivery card on a video's file page in ABC, with Stream selected](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/files/how-to-set-up-streaming-for-video-and-audio-files/c7350c42d7ef.png) Streaming makes a file harder to save, but it can't make it impossible. As the card puts it: "We've put protections in place to prevent downloads, but please be aware there's still a chance someone could save your file while it's being streamed." ### What customers see - The file is listed in the **Files** block on the Thank you and Order status pages, like any other file. - Clicking it opens a player in a new tab, on your store's own domain. The player has play, volume and full-screen controls, and no download option. Right-click and picture-in-picture are turned off in the player. - Streaming doesn't count as downloading, so it doesn't use up the customer's [download limit](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/download-limits-and-restrictions). The order's **Downloaded** count only includes downloads. ![Video player page opened from a customer's download link, with play, volume and full-screen controls](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/files/how-to-set-up-streaming-for-video-and-audio-files/670090dd726c.png) ### Step 3: Test it Place a test order for the product and open the file from the Thank you page. See [How to test the customer experience for a digital product](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/general/how-to-test-the-customer-experience-for-a-digital-product). Customers get the player only while your store is on the **Plus** plan. ## How to send updated files to specific customers https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/how-to-send-updated-files-to-specific-customers To give a new version of a file to specific customers, attach it to their orders in ABC Digital Downloads, then send them an updated download email. The new file is added alongside the files they already have. To update the file for everyone who bought it instead, use **Replace** on the file's page. See [Replace a file and notify customers](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/replacing-a-file). ### Step 1: Open the customer's order 1. In ABC, go to **Orders**. 2. Find the order and click it. You can search by customer name, customer email, order number, product name or file name. ### Step 2: Attach the new file 1. On the **Products with connected files** card, click **Manually connect files**. 2. Choose **Select files** to pick a file that's already in ABC, or **Upload files** to upload one from your computer. The **Upload files** menu also has **Upload from URL**. 3. If you chose **Select files**, tick the file (use **Search for files** to find it) and click **Add**. The file appears on a new **Manually Attached files** card. To attach more files later, click **Connect another file** on that card. ![Manually Connect Files dialog on an order in ABC, with the Select files and Upload files options](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/files/how-to-send-updated-files-to-specific-customers/b4c892248244.png) > 💡 **Tip:** Put a version in the file name, such as `social-growth-playbook-v2.pdf`, so customers can tell the new file from the old one. ### Step 3: Send the updated download email As soon as you attach a file, a **New files connected** banner appears at the top of the order: "New files have been manually connected to this order. Send an updated download email to notify the customer of the new files." > ⚠️ **Important:** **Send updated download email** emails the customer straight away. Click **Send updated download email** in the banner. The customer gets your **New file(s) added to order** email, with a subject such as "Your digital downloads for #1004 have been updated! 🎉". It lists all the order's files, the original ones and the new one, each with its size and a download link. > ⚠️ **Important:** If you've set an access limit, **Send updated download email** doesn't restart the customer's access period. Only **Resend Download Email** at the top of the order does. See [Limit how long customers can download](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/download-access-limit). > 💡 **Tip:** Send the email right after you attach the file. The banner is gone once you reload the page. ![Order in ABC with the New files connected banner and its Send updated download email button, above the Manually Attached files card](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/files/how-to-send-updated-files-to-specific-customers/d96c1a46511d.png) ![Updated download email for order #1004 with links to a WAV file and a ZIP file, each with its size](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/files/how-to-send-updated-files-to-specific-customers/4dc7a1270b78.png) > 💡 **Tip:** You can edit the **New file(s) added to order** email to explain what's changed. Editing emails is available on the **Professional** and **Plus** plans; see [Customizing email templates](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/email-templates). ### Remove an attached file > ⚠️ **Important:** Removing an attached file from an order can't be undone. On the **Manually Attached files** card, click **Remove** next to the file and confirm. ## Replace a file and notify customers https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/replacing-a-file When you update a digital product, replace its file in ABC Digital Downloads so customers get the new version. You can also email the customers who already downloaded the old one. To send a new file to only some customers, see [How to send updated files to specific customers](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/how-to-send-updated-files-to-specific-customers). ### Replace a file 1. In ABC, go to **Files**. 2. Click the file you want to replace. 3. Click **Replace**. 4. To email customers who already downloaded the file, tick **Notify customers who have previously downloaded this file**. It's off until you tick it. 5. Click **Select file**. 6. Choose the new file on your computer. ABC uploads the new file and replaces the old one. ![Replace window for social-growth-playbook.pdf in ABC Digital Downloads with the option to notify customers who have previously downloaded the file](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/files/replacing-a-file/062504b21ecc.png) ### What changes - The file keeps its product connections and its download history. - It takes the new file's name, size and upload date. To keep the old name, click **Rename** on the file's page afterwards. - Customers who download the file after you replace it get the new version, including from the links on their Order status page. ### Email customers about the update If you tick **Notify customers who have previously downloaded this file**, ABC emails only the customers who have downloaded the file before. Customers who haven't downloaded it yet don't get the email. The box decides: ticking it sends the email even if you've turned **File Update Notification** off in **Settings**. To replace a file without emailing anyone, leave the box unticked. The email is **File Update Notification** ("Email sent to customers when a purchased file has been updated."). By default, its subject is "Files from your order #[order number] have been updated, download now!". On the **Professional** and **Plus** plans, you can edit it in **Settings** > **Email templates**. > ⚠️ **Important:** Ticking the notify option emails your customers, so check the new file before you replace the old one. ### Replace a file or send it to specific customers? - **Replace** swaps the file for everyone who bought it. - **Manually connect files** on an order adds a file for that customer only. **Send updated download email** then emails them a list of both their original files and the new one. See [How to send updated files to specific customers](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/how-to-send-updated-files-to-specific-customers). ## Give each product or variant its own files https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/products/connect-files-to-products In ABC Digital Downloads, you can connect files from the product's side. It's the easiest way to see everything a product delivers, and to give each variant its own file, such as an M4A and a WAV version of the same track. ### Step 1: Open the product 1. In your Shopify admin, open **ABC Digital Downloads** and click **Products**. 2. Find the product. The list shows every product in your store, with its **Status** and how many **Connected Files** it has ("-" means none). To search by product name, use the search box ("Searching all products"). 3. Click the product. ![Products list in ABC narrowed to one product by a search, showing its status and number of connected files](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/products/connect-files-to-products/d067f6105c95.png) > 💡 **Tip:** Scan the **Connected Files** column for "-" to spot products that don't have any files connected yet. ### Step 2: Add files The product's page has a **Connected Files** card for each variant, named after the variant. A product without variants has a single **Connected Files** card. On the card for the variant you want: - Click **Upload files** to upload a file from your computer. ABC uploads it and connects it in one step. - Or click **Select files**, tick files you've already uploaded, and click **Add**. Files already on that variant are listed, but you can't tick them. - To add a file from a web address, open the menu next to **Upload files** and choose **Upload from URL**. You can also drag a file from your computer and drop it anywhere on the card. ABC uploads it and connects it in one step. The card lists each connected file with its **Filename**, **Uploaded Date** and **Size**. Files are connected as soon as you add them; there's no Save step. A variant can have several files, and the same file can be connected to several products. > 💡 **Tip:** Connecting a file to a product doesn't add it to orders placed before. To give earlier customers the file, attach it to their orders with **Manually connect files**, then click **Send updated download email**. See [How to send updated files to specific customers](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/how-to-send-updated-files-to-specific-customers). ![Morning Calm: Guided Meditation in ABC, with a Connected Files card for each variant: the M4A file on one and the WAV file on the other](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/products/connect-files-to-products/73a8154c3b22.png) ![Select files picker in ABC with an MP3 file ticked and the M4A file grayed out](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/products/connect-files-to-products/d9afc9bc0a4a.png) Customers get only the files connected to the variant they buy. > 💡 **Tip:** To connect one file to many products at once, start from **Files**: tick the file and choose **Connect to products**. See [Uploading and connecting files to products](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/uploading-and-connecting-files-to-products). ### Remove a file from a product Tick the files on the card, click **Remove files**, and confirm. The files stay in **Files**. ## Viewing orders https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/orders/viewing-orders **Orders** in ABC Digital Downloads lists your store's orders. Open an order to see its files, downloads and emails, resend the download email, add files, or change its download limits. Video: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/3-niogj7VCg ### Open an order 1. In your Shopify admin, open **ABC Digital Downloads** and click **Orders**. 2. The list shows each order's number (**#**), **Date**, **Customer**, when the download email was sent (**Email sent**) and its payment **Status**. 3. Click an order to open it. To find a particular order, see [Searching orders](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/orders/searching-orders). ![Orders list in ABC showing each order's number, date, customer, email sent date and payment status](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/orders/viewing-orders/0a40c19e1e07.png) ### What the order page shows - **At the top:** the order number, its payment status and date, and **Resend Download Email**. - **Products with connected files:** each product on the order, with its variant, and the files connected to it. For each file, **Downloaded** shows how many times the customer has downloaded it. Streams aren't counted. - **Email activity:** each email ABC has sent for this order, with its **Subject**, when it was **Sent**, and its **Status**: **Sent**, **Delivered** or **Opened**. Click **view** to see the email as it was sent, then **Close** to go back. - **File download activity:** appears after the first download. Each row shows the **File**, the **Location** (where it was downloaded from, for example the Thank you page, or **Stream** for a stream), the **Country** (not always filled in), **Browser** and **IP address**, and **When**. For download totals across your store, see [Track orders, downloads and storage in Analytics](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/orders/viewing-analytics). - **Customer:** the customer's name and email address. Click **View** to open the customer in Shopify. - **Download Limitations:** this order's download limits (see below). If you've added languages to your email templates, the **Customer** card also shows the order's **Email language**. To send this order's emails in another language, click **Change**, choose the language and click **Save**. To add languages, or to learn which language a new order gets, see [Customizing email templates](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/email-templates#user-content-translate-your-emails). ![Order page in ABC showing a file's Downloaded count, the Email activity list and the File download activity log](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/orders/viewing-orders/5b25d2ec21ed.png) ### Resend the download email Available on the **Essential**, **Professional** and **Plus** plans. If a customer can't find their download email, you can send it again, from ABC or from your Shopify admin. > ⚠️ **Important:** Resending emails the customer straight away. ABC doesn't ask you to confirm. #### From the order in ABC Click **Resend Download Email** at the top of the order. ABC sends the customer their download links again, in the email "Your digital download is ready! 🎉", and shows "Download email has been resent". After a resend, the button is unavailable for 10 minutes. #### From your Shopify admin 1. In your Shopify admin, open the order and click **More actions** > **Apps** > **ABC: Resend download email**. 2. The **Resend download email** dialog shows who the email goes to, when it was last sent, and the order's **Files**, each with its number of downloads. 3. Click **Resend email**. The 10 minutes are shared: after a resend from either place, both wait 10 minutes. Until then, the dialog says "This email was sent recently. Please wait 10 minutes before sending again." ![Resend download email dialog in the Shopify admin, showing the recipient, when the email was last sent and the order's files](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/orders/viewing-orders/13f808a266d3.png) > ⚠️ **Important:** If you've set an access limit, only **Resend Download Email** on the order's page in ABC restarts the customer's access period. Neither **Send updated download email**, which you click after attaching files to an order, nor **ABC: Resend download email** in the Shopify admin restarts it. See [Limit how long customers can download](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/download-access-limit). For more about resending, including how to check that the email went out, see [Resend a download email](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/orders/resending-download-emails). ### Attach extra files to an order You can add files to an order after it's placed, such as a bonus file or a new version of a file. > ⚠️ **Important:** **Send updated download email** in step 3 emails the customer straight away. 1. On the **Products with connected files** card, click **Manually connect files**, then choose **Select files** or **Upload files**. 2. The files appear on a new **Manually Attached files** card. 3. Right away, click **Send updated download email** in the **New files connected** banner. The banner is gone once you reload the page. The customer gets an email listing all the order's files, the original ones and the new ones. For the full steps, see [How to send updated files to specific customers](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/how-to-send-updated-files-to-specific-customers). ### Change download limits for one order Your download limits in **Settings** apply to every order. To give one order different limits, use its **Download Limitations** card. For how each limit works, see [Limit and restrict downloads](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/download-limits-and-restrictions). **Download Limit** and **Access Limit (days)** are available on the **Essential**, **Professional** and **Plus** plans. **IP Limit** and the billing-country option are available on the **Professional** and **Plus** plans. 1. Tick **Override global download limitations for this order**. 2. Change any of these: - **Download Limit**: how many times each file on this order can be downloaded. Leave it empty for unlimited downloads. - **IP Limit**: how many different IP addresses can download each file. - **Access Limit (days)**: how many days customers can access their files, counted from when the download email is sent. Leave it empty for no limit on this order. - **Restrict downloads to the billing country**: only allow downloads from the country in the order's billing address. The label ends with the order's country code, for example (GB). Each change saves as soon as you make it. There's no Save button. ![Download Limitations card on an order in ABC with the override ticked and the Download Limit, IP Limit, Access Limit (days) and billing-country options](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/orders/viewing-orders/850e63bd709c.png) When a limit blocks a download, the customer gets a page that explains why instead of the file, for example **Download limit reached**. It shows the order number and the file, with buttons to contact you or go back to your store. Blocked attempts aren't counted as downloads. For every page a customer can see, see [Limit and restrict downloads](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/download-limits-and-restrictions#user-content-what-customers-see-when-a-download-is-blocked). ![Page a customer sees when their download limit is reached, with the order number, the file, and buttons to contact the store or go back to it](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/orders/viewing-orders/30d023f65e95.png) ### Turn off all download links for an order To stop a customer downloading any file from an order, tick **Disable all download links** in **Download Limitations**. - The **Files** block disappears from the customer's Order status page. - Links the customer already has open a page saying "*your store's name* has turned off downloads for this order." To turn the links back on, untick it. When you cancel or refund an order in Shopify, its download links are turned off too. The customer's links then open a page saying the order was canceled or the item refunded. > 💡 **Tip:** **File download activity** shows where and how each file was downloaded or streamed. It can help if you think a customer is sharing their links. ## Searching orders https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/orders/searching-orders ABC Digital Downloads adds each new order from your store to **Orders** automatically. Search, filter and sort the list to find the order you need. ### Search for an order 1. In ABC, click **Orders**. 2. Click the **Search and filter results** button above the list. 3. Type a customer name, customer email, order number, product name or file name. ![Orders search in ABC finding an order by the customer's name](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/orders/searching-orders/9f08c395d696.png) ### Filter the list Click **Add filter** and choose a filter: - **Payment Status**: **Paid**, **Authorized**, **Expired**, **Partially Paid**, **Partially Refunded**, **Pending**, **Refunded** or **Voided**. - **Attached Files**: **Has Files** or **No Files**, for orders with or without connected files. - **Customer Email**: **No email address set** finds orders from customers who didn't give an email address, for example because they checked out with a phone number. - **Order Date**: **Today**, the last 7, 30, 90 or 120 days, or **Custom**, with **Starting** and **Ending** dates. To find a customer's orders by email address, type the address in the search box. The **Customer Email** filter only finds orders without an email address. > 💡 **Tip:** Customers can check out with only a phone number if your checkout allows it. To require an email address, go to **Settings** > **Checkout** in your Shopify admin and, under **Customer contact method**, choose **Email**. ![Add filter menu on the Orders page in ABC with the Payment Status, Attached Files, Customer Email and Order Date filters](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/orders/searching-orders/4eb383db46c0.png) ### Sort the list Click the sort button and choose **Date Created** (the default, newest first), **Email sent** or **Customer**. Each can be sorted either way; **Customer** sorts by first name. ## Resend a download email https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/orders/resending-download-emails If a customer can't find their download email, you can send it again. Resend it from the order in ABC Digital Downloads, or from the order in Shopify admin. Both send the same email, with the subject "Your digital download is ready! 🎉". Available on the **Essential**, **Professional** and **Plus** plans. ### Resend from the order in ABC > ⚠️ **Important:** **Resend Download Email** sends the email as soon as you click it. There's no confirmation step. 1. In ABC, go to **Orders**. 2. Click the order. 3. Click **Resend Download Email** at the top of the page. The email lists all the order's files, including any you've attached to the order with **Manually connect files**. ![Resend Download Email button at the top right of an order's page in ABC Digital Downloads](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/orders/resending-download-emails/dbd88723aa4e.png) ### Resend from the order in Shopify admin 1. In your Shopify admin, go to **Orders**. 2. Click the order. 3. Click **More actions**. 4. Under **Apps**, click **ABC: Resend download email**. 5. In the **Resend download email** window, check who the email goes to (**To**), when it was last sent, and the order's **Files**, with how many times each has been downloaded. 6. Click **Resend email**. ![Resend download email window in Shopify admin showing who the email goes to, when it was last sent and the order's files](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/orders/resending-download-emails/13f808a266d3.png) > ⚠️ **Important:** If you've set an access limit, only **Resend Download Email** on the order's page in ABC restarts the customer's access period. Neither **Send updated download email**, which you click after attaching files to an order, nor **ABC: Resend download email** in the Shopify admin restarts it. See [Limit how long customers can download](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/download-access-limit). ### Once every 10 minutes You can resend an order's download email once every 10 minutes, and the two ways share that limit. After you resend from either one: - **Resend Download Email** in ABC is unavailable for 10 minutes, even if you reload the page. - The Shopify admin window says "This email was sent recently. Please wait 10 minutes before sending again." and turns off **Resend email**. > ⚠️ **Important:** If **Order Download Links** is turned off in **Settings** > **Email templates**, resending sends nothing. ABC still confirms the resend and starts the 10-minute wait, but no new email appears in **Email activity**. ### Check that the email was sent On the order's page in ABC, **Email activity** lists the emails ABC sent for that order, with the **Subject**, when it was **Sent**, and its **Status**: **Sent**, **Delivered** or **Opened**. Click **view** to see an email as it was sent. ![Email activity in ABC Digital Downloads listing the download email twice, each with its subject, sent time and Opened status](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/orders/resending-download-emails/1ba71473b831.png) > 💡 **Tip:** Customers can also open their files from the Order status page, as long as ABC's block is on that page and **Display download links on the Order Status page** is turned on in **Settings**. ### Customers with no email address If your checkout asks for an "Email or mobile phone number", a customer can check out with only a phone number, and their order then has no email address. To find these orders, go to **Orders** in ABC, click **Add filter**, choose **Customer Email** and select **No email address set**. See [Searching orders](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/orders/searching-orders). > 💡 **Tip:** To make customers enter an email address at checkout, go to **Settings** > **Checkout** in your Shopify admin. Under **Customer contact method**, choose **Email** instead of **Phone number or email**. ## Track orders, downloads and storage in Analytics https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/orders/viewing-analytics The **Analytics** page in ABC Digital Downloads shows how your digital products are doing: how many orders came in, how many times customers downloaded your files, how many emails ABC sent, and how much storage your files use. Available on the **Essential**, **Professional** and **Plus** plans. ### Open Analytics 1. In your Shopify admin, open **ABC Digital Downloads**. 2. Click **Analytics** in the left-hand menu. > 💡 **Tip:** ABC's **Home** page shows the same **Orders**, **Downloads** and **Emails Sent** numbers, starting with the **Last 7 days**. Click **view more stats** to open Analytics. ![Analytics page in ABC Digital Downloads with storage cards and the Orders, Downloads and Emails Sent numbers for the last 30 days](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/orders/viewing-analytics/5079bb64d3a1.png) ### Check your storage The top of the page shows how much of your plan's storage you're using: - **Total Files**: how many files you've uploaded. - **Storage Used**: how much space your files take up. - **Storage Left**: how much space you have left. - **Storage Limit**: your plan's total storage. - **Storage Usage**: the percentage you've used, with a bar. Your plan sets your storage limit. To see how much each plan includes, or to upgrade, see [Plans and billing](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/general/plans-and-billing). ### Read the Insights **Insights** shows three numbers for the period you choose: - **Orders**: the orders placed in the period. - **Downloads**: how many times customers downloaded your files. - **Emails Sent**: the emails ABC sent to your customers. To change the period: 1. Click the period menu, which starts on **Last 30 days**. 2. Choose **Last 7 days**, **Last 30 days**, **Last 60 days**, **Last 90 days** or **Last 365 days**. The period applies to **Insights**, **Activity Over Time** and **Most Popular Downloads**, which all change together. Each number has a small trend line for the period. The percentage under each number compares the first day of the period with the last day, so it isn't a comparison with the previous period. When the first day had no activity and the last day did, it shows 999%, the highest value it displays. > 💡 **Tip:** To see how activity changed across the whole period, use the **Activity Over Time** chart. ![Insights in ABC Digital Downloads showing Orders, Downloads and Emails Sent for the last 30 days, each with a trend line and a percentage](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/orders/viewing-analytics/0d6d2d8c1dac.png) ### See activity over time **Activity Over Time** charts your downloads, emails sent and orders, day by day, across the period you chose. The chart has a toggle for each: **Downloads**, **Emails Sent** and **Orders**. ![Activity Over Time chart in ABC Digital Downloads with lines for downloads, emails sent and orders, flat at zero until the last two days](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/orders/viewing-analytics/01d56fc1b66e.png) ### Find your most downloaded files **Most Popular Downloads** lists the files customers downloaded in the period, with each file's size and number of downloads. The table shows the dates it covers, for example "From 08/26/2026 to 09/25/2026". Click a file to open its page. ![Most Popular Downloads table listing the demo files with their size and number of downloads](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/orders/viewing-analytics/730ecaf78dbb.png) ### Check one file or one order Analytics shows totals for your whole store. For details: - **One file:** go to **Files** and click the file. **Times downloaded** shows how many times it's been downloaded. - **One order:** go to **Orders** and click the order. The **Downloaded** column shows each file's downloads, and **File download activity** lists each download with where it started (for example, the Thank you page), the country, browser, IP address and time. Streams appear there too, with **Stream** as their location. See [Viewing orders](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/orders/viewing-orders). Analytics doesn't break results down by customer. To see what a customer downloaded, open their order. ## Managing settings https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/managing-settings **Settings** in ABC Digital Downloads holds the options that apply to all your orders: fulfillment, emails and order tags, where customers see their download links, download limits and what customers see when a download is blocked, your sender address, and your email and PDF templates. Video: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/662zX1O5MCg To change a setting, go to **Settings** in ABC and make your change. When you click out of the field, Shopify's save bar appears at the top of the page with "Unsaved changes". Click **Save** to keep your changes, or **Discard** to undo them. If you try to leave the page before saving, you're asked to confirm first. ### General settings The **General settings** section covers: - **Date format**: how dates appear in ABC. Choose from MM/DD/YYYY (the default), MM-DD-YYYY, DD/MM/YYYY, DD-MM-YYYY and YYYY-MM-DD. - **Time format**: 12 hour (the default) or 24 hour. - **Automatically fulfill orders** (on by default): ABC marks the items on an order that have files connected as fulfilled in Shopify. - **Send order emails** (on by default): ABC emails customers their download links when they place an order. If you turn it off, customers can still get their files from the Thank you and Order status pages, if those options are on. - **Respect fulfillment holds** (on by default): if an order's fulfillment is on hold in Shopify, ABC waits. It doesn't email the download links or fulfill the order until you release the hold. - **Tag orders in Shopify** (off by default): ABC adds the tag "ABC Digital Downloads" to an order once its download links are ready, so you can filter orders in Shopify or use the tag in Shopify Flow. Tags are added after checkout, so they won't be on the order confirmation email. - **Custom tags (optional)**: appears when **Tag orders in Shopify** is ticked. Enter your own tags, separated by commas, each up to 40 characters. ABC adds them alongside "ABC Digital Downloads", to new orders only. ![General settings in ABC: date and time formats, the fulfillment, order email and fulfillment hold options, and Tag orders in Shopify with a custom tag](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/settings/managing-settings/624c30feb521.png) ### Where customers see their download links - **Display download links on the Thank You page** (on by default): shows the **Files** block, with the customer's download links, on the Thank you page after checkout. - **Display download links on the Order Status page** (on by default): shows the same block on the Order status page. Each page also needs ABC's block, which you add once in Shopify's checkout editor. See [Getting started](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/general/getting-started). ![File Access Rules in ABC Settings with the Thank You page and Order Status page download link options turned on](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/settings/managing-settings/3cf8cc7cf4b1.png) ### Download limits and fraud protection For how these limits work and what customers see when one blocks a download, see [Limit and restrict downloads](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/download-limits-and-restrictions). You can also change these limits for a single order, on the order's page. See [Viewing orders](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/orders/viewing-orders). #### Download limit Available on the **Essential**, **Professional** and **Plus** plans (see [Plans and billing](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/general/plans-and-billing)). **Download Limit** sets how many times a customer can download each file in an order. Leave it empty for unlimited downloads, which is the default. Streams don't count toward the limit. #### IP limit Available on the **Professional** and **Plus** plans. **IP Limit** sets how many different IP addresses can download each file. Leave it empty for no limit, which is the default. #### Access limit Available on the **Essential**, **Professional** and **Plus** plans. **Access Limit (days)** sets how many days customers can access their files, counted from when the download email is sent, or from the order date if no email is sent. Leave it empty for no limit, which is the default. See [Limit how long customers can download](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/download-access-limit). #### Billing country Available on the **Professional** and **Plus** plans. Tick **Restrict downloads to the billing country** to allow downloads only from the country in the order's billing address. Customers elsewhere get a **Not available in your location** page instead of the file. It's off by default. #### Fraudulent orders Tick **Block download emails for fraudulent orders** to hold back the download email when Shopify recommends canceling or investigating an order. It's off by default. ![Downloads section of ABC Settings with the Download Limit, IP Limit and Access Limit (days) fields and the billing-country and fraud options](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/settings/managing-settings/25ca0b44b480.png) ### Blocked download page When a limit or another restriction stops a download, the customer gets a page that explains why, with their order number, the file and a way to contact you. The **Blocked download page** section lists these pages. Click **Preview** next to a page to see it with your store's name and an example order. There's nothing to set here. For what each page says, see [Limit and restrict downloads](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/download-limits-and-restrictions#user-content-what-customers-see-when-a-download-is-blocked). ### Custom email settings Available on the **Professional** and **Plus** plans. Send your customer emails from your own address, such as `downloads@yourstore.com`: enter it in **Email address**, click **Create**, and add the DNS records ABC shows. See [Setting up custom email settings (white-label emails)](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/setting-up-custom-email-settings-white-label-emails). ### Email templates ABC sends customers three emails: **Order Download Links**, **New file(s) added to order** and **File Update Notification**. Under **Email templates** you can: - edit an email's subject and design with **Edit template**, on the **Professional** and **Plus** plans; - turn an email off or on with **Disable email** and **Enable email**, on every plan; - translate your emails with **Add language**, on the **Professional** and **Plus** plans. See [Customizing email templates](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/email-templates). ### PDF templates Available on the **Essential**, **Professional** and **Plus** plans. PDF templates stamp text, such as the customer's name, email and order number, onto the PDFs customers download. Click **Create Template** to add one. Each saved template has **Edit** and **Delete**. See [How to set up PDF stamping for your digital files](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/creating-a-pdf-template). ## Customizing email templates https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/email-templates ABC Digital Downloads sends your customers three emails. You can change what each one says and how it looks, turn any of them off, and translate them. Video: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/HqvZkfMS10Y ### The three emails In ABC, go to **Settings**. The **Email templates** section lists: - **Order Download Links**: sent after a customer buys a digital product, with their download links. - **New file(s) added to order**: sent when you add files to a customer's existing order and send the update from the order page. - **File Update Notification**: sent to customers when a file they bought has been updated. Each email shows **Default** until you change it, and **Customized** after that. ![Email templates section of ABC Settings listing the Order Download Links, New file(s) added to order and File Update Notification emails](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/settings/email-templates/4e2acf149a31.png) ### Edit an email Available on the **Professional** and **Plus** plans (see [Plans and billing](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/general/plans-and-billing)). 1. In **Settings** > **Email templates**, click **Edit template** on the email, or click anywhere on its row. 2. In **Edit the email subject**, change the **Subject**. You can use variables in the subject too. 3. Edit the email itself in the drag-and-drop editor: add and move blocks, and change the text and styling. 4. To add details from the order, click **copy** next to a variable under **Available variables**, then paste it into the subject or the email. Keep every variable marked **Required**: `[downloadLinks]` in **Order Download Links** and **New file(s) added to order**, and `[downloadUrl]` in **File Update Notification**. 5. Click **Save**. ABC uses your saved version for every email of that kind from then on. ![Email template editor in ABC with the subject field, the list of available variables and the drag-and-drop email designer](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/settings/email-templates/a3f1bd535134.png) ### Turn an email off or on Works on every plan. 1. In **Settings** > **Email templates**, click **Disable email** on the email. ABC saves the change straight away; there's no confirmation. 2. The email shows a **Disabled** badge, and its button changes to **Enable email**. 3. To turn the email back on, click **Enable email**. **File Update Notification** is the email that **Replace** sends when you tick **Notify customers who have previously downloaded this file**. The box decides: ticking it sends the email even if you've turned **File Update Notification** off here. To replace a file without emailing your customers, leave that box unticked. The box is off by default. See [Replace a file and notify customers](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/replacing-a-file). ![Email templates in ABC Settings with one email marked Disabled and an Enable email button](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/settings/email-templates/311ea677ff96.png) > 💡 **Tip:** If you turn off **Order Download Links**, customers can still get their files from the Thank you and Order status pages, if those options are on in **Settings**. ### Restore the default Available on the **Professional** and **Plus** plans. > ⚠️ **Important:** Restoring the default deletes your changes to that email, and you can't get them back. 1. On an email marked **Customized**, click **Restore default template**. 2. Confirm. ### Translate your emails Available on the **Professional** and **Plus** plans. 1. In **Settings** > **Email templates**, click **Add language**. 2. In **Add a language**, choose the **Language** (there are 33) and enter a **Name**: the label you'll see in ABC. 3. Click **Add language**. 4. Choose the new language in **Email language**, then click **Edit template** on each email to translate it. A new language starts out in English, so you translate each email by hand. A language's emails don't have **Disable email** or **Restore default template**. A translated email shows **Translated**. To go back to the default for one email, click **Remove translation**. To delete a whole language, choose it in **Email language** and click **Remove language**. > ⚠️ **Important:** **Remove translation** deletes that email's translation, and **Remove language** deletes the language with all its translated emails. Customers who use that language then get your default emails. ![Add a language dialog in ABC Settings with the Name and Language fields](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/settings/email-templates/6a9226a7da03.png) #### Which language each customer gets A new order's emails go out in the customer's Shopify language, if you've added that language. Customers in any other language get your default emails. #### Change the email language for one order You can send one order's emails in a different language. The option appears on the order's page once you've added a language. 1. In ABC, go to **Orders**. 2. Click the order. 3. In the **Customer** card, next to **Email language**, click **Change**. 4. In **Change email language**, select the language. 5. Click **Save**. ABC confirms "Email language updated". ### Send emails from your own address Available on the **Professional** and **Plus** plans. To send these emails from an address on your own domain, see [Setting up custom email settings (white-label emails)](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/setting-up-custom-email-settings-white-label-emails). ## How to set up PDF stamping for your digital files https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/creating-a-pdf-template PDF stamping adds a line of text to your PDF each time a customer downloads it, such as the customer's name, email address and order number. Every copy shows who bought it, which discourages sharing. Available on the **Essential**, **Professional** and **Plus** plans (see [Plans and billing](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/general/plans-and-billing)). Video: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Ub79sbJnnRY ### How stamping works - ABC Digital Downloads stamps the PDF when the customer downloads it, filling in that customer's details. - The stamp goes on every page, unless you choose specific pages. - Only PDFs under 100 MB can be stamped. ABC can't stamp a locked PDF; the file's page tells you if yours is locked. - Downloads are stamped only while your store is on a plan that includes PDF stamping. ### Step 1: Create a template Start from **Settings** > **PDF Templates** > **Create Template**, or from a PDF's page in **Files**: on its **PDF Stamping Configuration** card, click **Create New Template** (or **Create Template** if you don't have any templates yet). Then fill in the template: - **Template Name**: a name for your reference. - **Text Content**: the text to stamp, up to 255 characters. Use these variables to fill in each order's details: - `[name]`: the customer's name - `[email]`: the customer's email address - `[orderNumber]`: the order number, for example #1005 - `[orderDate]`: when the order was placed - **Text Size**: from 8 to 24 (the default is 12). - **Text Alignment**: the top or bottom of the page, on the left, center or right (the default is top left). - **Font**: one of 13 standard PDF fonts (the default is Helvetica). - **Text Color**: black by default. - **Pages**: leave it empty to stamp every page, or list pages and ranges, such as `1,3,5-7`. - **Lock PDF (Prevent copying, printing, etc.)**: tick it to lock the stamped PDF against copying, printing and similar actions. It's off by default. Click **Save**. For example, the text `Licensed to [name] ([email]) - Order [orderNumber] - [orderDate]` stamps each copy with the customer's name, email address, order number and order date. ![PDF template editor in ABC with the stamp text, variables, text size, alignment, font, color and pages settings](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/settings/creating-a-pdf-template/fac442e6a64b.png) > 💡 **Tip:** After you save, place a test order and download the PDF to check how the stamp looks and where it sits on the page. ### Step 2: Assign the template to a PDF 1. In ABC, go to **Files** and click the PDF. 2. On the **PDF Stamping Configuration** card, click **Select Template**. 3. Choose the template under **Select a template** and click **Save**. The card now reads "Current Template:" followed by the template's name. From there you can **Change** the template, **Edit Template**, or **Remove** it to stop stamping this file. ![PDF Stamping Configuration card on a PDF's page in ABC, choosing a template to assign](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/settings/creating-a-pdf-template/827c97cefd87.png) ![PDF Stamping Configuration card showing the assigned Buyer stamp template, with Change, Edit Template and Remove](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/settings/creating-a-pdf-template/d0e53cbec46b.png) ### Step 3: Connect the PDF to a product Customers get the stamped file when they buy a product it's connected to. If you haven't connected it yet, click **Connect new products** on the file's page. See [Uploading and connecting files to products](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/uploading-and-connecting-files-to-products). ### Edit or delete templates **Settings** > **PDF Templates** lists your templates. Each one has **Edit** and **Delete**. > ⚠️ **Important:** Deleting a template can't be undone, and every file that uses it stops being stamped. ## Setting up custom email settings (white-label emails) https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/setting-up-custom-email-settings-white-label-emails By default, ABC Digital Downloads sends your customer emails from its own address. With a custom sender, they come from an address on your own domain instead, such as `downloads@yourstore.com`. Available on the **Professional** and **Plus** plans (see [Plans and billing](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/general/plans-and-billing)). Video: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/M3emiTlmYYI You'll need access to your domain's DNS settings, wherever your domain is registered or hosted. ### Step 1: Add your email address 1. In your Shopify admin, open **ABC Digital Downloads** and go to **Settings**. 2. Under **Custom email settings**, enter the address you want to send from in **Email address**, for example `downloads@yourstore.com`. 3. Click **Create**. ![Custom email settings in ABC with the Email address field and the Create button](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/settings/setting-up-custom-email-settings-white-label-emails/Screenshot-2025-07-28-at-2.44.54-PM.png) ABC shows the address with the status **Pending** and lists the DNS records to add. ### Step 2: Add the DNS records ABC lists three CNAME records under **Domain verification**. Each one has a **CNAME** name and a **Value**, with buttons to copy them. These records let email providers check that the emails ABC sends for you really come from your domain (DKIM). Next is the SPF record, which tells email providers that ABC is allowed to send emails for your domain: - If your domain has no SPF record yet, ABC shows an **SPF TXT name** and **SPF TXT value**. Add them as a new TXT record. - If your domain already has one, ABC shows "Existing SPF record found." Edit your existing SPF record to add `include:amazonses.com`. Don't create a second SPF record. ![Custom email settings in ABC with a Pending sender address, three DKIM CNAME records to add, and a note to add include:amazonses.com to the existing SPF record](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/settings/setting-up-custom-email-settings-white-label-emails/Screenshot-2025-07-28-at-9.17.05-PM.png) To add the records: 1. Sign in to your DNS host and open the DNS settings for your domain. 2. For each CNAME record in ABC, add a CNAME record with the same name and value. 3. Add the SPF TXT record, or update your existing one. ![DNS settings at a DNS host with the three DKIM CNAME records and the SPF TXT record added](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/settings/setting-up-custom-email-settings-white-label-emails/Screenshot-2025-07-28-at-9.16.22-PM-1024x812.png) > 💡 **Tip:** Some DNS hosts add your domain to the end of every record name for you. If yours does, enter only the part before your domain. For example, for a record named `._domainkey.yourstore.com`, enter `._domainkey`. Otherwise the record is saved as `._domainkey.yourstore.com.yourstore.com` and won't verify. ### Step 3: Wait for the status to change to Active DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to take effect, depending on your DNS host. - While the status is **Pending**, click the **Refresh** icon to check again. - Once ABC has verified the records, the status changes to **Active**. From then on, all three of ABC's customer emails come from your address. - If the status shows **Failed**, compare each record at your DNS host with the values in ABC. ![Custom email settings in ABC with the sender address marked Active](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/settings/setting-up-custom-email-settings-white-label-emails/Screenshot-2025-07-28-at-9.15.32-PM.png) ### Remove your custom address > ⚠️ **Important:** Removing your custom address can't be undone. Click the **Remove** icon next to the status and confirm. ### Troubleshooting - **Still Pending after 48 hours:** check each record at your DNS host with a lookup tool such as [MXToolbox](https://mxtoolbox.com/), and look for a doubled domain in the record names. - **Two SPF records:** a domain should have only one. Add `include:amazonses.com` to your existing SPF record instead of adding another. - **Emails still come from ABC's address:** check that the status is **Active**. ## Limit and restrict downloads https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/download-limits-and-restrictions To stop download links from being shared, ABC Digital Downloads can limit how often, for how long, and from where, customers download their files. Set the rules for every order in **Settings**, change them for a single order, or turn off an order's links completely. ### Set limits for every order 1. In ABC, go to **Settings**. 2. Under **Downloads**, enter a number in **Download Limit**. 3. Enter a number in **IP Limit**. 4. Enter a number of days in **Access Limit (days)**. 5. Tick **Restrict downloads to the billing country**. 6. Click **Save** in the save bar at the top of the page. Skip any step you don't need: an empty limit means no limit. These settings apply to every order you haven't overridden. A changed **Download Limit** also applies to orders placed before the change. ![Downloads section of ABC Digital Downloads Settings with Download Limit, IP Limit and Access Limit (days) set to Unlimited and both options unticked](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/settings/download-limits-and-restrictions/25ca0b44b480.png) ### Download limit Available on the **Essential**, **Professional** and **Plus** plans. **Download Limit** sets how many times a customer can download each file on an order. Each file is counted separately: with a limit of 2, a customer can download every file on their order twice. It's empty (unlimited) until you set it. > 💡 **Tip:** If a customer reaches the limit and needs another download, tick **Override global download limitations for this order** on their order, then enter a higher **Download Limit**, or leave it empty for no limit. The customer's link works again. ### IP limit Available on the **Professional** and **Plus** plans. **IP Limit** sets how many different IP addresses can download each file. It's empty (unlimited) until you set it. ### Access limit Available on the **Essential**, **Professional** and **Plus** plans. **Access Limit (days)** sets how many days customers can access their files, counted from when the download email is sent, or from the order date if no email is sent. It's empty (unlimited) until you set it. See [Limit how long customers can download](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/download-access-limit). ### Billing country Available on the **Professional** and **Plus** plans. **Restrict downloads to the billing country** only allows downloads from the same country as the order's billing address. It's off until you tick it. ### Fraudulent orders **Block download emails for fraudulent orders**, also under **Downloads** in **Settings**, stops ABC from sending download emails for orders that Shopify recommends you cancel or investigate. It's off until you tick it. ### Change the limits for one order Until you override them, an order's **Download Limitations** card shows your limits from **Settings**, grayed out. 1. In ABC, go to **Orders**. 2. Click the order. 3. In **Download Limitations**, tick **Override global download limitations for this order**. The order's fields start empty: your values from **Settings** aren't copied in. 4. Change **Download Limit**, **IP Limit**, **Access Limit (days)** or the billing-country option. An empty **Download Limit** means no limit for this order, even if **Settings** has one. Enter a number of days in **Access Limit (days)**, or leave it empty for no limit on this order. Changes save as you type, and ABC confirms "Order limitations have been updated." There's no Save button. The billing-country option shows the order's country, for example **Restrict downloads to the billing country (GB)**. The plan rules from **Settings** apply here too. To use the limits from **Settings** again, untick **Override global download limitations for this order**. ![Download Limitations card on an order in ABC Digital Downloads with the override ticked and the Download Limit, IP Limit and Access Limit (days) fields empty, showing Unlimited](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/settings/download-limits-and-restrictions/850e63bd709c.png) ### Turn off all download links for an order 1. In ABC, go to **Orders**. 2. Click the order. 3. In **Download Limitations**, tick **Disable all download links**. You don't need to tick the override first. ABC turns off every download link on the order. ABC's file list disappears from the customer's Order status page, and links the customer already has stop working. To turn the links back on, untick the same box. When you cancel or refund an order in Shopify, its download links are turned off too. The customer's links then open a page saying the order was canceled or the item refunded. ### What customers see when a download is blocked Instead of the file, the customer gets a page that explains why the download is blocked. Each page shows the order number and the file, with a **Contact** *your store's name* button that emails you and a **Back to store** button. The page depends on the reason: - **Download limit reached:** "This file has already been downloaded the maximum number of times *your store's name* allows." - **Too many devices or locations:** the file has reached your **IP Limit**. - **Your access has expired:** the order's access period has ended. See [Limit how long customers can download](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/download-access-limit). - **Not available in your location:** the customer is outside the order's billing country. - **Downloads are unavailable:** you turned off the order's download links. - **This order was canceled** or **This item was refunded:** the order was canceled, or the item refunded, in Shopify. - **File unavailable:** "We couldn’t find this file. *your store's name* may have replaced or removed it." Each message ends "If you think this is a mistake, please contact the store." > 💡 **Tip:** To see these pages with your store's name and contact details, go to **Settings** > **Blocked download page** and click **Preview** next to a page. The previews use an example order and file. ![Download limit reached page from ABC Digital Downloads with the order number, the file, and Contact and Back to store buttons](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/settings/download-limits-and-restrictions/30d023f65e95.png) ### What counts as a download - Every download that starts counts, even if the customer cancels it in their browser. - Blocked attempts don't count, and they don't appear in the order's **File download activity**. - Streams don't count toward the download limit. See [How to set up streaming for video and audio files](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/how-to-set-up-streaming-for-video-and-audio-files). - The order's **Downloaded** column shows how many times each file has been downloaded. ## Limit how long customers can download https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/download-access-limit An access limit in ABC Digital Downloads makes an order's download links stop working a set number of days after the download email is sent. Set it once for every order in **Settings**, or change it for a single order. Available on the **Essential**, **Professional** and **Plus** plans. ### Set an access limit for every order 1. In ABC, go to **Settings**. 2. Under **Downloads**, enter a number of days in **Access Limit (days)**. 3. Click **Save** in the save bar at the top of the page. The access period starts when ABC sends the order's download email, or on the order date if no email is sent. Leave the field empty for no limit. The shortest limit is 1 day. ![The Downloads section of ABC's Settings, with Access Limit (days) set to 30 and its tooltip showing](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/settings/download-access-limit/cf86e424445b.png) ### Change the access limit for one order 1. In ABC, go to **Orders**. 2. Click the order. 3. In **Download Limitations**, tick **Override global download limitations for this order**. The order's fields start empty: your values from **Settings** aren't copied in. 4. Enter a number of days in **Access Limit (days)**, or leave it empty for no limit on this order. Changes save as you type, and ABC confirms "Order limitations have been updated." There's no Save button. An empty **Download Limit** on the order means no limit for this order, even if **Settings** has one, so enter your download limit again if you want to keep it. To use your limit from **Settings** again, untick **Override global download limitations for this order**. ### Give a customer more time Resending the download email restarts the customer's access period. 1. In ABC, go to **Orders**. 2. Click the order. 3. Click **Resend Download Email**. While the order has an end date, the button's tooltip says when the current period ends: "Resending restarts the customer's download access period (currently ends …)". See [Resend a download email](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/orders/resending-download-emails) for the button's other rules. > ⚠️ **Important:** Only **Resend Download Email** on the order's page in ABC restarts the period. Neither **Send updated download email**, which you click after attaching files to an order, nor **ABC: Resend download email** in the Shopify admin restarts it. ### What customers see when access ends When the period is over, the customer's download link opens a page titled **Your access has expired**. It says "Access to the files for this order ended on" the end date, with their order number, the file, and a link to contact your store. To see the page yourself, go to **Settings** > **Blocked download page** and click **Preview** next to **Your access has expired**. The other pages customers can see are in [Limit and restrict downloads](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/download-limits-and-restrictions). ![The Your access has expired page, with the order number, the file and a contact link](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/kb/settings/download-access-limit/c46141ce543d.png) ## Customer didn't get their download? 7 checks to run https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/blog/customer-didnt-get-their-download A customer bought a digital download from your Shopify store, and now they're writing in: the download email never came, or the link won't open. They've paid, and they're waiting. ABC Digital Downloads gives you a lot to go on. Each order shows the emails ABC sent and the downloads that went through, and when ABC blocks a download, the customer sees a page that says why. Run these seven checks in order. Checks 2 to 6 are for an email that never arrived, and check 7 is for a link that doesn't work. ### 1. Start with the Thank you and Order status pages The email isn't the only way to the files. ABC also lists them in a **Files** block on the Thank you page, right after checkout, and on the Order status page, where customers can come back to them later. Before you chase the email, ask the customer whether they saw their files there. That only works if both blocks are on your store. On ABC's **Home** page, the **Setup Guide** marks **Enable Order Status & Thank You Page** as complete once both blocks are saved. And in **Settings**, **Display download links on the Thank You page** and **Display download links on the Order Status page** need to be on. Both are on by default. [Getting started](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/general/getting-started) shows how to add the blocks. ### 2. Look at the order's Email activity In ABC, go to **Orders** and open the order. Its **Email activity** list shows every email ABC sent for the order, with the **Subject**, when it was **Sent**, and its **Status**: **Sent**, **Delivered** or **Opened**. [Viewing orders](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/orders/viewing-orders) explains the rest of the page. ![ABC order page, Emails activity card: the download email, sent 09/24/2026 3:59 AM, status Opened, with a view link](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/blog-images/customer-didnt-get-their-download/455020b8169f.png) **The download email is listed.** ABC sent it. Click **view** to see exactly what went out, and check the email address on the order's **Customer** card. Then ask the customer to search their inbox, spam folder included, for the subject. Unless you've changed it, it's "Your digital download is ready! 🎉". **No download email is listed.** ABC didn't send one for this order. Checks 3 to 6 cover why. ### 3. Check the order has an email address If your checkout asks for an "Email or mobile phone number", a customer can check out with only a phone number. Their order then has no email address, so the download email has nowhere to go. To find these orders, filter **Orders** in ABC by **Customer Email** and choose **No email address set** (see [Searching orders](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/orders/searching-orders)). To stop it happening, require an email address: in your Shopify admin, go to **Settings** > **Checkout** and, under **Customer contact method**, choose **Email**. ### 4. Check your emails are turned on Two settings stop the download email for every new order: - **Send order emails**, in **Settings**. It's on by default. When it's off, ABC doesn't email customers their download links when they place an order. - The **Order Download Links** email, in **Settings** > **Email templates**. A **Disabled** badge means it's off. Click **Enable email** to turn it back on. One catch: while **Order Download Links** is off, resending sends nothing. ABC still confirms the resend and starts its 10-minute wait, but no new email appears in **Email activity**. ### 5. Check whether ABC held the email back Two settings make ABC hold a download email back on purpose. [Managing settings](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/managing-settings) covers both. **A fraud warning.** If you've ticked **Block download emails for fraudulent orders**, under **Downloads** in **Settings**, ABC doesn't send download emails for orders that Shopify recommends you cancel or investigate. It's off until you tick it. If you look into the order and decide it's genuine, send the email from the order in ABC: for an order the block held back, its button reads **Send Download Email**. **A fulfillment hold.** **Respect fulfillment holds**, in **Settings**, is on by default. While an order's fulfillment is on hold in Shopify, ABC waits: it doesn't email the download links or fulfill the order until you release the hold. ### 6. Check the order has its files Customers get the files connected to the product, or the variant, that they bought. A file you connect to a product later doesn't reach orders placed before, and a file connected to one variant doesn't reach buyers of another. To find orders with no files, filter **Orders** in ABC by **Attached Files** and choose **No Files**. To fix one, attach the file to the order with **Manually connect files**, then click **Send updated download email** in the banner that appears. The customer gets an email listing all their files. Click it right away: the banner is gone once you reload the page. [How to send updated files to specific customers](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/how-to-send-updated-files-to-specific-customers) has the steps. ### 7. "The link doesn't work": read the page's reason When ABC blocks a download, the customer gets a page that explains why instead of the file. Ask the customer which page they see, or for a screenshot. Blocked attempts don't appear in the order's **File download activity**, so the page is your clue. - **Download limit reached:** the file has used up its **Download Limit**. Every download that starts counts, even one the customer cancels in their browser. Give the order a higher limit. - **Too many devices or locations:** the file has reached your **IP Limit**. Give the order a higher one. - **Not available in your location:** the customer is outside the order's billing country. Untick the billing-country option on the order. - **Your access has expired:** the order's access period is over. Click **Resend Download Email** on the order in ABC. It sends the links again and restarts the period (see [Limit how long customers can download](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/download-access-limit)). - **Downloads are unavailable:** the order's links were turned off with **Disable all download links**. Untick it to turn them back on. - **This order was cancelled** or **This item was refunded:** when you cancel or refund an order in Shopify, its download links are turned off too. - **File unavailable:** ABC can't find the file. Attach the current version to the order, as in check 6. To change the limits for one order, tick **Override global download limitations for this order** in its **Download Limitations** card. The order's fields start empty, and an empty **Download Limit** means no limit for that order, even if **Settings** has one, so re-enter any limit you want to keep. [Limit and restrict downloads](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/download-limits-and-restrictions#user-content-what-customers-see-when-a-download-is-blocked) lists every page. To see each page with your store's name, go to **Settings** > **Blocked download page** and click **Preview**. ![ABC Settings, Blocked download page card: eight pages, from Download limit reached to File unavailable, each with a Preview button](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/blog-images/customer-didnt-get-their-download/d97ba9ca2ee8.png) ### Resend the download email Once you've fixed the cause, send the email again, from the order in ABC (**Resend Download Email**) or from the order in your Shopify admin (**More actions** > **ABC: Resend download email**). Both send the same email, listing every file on the order, including files you've attached. Resending is available on the Essential, Professional and Plus plans. [Resend a download email](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/orders/resending-download-emails) has the steps. Three things to know first: - **The button in ABC sends as soon as you click it.** There's no confirmation step, so check the address on the order first. The Shopify admin's window shows it under **To**. - **Once every 10 minutes.** You can resend an order's email once every 10 minutes, and the two places share that wait. - **Use the button in ABC if you've set an access limit.** It's the only one that restarts the customer's access period. Then check **Email activity** for the new email. ![Shopify admin, Resend download email window: To (address hidden), Last sent 9/24/2026 3:58:59 AM, one file, Cancel and Resend email](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/blog-images/customer-didnt-get-their-download/5ef65a18532a.png) ### Prevent the next one **Test after every change.** Place a free test order with a 100% discount code and look at what your customer gets: the Thank you page, the email and the Order status page. [How to test the customer experience for a digital product](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/general/how-to-test-the-customer-experience-for-a-digital-product) walks through it. **Keep the page blocks on.** They're a second way to the files when an email goes astray. Download links on the Thank you page come with every plan, Free included. **Ask for an email address at checkout,** as in check 3. **Connect files before a product goes on sale.** Otherwise you'll be attaching them to past orders by hand. To update a file for everyone who bought it, use **Replace** on the file's page: links customers already have then serve the new version. See [Replace a file and notify customers](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/replacing-a-file). **Make the email look like it's from you.** On the Professional and Plus plans, you can send ABC's emails from an address on your own domain instead of ABC's ([Setting up custom email settings](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/setting-up-custom-email-settings-white-label-emails)), and edit the download email's subject and wording, for example to put your store's name in the subject ([Customizing email templates](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/email-templates)). Setting up a new product? [Ship your first digital product in 30 minutes](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/blog/ship-your-first-digital-product) goes from upload to first sale, test order included. ### Still stuck? [Contact us](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/contact) with the order number and the page or message your customer sees. Not on ABC Digital Downloads yet? Resending starts on the Essential plan, and every paid plan comes with a 10-day free trial. [Compare the plans](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/pricing). ## Stop download sharing on Shopify without annoying buyers https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/blog/stop-download-sharing-on-shopify Sooner or later, one of your download links turns up somewhere it shouldn't: a group chat, a forum thread, a "free download" page. The tempting fix is to lock everything down. One download, one device, a short window. That stops some sharing. It also stops the customer who bought your course on a laptop and wants to finish it on their phone. The honest version: no setting makes sharing impossible. Once a file is on someone's computer, no link rule can take it back. What you can do is make a forwarded link stop working, make a leaked PDF point back to its order, and, for video and audio, avoid handing over a file at all. ABC Digital Downloads has a control for each, and each one costs honest buyers something. Here's how to choose. ### Two kinds of sharing **Sharing the link.** A customer forwards their download email, or pastes the link somewhere public. Every download through that link counts against the order's limits, the same as the customer's own. This is the kind your settings can stop. **Sharing the file.** A customer downloads the file once, then passes the file itself around: a shared drive, a forum, a message to a friend. Your options here are a stamp that shows whose copy a PDF is, or streaming, so there's no file to pass around in the first place. ### Make a forwarded link stop working These four rules live under **Downloads** in ABC's **Settings**, and they apply to every order you haven't overridden. An empty limit means no limit. [Limit and restrict downloads](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/download-limits-and-restrictions) has the steps. ![ABC Settings Downloads card with Download Limit 5, IP Limit 3 and Access Limit (days) 30 filled in, and the billing-country box unticked](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/blog-images/stop-download-sharing-on-shopify/8dd37a1601ab.png) **Download limit.** Available on the Essential, Professional and Plus plans. **Download Limit** sets how many times each file on an order can be downloaded. Each file counts separately: with a limit of 3, a customer can download every file on their order three times. Once a passed-around link uses that up, it opens a **Download limit reached** page instead of the file. *What it costs honest buyers:* every download that starts counts, even one the customer cancels in their browser. A laptop, a phone and one false start add up to three downloads without any sharing. And a changed **Download Limit** in **Settings** also applies to orders placed before the change, so tightening it reaches past buyers too. Leave room for a second device. **IP limit.** Available on the Professional and Plus plans. **IP Limit** sets how many different IP addresses can download each file. A forwarded link gets opened from other people's networks, so it reaches the limit, and the next person gets a **Too many devices or locations** page. *What it costs honest buyers:* the page's name says it. One customer downloading at home, at work and on their phone can count as three devices or locations. Start at 3 or higher. **Billing country.** Available on the Professional and Plus plans. Tick **Restrict downloads to the billing country**, and downloads only work from the country in the order's billing address. Anywhere else, the link opens a **Not available in your location** page. *What it costs honest buyers:* it blocks your own customer too, whenever they download from outside their billing country, on a trip for example. It suits stores that sell mostly in one country. **Access limit.** Available on the Essential, Professional and Plus plans. **Access Limit (days)** makes an order's download links stop working a set number of days after the download email is sent, or after the order date if no email went out. Forwarded copies of the link stop with it. See [Limit how long customers can download](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/download-access-limit). *What it costs honest buyers:* with a 30-day limit, a customer who comes back in month three for a lost file finds a page saying their access has ended. If that happens, click **Resend Download Email** on their order in ABC (available on the same plans). It sends their links again and restarts the access period. It's the only button that does: the Shopify admin's **ABC: Resend download email** and **Send updated download email** don't restart it. And one switch you already have: when you cancel or refund an order in Shopify, its download links are turned off too. ### Make a leaked PDF traceable PDF stamping covers what limits can't: the file itself. ABC adds a line of text to the PDF each time a customer downloads it, filled in with that order's details, such as the customer's name and the order number. Every copy shows who bought it. That discourages sharing, and if your stamp includes the order number, a copy that turns up anyway points straight to its order. PDF stamping is available on the Essential, Professional and Plus plans. Stamping is the gentlest control here, because no honest buyer ever hits a wall. Its cost is on the page, so keep the stamp small and out of the way. [Watermarking PDFs without ruining the read](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/blog/watermarking-pdfs-without-ruining-the-read) has the stamp text, size and position we recommend, and [How to set up PDF stamping for your digital files](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/creating-a-pdf-template) has the steps. Think twice about one template setting: **Lock PDF (Prevent copying, printing, etc.)**. It's off by default, and for most products it should stay off. A customer who bought a printable planner, or wants to copy a passage into their notes, runs straight into it. ### Stream instead of handing over a file For video and audio, the strongest option is not to hand over a file at all. On the Plus plan, you can set an MP3, WAV or MP4 file to **Stream** on its page in ABC. Customers then open it in a player on your store's own domain, with play, volume and full-screen controls and no download option. Right-click and picture-in-picture are turned off in the player. Streams don't count toward the download limit, so rewatching a lesson doesn't use up the customer's downloads. Streaming makes a file harder to save, not impossible. The app says so itself: "there's still a chance someone could save your file while it's being streamed." ![ABC's stream player paused at 0:11 of a 0:28 video lesson, with play, time, volume, full-screen and more-options controls, no download button](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/blog-images/stop-download-sharing-on-shopify/d5d1f86c9c10.jpg) *What it costs honest buyers:* there's no file to keep, so a customer can't save a lesson to watch offline. That's fine for most courses, and wrong for files customers need to keep, like a sample pack for their music software. [How to set up streaming for video and audio files](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/files/how-to-set-up-streaming-for-video-and-audio-files) has the details. ### A starting setup for each kind of product | What you sell | Start with | Plan needed | |---|---|---| | Ebooks and PDF guides | A small PDF stamp in the footer, and a download limit of 5 | Essential and up | | Printable planners and worksheets | PDF stamping, left unlocked so customers can print | Essential and up | | Video courses | Stream the MP4 lessons, and give any workbook a download limit | Plus | | Audio lessons and meditations | Stream the MP3 or WAV files | Plus | | Sample packs, presets, templates and software | A download limit of 5, plus an IP limit if links keep turning up | Essential and up (IP limit: Professional and up) | | Workshop and event recordings | An access limit, such as 30 days | Essential and up | These are starting points, not rules. Not on Plus? Deliver video as downloads with a download limit, and add an IP limit on Professional. ### When you find a leak **Find the order.** If a stamped PDF turns up, read the stamp. If you think an order's links are being shared, open it in ABC (**Orders**, then the order) and check **File download activity**. It lists each download with the file, the IP address, the country (not always filled in), the browser and the time. Downloads of one file from lots of different addresses or countries suggest the link has traveled. Blocked attempts don't appear there: the list only shows downloads that went through. ![File download activity table on a demo order in ABC, listing each download's file, location, browser and time, with the IP addresses hidden](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/blog-images/stop-download-sharing-on-shopify/5e250c077f79.png) **Choose how firmly to act.** To tighten just that order, tick **Override global download limitations for this order** in its **Download Limitations** card and enter lower limits. The order's fields start empty, and an empty **Download Limit** means no limit for that order, even if **Settings** has one, so fill in every limit you want to keep. To stop the order completely, tick **Disable all download links**. Every link on the order stops working, and ABC's file list disappears from the customer's Order status page. Untick it to turn the links back on. Neither step can reach a copy that's already been downloaded. For PDFs, that's where the stamp earns its keep. **Consider asking first.** Sometimes a "leak" is a customer sharing with a colleague or a partner, and a friendly email settles it. ### Keep honest buyers happy **Say the rules before they buy.** If you use limits, put them in the product description, for example: "Download each file up to 5 times within 30 days of your download email." On the Professional and Plus plans, you can add the same line to the download email itself (see [Customizing email templates](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/email-templates)). **Know what a blocked customer sees.** Instead of the file, they get a page that names the reason, with the order number, the file, and buttons to contact you or go back to your store. To see each page with your store's name, go to **Settings** > **Blocked download page** and click **Preview**. ![Download limit reached page a blocked customer sees, with the order number, the file name, and Contact and Back to store buttons](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/blog-images/stop-download-sharing-on-shopify/39251fb53755.png) **Fix it on the order, not in Settings.** When a customer hits a limit, tick **Override global download limitations for this order** on their order and enter a higher **Download Limit**, or leave it empty for no limit. Their link works again. [Viewing orders](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/orders/viewing-orders) walks through the order page. **Start loose.** It's easier to tighten a limit after one leak than to win back a customer who got locked out of something they paid for. ### Pick the plan that fits your catalog Download limits, the access limit and PDF stamping start on the Essential plan. The IP limit and the billing-country rule start on Professional, and streaming is on Plus. Every paid plan comes with a 10-day free trial. [Compare the plans](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/pricing) side by side. ## Ship your first digital product in 30 minutes https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/blog/ship-your-first-digital-product You installed ABC Digital Downloads. Shopify is asking what you want to sell. Your file is ready but you have no idea where to drop it. Here's the 30-minute path from staring at an empty dashboard to a real Shopify product that delivers a real file to a real customer. ### What you need before you start Three things — that's it. A Shopify store on any paid plan. The file you want to sell (under 1 GB for the Free tier). A real email address you can check, because we're going to test the customer flow at the end. If your file is bigger than 1 GB, you'll want the Essential plan (5 GB) or Professional (50 GB). You can upgrade later; the file you upload on Free survives the change. ### Step 1: Upload the file Inside the ABC dashboard, open **Files** and click **Upload files**. Drag your file into the dropzone. Give it a clean name before you upload — customers see the filename in their download list, so the name *is* part of the product experience. A file called `final-final-v3.pdf` reads as exactly that. To show customers a friendlier name, set one on the file's page under **Shown to customers**. Once the file is up, it's listed in **Files** with its size and the date you added it. In a minute, you'll connect it to the Shopify product. ### Step 2: Create the Shopify product This part lives in your Shopify admin, not ABC. **Products → Add product**. Fill in the title, the price, the description. In the **Shipping** section, turn off **Physical product**, so Shopify doesn't charge shipping for it. Save the product. Now flip back to ABC. ### Step 3: Connect the file to the product In ABC, open **Products** and you'll see the product you just made in Shopify, waiting to be linked. Click it. Click **Select files**, tick your file, and click **Add**. That's the whole connection. There's no "publish" step, no review queue. The file is now armed to deliver the moment someone buys this Shopify product. ### Step 4: Test the customer flow This is the step most new merchants skip. **Don't.** Place a real test order in your own store — use a Shopify discount code that takes the price to $0, or use Shopify's bogus credit card option in test mode. Buy your own product. Within a minute or so you should get the delivery email (check your spam folder the first time). The email has a download link. The link works. The file downloads. The filename is the one you uploaded. If any of that doesn't happen, that's the moment you want to know — not when a real customer is in the loop. ### What to do next You shipped your first digital product. Most merchants who get this far stop here for a few weeks, then come back to set up watermarking, custom email templates, and download limits. None of that matters until you have a customer; now you do. Read [Setting up custom email templates](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/email-templates) when you're ready to make the delivery email feel like part of your brand. Read [PDF stamping & watermarks](https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/knowledge-base/settings/creating-a-pdf-template) when you start to worry about piracy. Until then, keep selling. ## Watermarking PDFs without ruining the read https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/blog/watermarking-pdfs-without-ruining-the-read The first time you discover one of your PDFs on a piracy forum, your instinct is to make every page of every future PDF look like a customs declaration — watermarks across every paragraph, your domain in caps along the margin, the customer's email and order ID in red. Don't. A watermark that makes the PDF unreadable doesn't stop piracy. It just teaches your real customers that their copy isn't quite the real product. The customer who would never share their file in the first place is now annoyed every time they open it. ### One quiet line ABC's PDF stamping writes one line of text onto a PDF each time a customer downloads it. You write that line once, in a PDF template, and ABC fills in each order's details through four variables: `[name]`, `[email]`, `[orderNumber]` and `[orderDate]`. PDF stamping is available on the Essential, Professional and Plus plans. That line is something a casual screenshot uploader will see and probably crop out — but the act of cropping is itself a deterrent. Most people sharing a PDF on a forum aren't editing it in Acrobat; they're hitting "share file" on the original. The stamp survives that path. ### What to put in the stamp The footer. Just the footer. A single short line in the page-bottom band: set **Text Alignment** to Bottom Left, **Text Size** to 8 (the smallest size), and a light gray **Text Color**. Keep the text itself to an order reference: ``` Licensed to [name] - Order [orderNumber] - [orderDate] ``` That's it. No "DO NOT SHARE." No URLs to a takedown form. The bare mark is enough to make a casual screenshot uploader hesitate and probably crop, while leaving the body of the PDF entirely undisturbed for the legitimate reader. If your file shows up shared, you open it, you read the order number, you know which customer's copy leaked. Whether you act on that information is up to you; most merchants just like having it. ### What NOT to do **Don't stamp every page.** Once is enough; ten times is rude. The template's **Pages** field takes a list like `1,3,5-7`; leave it empty only if you really want every page stamped. **Don't let the stamp collide with artwork.** The line sits at the top or bottom edge of the page, so keep that margin clear on full-bleed pages. **Don't count on stamping on the Free plan.** PDF stamping starts on Essential ($8/month), along with download limits. ### Setup, end-to-end In ABC: **Settings → PDF Templates → Create Template**. Give the template a name, type your line into **Text Content** with the variables you want, set the size, position, and color, and click **Save**. Then open your PDF in **Files**, click **Select Template** on its **PDF Stamping Configuration** card, pick the template, and click **Save**. Test it the same way you'd test any other delivery flow — buy your own product, open the delivered PDF, go to a page you stamped, and check that the line shows your order details. If it's right on a test purchase, every future delivery is right too. ## From Gumroad to Shopify: a migration playbook https://abcdigitaldownloads.com/blog/migrating-from-gumroad-to-shopify Gumroad has been good to a lot of creators. The reason most people leave isn't the platform itself — it's that the platform is built to be the whole stack, and as your store grows, you start wanting tools that are built to be one thing well. Shopify for the storefront. Klaviyo for email. An app like ABC Digital Downloads for the delivery layer. Together they cost less than Gumroad at scale and give you control over every step. This is the move-it-without-losing-a-sale playbook. ### Phase 1: The week before Don't touch your live Gumroad store yet. The first week is preparation — you're building the new home, not yet moving in. **Set up your Shopify store.** Pick a theme. Install ABC. Add a placeholder product so you can test the checkout end-to-end. You don't need it to be public yet. **Back up everything from Gumroad.** Export your customer list as a CSV. Download every digital product file you've ever sold. Save your order history. This is your insurance — once you cancel Gumroad you can't easily get this back. **Map your URLs.** Every product on Gumroad has a URL like `your.gumroad.com/l/myproduct` or `gumroad.com/yourstore/myproduct`. Make a spreadsheet listing every product URL and the matching Shopify product URL. You'll need this in Phase 3 for the redirects. ### Phase 2: Rebuild the catalog Move products one at a time, not in a batch. The temptation is to script it — don't. Each Gumroad product probably has nuances (custom price, bundle, variant) that don't map cleanly, and the half-hour you spend recreating each one carefully is worth it. For each product: 1. Create the matching Shopify product (title, description, price, image). 2. In its **Shipping** section, turn off **Physical product** (on each variant, if it has variants). 3. Upload the file to ABC, attach it to the Shopify product. 4. Buy your own product end-to-end. Verify the file delivers. Once everything is in Shopify and tested, you're ready for the cutover. ### Phase 3: The cutover Pick a low-traffic day. Tuesday morning is usually quiet. **Launch Shopify.** Make your storefront public. Update your custom domain DNS if you're using one (gumroad supports this, Shopify supports this; the transition is a TTL wait, usually under an hour). **Set up the redirects.** This is the critical SEO move. Every Gumroad product URL should 301-redirect to its Shopify equivalent. If you're using a custom domain, add each old path as a URL redirect in your Shopify admin (**Content** > **Menus** > **View URL redirects**). If you're not, you can't redirect the gumroad.com URLs but you can disable them so the old links 404 cleanly rather than serving a Gumroad product page. **Disable Gumroad.** Switch off your Gumroad store — don't delete it yet. Keep it dormant for 30 days in case you discover something you missed. **Send the announcement email.** "We're now selling exclusively at yourstore.com. If you bought a product from us before, your downloads still work via your order receipt." This is just transparency; you'd be surprised how many customers appreciate the heads-up. ### Phase 4: Tidy up For the next month, keep a tab open on your Gumroad analytics so you can see if any traffic is still landing there. If it is, the redirects didn't take or there's a URL you missed. Patch them. After 30 days of zero Gumroad activity, you can delete the store. Keep the CSV exports forever. ### What you gain Once you import your Gumroad customers (**Customers** > **Import**, in Shopify's customer CSV format), your customer list is in Shopify Customers — directly addressable by Klaviyo, by Shopify Flow, by any other Shopify-native tool. Your delivery emails come from your own domain (set this up with ABC's custom email sender, on the Professional and Plus plans). Your storefront looks like you, not like a Gumroad product page. You also gain a clean separation of concerns: storefront, email, delivery, analytics — four tools doing four jobs, instead of one tool doing them all at 60% quality. That's the trade. Worth it for most creators past the first year.