Plugin Download adds a Download link to each plugin in the Plugins list, allowing admins to download any installed plugin as a .zip file for backup or transfer purposes.
What this feature does
When enabled, a "Download" action link appears next to Activate, Deactivate, and Delete links on each plugin row. Clicking Download creates a zip archive of the entire plugin directory and sends it to your browser. This is useful for backing up custom plugins, transferring plugins to another site, or storing copies of mission-critical plugins locally.
The download process uses PHP's ZipArchive to bundle all plugin files recursively, including subdirectories, into a single .zip archive. Only users with administrator capabilities (manage_options) can see and click the Download link. The feature requires the ZipArchive PHP extension to be available on your server.
Requirements: Your server must have the PHP ZipArchive extension enabled. Most hosting providers enable this by default. If downloads fail, contact your hosting provider about enabling ZipArchive.
How to enable it
- Open AdminEase > Plugins.
- Toggle Enable Plugin Download on.
- Save. Go to Plugins in WordPress admin. A Download link now appears for each plugin.
- Click Download on any plugin row. The browser will download a .zip archive of that plugin.
Settings reference
| Setting | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Enable Plugin Download | Adds a Download link to each plugin row, allowing admins to download plugins as .zip archives. Requires ZipArchive PHP extension and manage_options capability. | Off |
What happens behind the scenes
When the Download link is clicked, AdminEase verifies the request using a WordPress nonce and checks that the user has manage_options capability. The plugin file path is validated to prevent directory traversal attacks. AdminEase then recursively walks the plugin directory using RecursiveDirectoryIterator and adds every file to a ZipArchive instance. The zip is written to the system temp directory, sent to the browser with appropriate Content-Type and Content-Disposition headers, and then deleted from the server. The entire process runs through the admin_post_adminease_download_plugin action hook.
Troubleshooting
The Download link doesn't appear
Verify the setting is enabled in AdminEase > Plugins. Also ensure you are logged in as an administrator (manage_options capability). The Download link is only visible to admins. If you are an admin and the link still doesn't appear, reload the page and clear browser cache.
Download fails with "ZipArchive extension not available"
Your server does not have the ZipArchive PHP extension. Contact your hosting provider and ask them to enable the PHP ZipArchive extension (php-zip package on Linux servers). This is a server-side requirement that AdminEase cannot work around.
Can I download plugins that are currently active?
Yes. Plugins can be downloaded whether they are active or inactive. The download does not deactivate the plugin or interrupt its operation. It simply creates a backup zip of the plugin files at that moment in time.
How large can plugin downloads be?
The file size depends on the plugin. Most plugins are under 10MB. Very large plugins with extensive assets may be larger. The server must have enough disk space in the temp directory to build the zip, and your browser must be able to download the resulting file size.