How to Protect Media or Files (Secure Digital Downloads) with SureMembers

With SureMembers, you can protect files so that only people in the right access group can view or download them. This is helpful when you need to share content privately without making it available to the public.

Why You Might Need This

Protecting media or files is useful in many situations:

• Confidential documents: Share sensitive files with employees or clients without exposing them publicly.
• Premium content: Offer downloads such as eBooks, PDFs, or templates only to paying members.
• Course materials: Lock training videos, audio files, or worksheets so that only enrolled students can access them.
• Exclusive bonuses: Provide subscribers or VIP customers with private resources or early access content.

Before You Start

Make sure you already have an Access Group created. Files are always linked to an access group, so only the members of that group will be able to access the protected files.

Follow this guide if you need help: How to Create Access Groups

How to Protect Media or Files

1. Go to SureMembers → Access Groups and either create a new group or edit an existing one.

2. Inside the Access Group editor, scroll down until you see the Downloads section.

3. Upload Your File
   • Click Upload and choose the file you want to protect.
   • You can upload photos, videos, and audio directly.
   • For other file types (like PDFs, Word docs, spreadsheets, etc.), upload them as a zip format for best results.

4. Uploaded files are added to your WordPress Media Library and are hosted on your own WordPress site.
5. After uploading, you’ll see a Copy Link option next to your file. Copy this link.
   • You can place it anywhere on your site: inside a button, on a page, inside a post, or in a course lesson.
   • When clicked, the file will only open if the user belongs to the access group.

6. If someone who is not part of the access group tries to click the link, the file will not open.

Who This is For

This feature is helpful for:

• Membership site owners who provide premium downloads to members
• Course creators who need to restrict lesson files, slides, or templates
• Businesses that share internal documents with staff or contractors
• Content creators who want to add extra perks for subscribers or paying customers

Best Practices

• Organize files by group: Keep track of which files belong to which group so you don’t accidentally share the wrong resource.
• Name files clearly: Use descriptive names (e.g. “Course1-Worksheet1.zip”) so users know what they are downloading.
• Keep file sizes manageable: Very large files can cause slow downloads. Use compression (zip) when possible.
• Test the links: Always copy and test the link in a private window to confirm it works only for members of the correct access group.

Frequently Asked Questions