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Download Limit

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A download limit caps how many times a customer can download each piece of content on their order. Once they reach it, the download button for that content is disabled.

Use it to discourage customers from sharing their download links, or to keep bandwidth in check on large files.

What it limits​

  • Downloads only. License keys aren't limited. Customers can always reveal their keys, unless the item is returned or you've revoked their access.
  • Each piece of content separately. On a product with three files, the limit applies to each file.
  • Each order separately. A customer who buys the product again gets a new allowance on the new order.
  • Downloads that start. Each download counts as soon as it starts, even if the customer cancels it. Allow some headroom for a dropped connection or a second device.

Setting a limit​

  • Store-wide: set a limit in your global settings, and turn it on. It applies to every piece of content that doesn't have its own setting.
  • On one piece of content: set it On with its own limit, for example a stricter limit on a large file, or Off to remove the limit from that content. Content left as Not Set follows the store-wide limit. See Setting Priority.
note

Download limits used to be set on each product. They're now set on each piece of content, so a large file can have a stricter limit than the small files sold with it.

The message customers see​

When a customer runs out of downloads, the button is disabled. Your Download Exceeded Message tells them why, and what to do next, such as how to contact you. Show it as a Banner under the product, or as a Popover that opens when the customer clicks the disabled button.

On a product with several pieces of content, the content is marked Limit Exceeded in the list of downloads, and the message opens when the customer clicks it.

The message is optional. Without one, the button is still disabled, but the customer isn't told why.

Giving a customer more downloads​

Resetting a limit sets the customer's download count back to zero, so they get their full allowance again. Their download history is kept. Reset every line item on an order from the order's settings, or one piece of content while editing the order.

Raising the limit also gives every customer more downloads straight away, because the limit is checked each time they download.