Download Plugin as ZIP

Add a “Download ZIP” link to every plugin on your Plugins page. Quickly export plugin files for backup, migration, or local development without needing FTP or file manager access.

Use Cases#

• Quick Backups: Download a plugin before updating in case something breaks
• Share Custom Plugins: Export custom-developed plugins to transfer to another site
• Archive Versions: Keep local copies of specific plugin versions that work well
• Local Development: Download a plugin to examine or modify locally

How It Works#

1. Enable the module in Switchboard
2. Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins
3. Find “Download ZIP” link in each plugin’s action row
4. Click to download the complete plugin as a ZIP file

Where to Find It#

On the Plugins page, each plugin row shows action links like “Activate”, “Edit”, “Delete”. The module adds a “Download ZIP” link alongside these:

Activate | Edit | Delete | Download ZIP

What Gets Downloaded#

The ZIP file contains:

• All plugin files and folders
• Maintains the exact directory structure
• Uses the plugin’s slug as the filename (e.g., my-plugin.zip)

The ZIP file can be directly uploaded to another WordPress site via Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin.

Single-File vs Multi-File Plugins#

Multi-File Plugins#

Most plugins have a folder structure:

plugin-name/
├── plugin-name.php
├── includes/
├── assets/
└── readme.txt

The ZIP preserves this structure entirely.

Single-File Plugins#

Some simple plugins are just one PHP file:

simple-plugin.php

These are downloaded with the PHP file inside a folder named after the plugin.

Size and Performance#

File Size Limits#

• Maximum plugin size: 500MB
• Most plugins are under 50MB
• Very large plugins may need FTP instead

Processing Time#

• Small plugins: Instant
• Medium plugins (10-50MB): A few seconds
• Large plugins (50-100MB): May take 10-30 seconds

Technical Details#

ZIP Creation#

The module uses PHP’s ZipArchive when available (most hosting). Falls back to WordPress’s PclZip on hosts without the ZIP extension.

Temporary Files#

• ZIP files are created in the system temp directory
• Files are deleted immediately after download completes
• Old temp files (if interrupted) are cleaned up hourly

Security#

• Requires install_plugins capability (Administrator role)
• Uses WordPress nonces to prevent unauthorized access
• Validates plugin paths to prevent directory traversal attacks

Common Issues#

Download Times Out#

Large plugins may exceed server timeout:

1. Try downloading during low-traffic hours
2. Ask your host to increase PHP max_execution_time
3. Use FTP for very large plugins

ZIP File is Corrupt#

This usually indicates an incomplete download:

1. Clear browser cache and try again
2. Use a different browser
3. Check server error logs for PHP errors

“ZIP Extension Not Available”#

Your host doesn’t have the PHP ZIP extension:

1. Contact host to enable it
2. The module will try PclZip as fallback
3. Use FTP if neither works

Comparison with Alternatives#

FAQ#